What is the Sardana?In a few words...
The sardana dance is a folkloric dance that can be found throughout Catalonia, from both the Spanish and French sides. This is a dance that alternates short and long steps and dance in a circle.
If you've ever visited Barcelona, you'll no doubt have spotted them in certain parts of the old town, where young and old alike gather to practice this ancient art. an essential part of Catalan culture.
Anyone can dance it! In fact, that's why it was so popular back then. it made no distinction between social classes.
Even if it's better to know the basics, because one false step will upset the whole circle.
Its melody, easily recognizable with its various wind instruments you'll want to get in on the act too!
The origins of the Sardana dance...
The sardana is a very old dance, as it is said to date back in the 15th century BC and related to the goddess Ceres. This dance was performed by Cretans, Etruscans, Hellenes, Greeks. In the 1st century AD, dance was seen as an offering to the Moon, and it would be the Iberians were the first to practice it in what are now the Pyrénées-Orientales.
After that, it's "contrapàs which resembles the sardana, was first recorded in the 19th century, and later, the sardana would come to enliven village festivals in North and South Catalonia.
A musician from Figueres is very famous as the instigator of today's Sardana. His name is Pep Ventura.
The Mercè festivities
If there's one celebration not to be missed in Barcelona, it's the Mercè festivities.
Five days to celebrate Barcelona's patron saint!
The official day is September 24, but it's 5 consecutive days packed with folk dances, citywide activities, human towers, fireworks... you name it! Every year, the festival gets even more impressive and beautiful! Known in Catalan as the festa major d'estiu, the whole of Barcelona celebrates the Mare de Déu de la Mercè (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce).
The Virgen de la Mercè is venerated by Catholics and is also known as the Virgin of Mercy. The 1er August 1218, the Virgin Mary appeared to three well-known Barcelona citizens of the time. Notably San Pedro Nolasco, founder of the Order of Mercè.
Commonly known as the summer holidays, the Mercè festivities signal the end of summer and the gradual arrival of autumn. The heat will gradually diminish.
It's more than 500 activities all over the city!
And for all audiences: children, adults, lovers of Catalan traditions,...
And in general, these activities are free!
Catalan popular culture is the queen of the Mercè festivities.
Dressed in traditional costumes
Although you might see sardana dances where everyone is dressed normally, there are traditional costumes, different for men and women.
Men wear the barretina and faixa.
The women wear headdresses.
Dance steps: alternating short and long steps
The dancers stand in a circle, alternating long and short steps.
Be careful, because it's the group's responsibility to respect the steps, as the strength of the entire dance depends on it.
The dancers dance round and hold hands. They follow the rhythm of the Coblathe orchestra composed of eleven to thirteen musicians, with typical Catalan wind instruments and instruments such as oboes, flutes, trumpets and trombones.
Catalan culture under Francoism
Catalan folklore and the Catalan language were banned under Franco's Spain. (1936/9 à 1977).
Catalanism is one of the fundamental debates in Spain today, as a significant percentage of the population wishes to establish Catalan independence and thus separate from Spain.
Folklore, and in particular the sardana dance, forms an important part of the Catalan identity repressed during decades of dictatorship.
The Sardana in the songs of Charles Trenet
The Sardana is very well known and has even been immortalized in Trenet's song "La Sardane":
How pretty is the Sardana
Let us dance hand in hand
In the land of green plane trees
From the land of the tramontanes.
Young girls young people like it
And even the old ones from their canes
Hammer it on the stones of the path
Tonight how many love affairs
Will blossom in the hearts of twenty-year-olds
They know the Sardana
They danced it when they were kids
How many will lose their minds
Pour toi Sardane du pays catalan.
Friends, it's party time in Collioure.
The old port is decked out
And in front of the surrounding sea
Here's the eternal golden steeple
On the pebbles, green and pink
Boats in tender colors
The metamorphosis begins
Their veils turned to flowers
And under the wandering moon
The Sardana forms its round.
How pretty is the Sardana
Let us dance hand in hand
From the land of the tramontanes
It flies to neighboring countries
Tonight how many love affairs
Will blossom in the hearts of twenty-year-olds
How many will lose their minds
Pour toi, Sardane du pays catalan
For you, Sardane of the Catalan country.
Catalonia: a French and Spanish territory
And yes, Catalonia is now divided into two parts.
The territories located in the French zone, which designates the department of Pyrénées-Orientales or commonly known as the North Catalonia and the territories located in the Spanish zone, South Catalonia.
Sardana is practiced throughout Catalonia, from north to south.
Where to see sardana dance performances?
In the center of Barcelona, on the Cathedral square, Sante-Croix Cathedralyou have two options.
You can visit us on Saturday at 7pm or on Sunday around 12pm.
Sant Jaume Square also hosts Sardanes on Sunday afternoons.
It's an opportunity to discover tradition without leaving the city center.
Barcelona is also a festive city. And in summer, there's Festas MajoresAnd there's a good chance that Sardanes will be included.
And of course, there are Festas Majores all over Catalonia.
Sant Joan, Midsummer and Mercè festivals are also great opportunities to see these dances.
Find out more so you don't miss out on this great opportunity!
Catalan folklore: is it just the Sardana?
And no, Catalan folklore isn't just about the sardana!
First of all, I hope you'll also have the chance to see a Correfoc ! It's a pyrotechnic festival where participants, known as "Devils" and "Dragons", run around with large flaming sticks.
When they light up, they form marvellous lights that shoot out in thousands of tiny sparks.
Just like the human towers, called castellers in Catalan, which take place in the middle of the day! Participants form towers by building floors with their own bodies. And it's the lightest person, usually a child or " l'enxaneta "who climbs to the top of the tower. It's a feat that's interesting to watch, and requires a lot of practice.
Giant sculptures (kings, queens, noblemen) are also out and about, strolling through the town to the sound of brass bands.
And so many others!
What about today?
Like the costumes, the dance has evolved with the times. There are even DJs who fuse electronic music with Sardana sounds.
I'm thinking of Raph Dumasa native of Perpignan.
Recognized the world over!
The Sardana is listed on the Catalonia's festive heritage by the Generalitat de Catalunya.
The sardana is also recognized as a world cultural heritage site