SARDANA

The sardana is a type of circle dance typical of Catalonia, Spain. The dance

was originally from the Emporda region, but started gaining popularity

throughout Catalonia during the 20th century.

There are two main types, the original sardana curta (short sardana) style and

the more modern sardana llarga (long sardana), which is more popular.

Short Sardana Long Sardana

ORIGIN

The origin of the sardana is not clear. Some say that it was already popular in

the 16th century.

What remains undisputed is that the sardana was a popular dance in the

Empordà region by the end of the 19th century. Contributing to its mounting

popularity by this time were the additions from similarly popular genres such

as zarzuela and the popular Italian operas of the time, which increasingly made

the sardana a fad dance.

As the rise of the sardana took place, in the context of the Renaissance or

newborn Catalan nationalism, the origins of the dance were embellished in

order to symbolize a distinct Catalan ethos as to serve Catalan

nationalism. Modern choreography was established as late as the end of the

19th century and features slight differences from the original North-Catalonia

dance.

Pep Ventura's band is credited for stabilizing different variants around a clear

6/8 rhythm and fixing the instrumental ensemble. Though some Iberian and

Mediterranean circle dances follow similar patterns, instrumental music for

the sardana has achieved a complexity of its own.

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.