MercèDansa

Would you like to discover a new dance? There's no better place to do it than at MercèDansa, a new tradition that draws from the most ancient culture. At MercèDansa, participants perform traditional Catalan dances, not the ones that have been lost or have disappeared but those that have a long history and are still danced somewhere in Catalonia. They are what we call ‘living dances’, and to make sure they stay alive, they need dancers and audiences interested in them. Just like every year, this huge festival of traditional Catalan choreography begins in the morning in front of the cathedral and ends in the afternoon in Plaça de Sant Jaume. Don't miss either of them, or their accompanying music by the Cobla la Sabadell, conducted by Joan Gómez. This edition of MercèDansa is paying special tribute to Montserrat Garrich Ribera (Barcelona, 1957–2026), one of the key personalities and figures in Barcelona's traditional culture. These are the dances you will see performed: GYPSIES’ DANCE OF Martorelles The dance is likely older, but the earliest documented references date back to 1884. Revived in 1976 after years of no longer being performed, the association that preserves it was established in 1993. It is danced both during the traditional Gypsies’ Dance season and at the town’s annual festival and other celebrations. While remaining true to the traditional spirit of the dance, it has incorporated new musical pieces and contemporary performance formats. GYPSIES’ DANCE OF Castellbisbal This is one of the most representative expressions of the municipality’s popular culture. Associated with Carnival celebrations, it was traditionally performed alongside the Stick Dance. Its choreography preserves elements of great symbolic value. Particularly noteworthy are the espolsada and the circular dance, which evoke the dance’s ancestral origins and reflect the deep connection between celebration, nature and community life. DANCE OF THE BIG-HEADED FIGURES OF Menàrguens Documented…