The Group of Tradicional Dances l’Arenilla was founded in 2000 in Borriana, Land of Valencia, from the iniciative of students of Adults Education Center in this town, in which members of the workshop on “Traditional dance” were gradually adding others, linked by a common interest: dances and music of our land.
The town is situated near the Mediterranean Sea and is one of the most important historical centers of Valencia. The group represents Valencian tradicional culture, dances and music and it has about 30 adults and 20 children and youths.
One or the first activities organized by the group were dances on the squares and streets to celebrate the cycle of nature: the recollection of oranges, the grape harvest, the arrival of winter... the objective is to enjoy the dance, time, life in the community with others, and express it like people have always done, dancing and inviting others to dance, to take part in the celebration.
They introduce songs, dances and tradicional music of the Land of Valencia. Ancient dances as seguidilla, jota, fandango, bolero are accompanied by guitars, lute and traditional instruments such as guitarró (little 5 strings guitar), bandúrria (12 strings mandolin), castanets, pandereta (tambourine), dolçaina (doble reed instrument in the oboe family), tabal (drum)...
An exceptional attention is given to their traditional costume of XVIIIth century, as their parts, details, texture and colours represent Valencian heritage and history.
The group has recupereted some local danses like Jota and Arenilla of Borriana and restored local procession dances. They have organised folklore festivals and performed all over the Land of Valencia, other Spanish regions and also in Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Canada, Belgium, England, France, Croatia and Slovenia.
International festivals we have participated:
2003 Serrastretta
(Italy) 20th
Festival del Popoli
2005 Vilnius
(Lithuania) Baltica- International Folkore Festival
2007 Cantanhede
(Portugal) 2nd
Folk Cantanhede
2008 Drummondville
(Canada) 27th Mondial des Cultures
2009 Louvain
(Belgium) 35th
Paasfeesten Leuven
2010
Maiorca (Portugal) 36th
Festimaiorca
2011
Bermeo (Basque Country) 25th
Bermeo International Folklore Festival
2012
Alnwick (England) 37th
Alnwick International Music Festival
2013 Montemor-o-Novo (Portugal) 7th Mostra Internacional de Folclore
2014 Milis (Italy) 21st Festival Internazionale de
Folklore “La Vega”
2015 Tancos (Portugal) 9th Festival Internacional de Folclore
2015 Souselo (Portugal) 38th Festival Internacional de Folclore
2016 Saujon (France) Festival International
de Folklore
2017 Mortágua (Portugal) 26th Gala Internacional de Folclore
2017 Viseu (Portugal) Feira de São Mateus International Folklore
Festival
2018 Zagreb (Croatia)
52th Internacional Folklore Festival
2018 Beltinci (Slovenia)
48th Internacional Folklore Festival
2019 Montemor-o-Novo (Portugal) 10th
Mostra Internacional de Folclore
2021 Montréjeau (France) 61st Festival Mondial de
Folklore-Folkolor
2022 Buja (Italy) Butinle in Stajare-Incontro della
Cultura Poppolare Europea
2023 Merufe-Monção (Portugal) 45th Festival Internacional de Folclore
