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Caption: Barcelona SARDANA
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Caption: The Sardana is a traditional Catalan circle dance.
Saturday evenings in front of the Catedral de Barcelona, crowds come to dance and watch.
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Caption: Music is provided by a live cobla, or band, of 11 musicians.
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Caption: Dancers form circles, belongings piled in the middle for safety.
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Caption: Some still wear espardenyes, the traditional dancing shoe.
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Caption: There are competitive troupes, whose steps are high and sharp.
But the Sardana is a slow dance, and circles conform to the slowest dancer.
The dance unites all members of the community.
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Caption: An appreciative crowd gathers.
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Caption: The passion of the Catalans for their heritage is palpable and deeply moving to witness.
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Caption: The Franco regime tried to suppress Catalan traditions, including the Sardana. The dance has become a powerful symbol of the Catalan national identity, and the Catalan flag is prominently displayed on the plaza.
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Caption: #places #explore #barcelona #catalonia #spain #dance #culture
