The Plaça de la Gardunya, in the Raval, will host this Saturday, June 13, starting at 5:30 p.m., the fifth edition of Bulla'n Barna, a festive gathering that brings together the entities that keep the "ball de bot" alive in Barcelona and serves to celebrate the end of the academic year for the hundreds of people who learn this popular Mallorcan dance throughout the year.
The event is organized by Espai Mallorca, Va de Bot, La Barraqueta, Sa Sargantana, and Bot i Farra, five entities that have been working for years to spread this expression of the popular culture of the Islands in the Catalan capital.
According to Margalida Coll, a "ball de bot" teacher and member of Espai Mallorca, the name of the gathering emerged from a brainstorming session and pays homage to La Bullanguera, the last dance performed after a "ballada" (dance session). "A circle is formed and only two dancers go into the middle. It's very spectacular," she points out.
A meeting point
Bulla'n Barna was born five years ago with the aim of coordinating the different entities that teach "ball de bot" in Barcelona and creating a shared space for their students. "It's a meeting point, where there are several dance sessions, which bring together all the entities dedicated to teaching this traditional Mallorcan dance," explains Coll.
The teacher emphasizes that "ball de bot" fulfills a function that goes beyond the festive sphere and strict folklore. On the one hand, it allows many Mallorcans residing in Barcelona to maintain a connection with their culture of origin. On the other hand, it is a space for socialization and community building for people who arrive in a big city and seek to build a social network, especially young people who come to study at university.
More than a hundred students
Currently, in Espai Mallorca alone, there are nearly a hundred students who practice this dance, a figure that shows the good moment that "ball de bot" is experiencing among new generations.
"I dance so that Mallorcan identity is not lost," says Coll, who also highlights the ability of this dance to help people meet others and have a good time.
A living tradition in constant evolution
Despite being a traditional dance, one of the characteristics that, according to Coll, explain its good moment is the capacity for improvisation it offers to dancers. "In class, I teach some basics, some dance steps, and then in the square, we do various combinations," she explains. The repertoire includes boleros, jotas, Mallorcan and Menorcan fandangos, among other pieces.
A dance open to everyone
It is also an accessible dance for people approaching it for the first time. "You can dance in pairs, but also in a circle. If you don't know how, dancing in a circle is easier to get into," says Coll. This flexibility is precisely one of the keys to its survival: "The most beautiful thing is that, being always improvised, it is very attractive. In the long run, that's what has kept it alive because it has continued to evolve."
Xaloc Música, headliners
To commemorate its five years of trajectory, this year's gathering will feature live performances by Xaloc Música, Tramudança, the Agrupació de Sant Lluís, and Lalilarumba.
The presence of Xaloc Música is one of the most anticipated moments for the organizers. The group had not performed for a long time, and their songs are a regular part of Ball de bot classes.
"We are very excited because we dance their songs in class and now we will be able to dance their dances live," explains Coll, who assures that this performance is one of the main attractions of an edition that aims to celebrate five years of collective work keeping Mallorcan popular culture alive in Barcelona.
A fully consolidated festival
In recent editions, the festival has gathered up to 300 people. Beyond the dances, the day also includes bar and food service, a fact that seeks to reinforce its festive and community character.
"A very beautiful atmosphere is created. There is a lot of festivity," explains Coll. She herself assures that thanks to Ball de bot she has made friendships that are very important in her life today. During the summers, for example, they often travel to different places participating in popular gatherings and dances. "Ball de bot allows you to get to know the territory. We have been to Girona and the Valencian Country, among others," she states. And in Barcelona, it will allow us to get to know them, the Mallorcans.
