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Traditional Dance in AndalucíaFolk Dancers Display Their Skills on a Hot Spanish Night
Coín hosted its 28th Festival de Bailes Populares In July when four troupes of dancers gave outstanding, and colorful, performances for a large and enthusiastic audience.
After parading through Coin’s main street, with impromptu performances en route, this year’s four dance troupes, three Spanish and one Russian, entertained al fresco in the beautiful Plaza Alameda. Surrounded by magnificently tall palms the show started after dark, once the summer heat had cooled slightly. All the participants had paid meticulous attention to the detail of their traditional dress. The Spanish costumes showed big differences between regions. The Andalucían women, a local group,wore brightly coloured dresses, the men in brimless caps worn over head cloths knotted behind the neck. These may have developed from the turban reflecting Andalucía’s Moorish past. Traditional CostumesVertically striped skirts matched with horizontally striped stockings marked the women of Cuidad Real, in La Mancha, with the men in round, crowned hats with brims. The Galicians, from Pontevedra, were much more formal with elaborate and identical costumes. The Andalucíans displayed much more individuality. The women´s dresses and the men´s sashes all in different and vivd hues. The dance steps continued this difference in styles. The Northern Galicians statelier, controlled; the Southerners more spontaneous. Customs possibly stemming from different local industry with Atlantic fishing, in Galicia, generating closer reliance on teamwork. Spanish DancesIt was noticeable that whilst all the Spanish dances were performed by couples they were always within a group. Some of the women’s steps were really rather seductive and they all swirled with enough energy to display their long drawers, a far cry from today’s minimalist underwear. The Russian group, from an area bordering Mongolia were probably the most professional of the evening. Showcasing their regions diversity they shifted rapidly between stately balletic movements with lots of delicate, Chinese style, hand gestures to wild boot stomping, leg kicking measures straight from the Steppes. From a graceful interlude with an an enormous piece of silk used to represent lakes and sky to a goup dressed in animal skins beating out primeval rhythms on the most basic of percussion instruments the Russians demonstrated the meeting of East and West, ancient and modern. FlamencoMusicians accompanied all the groups but with minimal and cheap instruments. Lots of percussion and some strings (the Russians had an enormous double bass of a balalaika). The Spaniards all gave the impression that instruments were a luxury, and that with a powerful voice, clapping hands and stamping heels the rhythms could be carried regardless. And all night if necessary. As It is not uncommon to see spontaneous exhibitions of heel tapping, skirt swirling flamenco in any bar, or even street corner, in Southern Spain the majority of the audience were knowledgeable enthusiasts. As a spectacle this show was easy to follow and a delight to watch, but with a large and appreciative audience it is surprising that no programme notes were available. This annual festival is free of charge.
The copyright of the article Traditional Dance in Andalucía in Spain Travel is owned by Michael Carroll. Permission to republish Traditional Dance in Andalucía in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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