Not only does Le Havre’s Musée Malraux proudly boast of holding the second most extensive collection of impressionist paintings in France after the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, but it is also a hub of youth culture.

Mid-afternoon on a Saturday, our attention was alerted to a growing throng of teenagers in the centre of town. We moseyed on over to check out the unfolding spectacle, only to be strangely surprised. What had initially appeared to be a concert was no more than hundreds crowded around a car with a sound system blaring electro. Fair enough, an impromptu rave. But the most astonishing was the style of dancing that everyone was adopting. I don’t know if I can explain it, but it was a frenetic swirl of arms, a lot of motion centred around the head, with occasional simultaneous horizontal thrusts of the hands. The feet remained more or less stationary, perhaps with some jumping that was blocked from the onlooker’s view by the rest of the crowd. I felt simultaneously superior to this silly group behaviour, but also aged. Was this the new trend, sweeping the world, and I hadn’t realised? I’ve found out subsequently that it even has a name – Tecktonik – one that adheres fully to the sub-cultural electronic music obsession with the letter “k.”

The strange thing is that no-one had any alcohol, and the party was dispersed by night-time. Wow, united by a love of beats? I thought that type of stuff only happened in ecstatic fairy-tales!

… And the Musée Malraux had an exhibition showcasing the work of Le Havre-born artist, Émile-Othon Friesz. Spanning thirty years and some 150 works, the exhibition was a fascinating portrayal of the development of Friesz as an artist. From impressionism to fauvism to expressionism – and the transitory stages in between – Friesz’s works indicate many shifting influences and also changes of geography from the north to the south of France. Very interesting, I can hear you all thinking, but where is more of that ludicrous dancing? Here, let me quench your thirst with a video…

The new single by French act Yelle A Cause des Garçons featuring Tecktonik dancers. Long live the Reebok Pumps! Also check out the linked video entitled ‘The Best of Tecktonik Dance.’ It’s too funny for words!