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The folklore group “Xaréu” is founded in the county of Xixón/Gijón
(Asturies), in 1985, with the idea of divulgating and encouraging the
asturian costums and traditions, paying special attention to the traditional
songs and dances. So, it shows the folklore from Asturies, old atlantic
kingdom situated in the north of Spain, with its own culture, language and
traditions.
Nowdays, this group possess a big programme belonging to all the asturian
geography, taking care with the originality and the authenticity of the
traditional clothes of each area, the same the traditional instruments
(bagpipe, drum, accordion, violin, tambourines and other percussions...).
Programme
In this programme there are more than forty pieces, those songs and dances
that are more representative in each area. Thus, in the centre of the
country ‘la jota’ is the main dance, with all its varieties, and the
predominant instruments are the ‘gaita’ (bagpipe), the ‘tambor’ (drum) and
the ‘panderos’ (tambourines). This way, we find ‘Jota a lo llano’, ‘Jota a
lo ligero’ or ‘Xiringüelu’.
We should pay special attention to the coarse dances from the occidental
mountains. The ‘vaqueiros d’alzada’, social group dedicated to the care of
cattle, as sheperds, were isolated people. They used to move till highest
places looking for the best lands. This isolation made them be a totally
different social group in relation with the rest of social groups rounding
them. Its folklore is, today, one of the most peculiar and complex in the
country, such as ‘Regondixu’ or ‘Dance of Corno’, accompanied with female
voices, tambourines, castañettes, the corno and other tools and
instruments.
In the occidental zone of Asturies, between the rivers Navia and Eo, we can
find different ‘jotas’ and ‘muñeiras’ with happy and fast rhythm, with a
strong influence of Galicia, close region to Asturies.
Finally, the ancestral rites of the orient of Asturias, whose
origins lose in the beginnings of our civilitation. We can mention here the
‘Pericote de Llanes’ or the ‘Corri-Corri’, typical of Cabrales with its
mythologic origins, where the rite and the dance are just one, with no
separation.
Performances
The folklore group “Xaréu” has gone all around Spain as well as numerous
places in Europe and America (France, Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, Germany,
Sicily, Lithuania, Austria, Hungary, United Kingdom, Mexico...), divulgating
the asturian folklore and receiving a great amounts of distinctions in the
most renowned events organized by CIOFF (International Council of
Traditional Arts and Folklore Festivals-UNESCO) and IOV (International
Organization of Traditional Arts-UNESCO). In 2000 it was choosen by the
Principality of Asturias for the official representation of the country in
Expo2000 Hannover (Germany). In 2001 won the FIRST PRIZE in the
International Festival of Cantonigròs (Barcelona-Spain). In 2002 won the
FIRST PRIZE in the World Music Festival of Fivizzano (Italy). In 2005 won
the FIRST PRIZE in the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod (United
Kingdom). Among other distinctions it has received official recognitions of
different towns of Mexico and France. Also, it has recorded perfomances for
different national and foreing televisions (TVE, TPA, RAI, BBC, RTP,…),
organized folklore and etnography exhibitions, traditional feasts, etc. At
the same time, every year the group collaborates with the Prince of
Asturias Foundation performing in different events around the Prince of
Asturias Awards. Finally, every year the troupe presents its new Arts works
in the Xixón International Folklore Festival, always with a great success
due to the authentity and originality of its spectacles.
The folklore group “Xaréu” is member of F.A.F.A (Asturian Folk Dance Groups
Federation) and C.O.N.F.E.E. (Spanish Folk Dance Cofederation).
Contact information
Asociación de folclore “Xaréu”
Apartau de correos 6162 C.P. 33280
Xixón/Gijón (Asturies) Spain
e-mail:
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web site: www.xareu.es
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Xaréu Music and Dances Folk Group
