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Dance of the Balhano Revived in Salardú After Over a Decade

The Santa Creu festival in Naut Aran brings back a 17th-century tradition with the help of the local council and residents.

Dancers in traditional costumes performing the Balhano dance in a Pyrenean village square.
IA

Dancers in traditional costumes performing the Balhano dance in a Pyrenean village square.

The Balhano dance, a 17th-century tradition originating from Naut Aran, has been recovered and reintroduced at the Santa Creu festival on May 3rd in Salardú, after more than a decade's absence.

After more than a decade, the steps of the Balhano dance have once again been heard in Salardú. The revival of this traditional dance, dating back to the 17th century with Catalan inspiration, has been made possible by the initiative of the Naut Aran Town Council, the festival committee, and numerous volunteers.
Initially, the Balhano was danced inside the church by the priors of the now-extinct Santa Creu confraternity. For its reintroduction, the council and residents drew upon writings by folklorists like Joan Amades and an unusual audiovisual document: a 1982 film showing a group of young people dancing it outside the church. These youths were members of the Grup Folcloric Naut Aran, which disbanded years later.
The new recreation of the Balhano has been adapted to modern times, performed outdoors to avoid interfering with the established ritual, and simplified to be accessible to people of all ages. "We wanted it to be a dance for the people, it couldn't be too difficult or too tiring," explained Anna Geli, deputy mayor and culture consul.
Furthermore, older residents of the village have crafted the dancers' costumes, including capes and scarves. The Balhano celebration coincides with the gathering of the crosses and the blessing of the territory. The Naut Aran Town Council has requested the Generalitat de Catalunya to include the Santa Creu festival in the Catalan Catalogue of Heritage Festivals.

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