The Sardana is very different to flamenco! While flamenco is danced by one dancer and is full of ardour, the sardana is a fairly simple dance performed in a group. It is little known outside of Spain but it has an important place in the cultural heritage of Catalonia.<\/p>\n
\nThe sardana is danced in a circle, so it is part of the great tradition of Mediterranean group dances dating back to the first century. But it is only since the 19th Century that it has been performed according to specific rules.\n<\/p>\n
\nAs the flabiol<\/em> (a little flute) plays, the dancers form a circle, holding hands. They leave their bags and belongings in the middle of the circle and dance the steps to the rhythm of the cobla <\/em>(the orchestra).<\/p>\n At a sardana performance you don’t simply admire the dancers, you are also soothed by the music that accompanies them.\n<\/p>\n \nEveryone participates in the sardana, beginners and all. So single people join a circle specially for them. Generally you alternate men and women in the circle.<\/p>\n If the circle becomes too big, it divides, so the more dancers there are the more impressive it looks as the place fills up with circles.<\/p>\n The dance might look simple but it requires precision and coordination. The steps are fast and if one person in the circle makes a mistake the whole circle loses the beat!<\/p>\n Here is a video where you can see the precision of the dancers, and also learn to dance the sardana in 30 seconds (if you’re very good…)<\/p>\nA friendly tradition<\/h3>\n