Our Common European Roots

Type of circle dance typical of Catalonia, Spain.

Originally from the Empordà region. Nowadays it is danced throughout Catalonia during the

city festival, on Sundays…

In the year 2010, the Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalonia government) added the sardana to the Catàleg del Patrimoni Festiu de Catalunya (Catalonia's festivities heritage catalogue) and declared it a festivity of national interest.

o The sardana is danced…o Hand in hand in a circle.o There are only two main steps, called short steps and long

steps.o A number of short and long steps alternates repeatedly to

form the pattern of the complete dance.

o There is usually an experienced leader leading the circle.

o New dancers can incorporate at any time during the dance.

o The dancers hold hands throughout the dance…o Arms down during the short section.o Arms raised to shoulder height during the long section.

o A dancer is called a sardanista.

o As a relatively slow dance, the sardana does not require special fitness.

o The dance circle can be opened to a highly variable number of dancers and more circles can be added inside the main circle.

o In order to dance sardanes comfortably the footwear must be flexible enough to allow the dancer to jump slightly when the long steps come.

o Traditionally sardanistes wear special dancing shoes called espardenyes made of esparto grass fabric and with two long fabric strips to tie them up around the ankle.

o Nowadays most people have replaced these with regular trainers.

o The music written for the sardana is called… a sardana.o It is played by a cobla.

o a band consisting of 10 wind instruments, double bass and tamborí.