Castalla programmes a weekend of activities to commemorate the tradition of ‘Les Danses’

• The Department of Culture and the Commission of Les Danses have organised a photographic exhibition, a concert and the screening of a documentary
• Les Danses, considered an Intangible Asset of Local Relevance, will not be able to dance because of the Covid-19 pandemic

Castalla Town Council has programmed a calendar of activities to commemorate the tradition of ‘Les Danses’ over a weekend. The Department of Culture and the Commission of Les Danses have organised a photographic exhibition, a concert and the screening of a documentary on the 24th, 25th and 26th of September. Les Danses, which are considered an Intangible Asset of Local Relevance, will not be able to dance this year either because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The councillor for Culture, Saúl Mira, stressed “the importance of this traditional dance of Castalla, which links us with the way our ancestors celebrated and allows us to preserve part of their heritage reflected in the costumes, dance steps and melodies”. The councillor stated that “this year we won’t be able to dance Les Danses, to avoid the proliferation of the virus, which is still with us, but we hope to be able to celebrate this display of our history and culture normally when health conditions allow us to do so”.

Specifically, the programme has been divided into three days. On Friday 24 September, the Casa de Cultura will host the opening of the exhibition of the 2019 photography competition ‘La Dansà de Castalla’ at 20:00. In this section, the first prize goes to Reyes Cerdá, the second to Vicente Llopis and the third to Francisco Gil. The jury awarded the local prize to Vicente Guill and the children’s prize to Bruno Llopis.

The following day, Saturday 25th September, the ‘Colla de Dolçainers i Percussió El Sogall’ will offer a concert of ‘Danses’ music to the whole town. The performance will take place from 20:00 hours in the town’s main square.

To end the activities, on Sunday 26th September, the documentary ’30 Aniversari de la Recuperació de les Danses’ will be screened. Those interested in seeing this film can go to the Plaça Mayor at 20:00. Afterwards, those present will pay a small tribute to the ‘Reina de les Danses 1984’, Saro Yagüe, who passed away at the beginning of this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Councillor Saúl Mira declared that “from the Town Hall we have programmed these events with a special character, with the intention of giving visibility to this Intangible Asset of Local Relevance, so important and representative of Castalla”.