SPANISH DANCES

CATALONIASardana

As a relatively slow, non-performance dance, the sardana does not require special fitness. The dance circle can be opened to a highly variable number of dancers. When danced in the streets and town squares, small circles of dancers can be seen to form and grow: often passers-by join in, leaving their bags in the center of the circle. The dancers are alternate men and women, and care must be taken by those joining not to split partners. These are open circles, called rotllanes obertes. Another kind of circle may be formed by members of organised sardana clubs called colles, and each colla may wear its own costume..

ARAGONJota

Being a visual representation, the jota is danced and sung accompanied by castanets, and the interpreters tend to wear regional costumes.

ANDALUSIASevillians

Each sevillian is composed of 4 (or sometimes 7) parts, with each part divided into 3 coplas, and with each copla made up of 6 movements. It is a very vivid dance, often excluded from flamenco by "purists". Paradoxically, during spectacles and shows it is usually Sevillian dancing that ordinary people (not born in Andalusia) take for 'the real, true flamenco', as it is full of turns.

Torre Barona school, Spain

By Andrea and Ainoa. 5th B