BALL DE BASTONS

'''Ball de bastons''' (Catalan for "stick dance") is the name of a ritual weapon dance spread throughout Europe and the rest of the Iberian area (''cossiers'' in Mallorca, Portuguese ''pauliteiros'', Basque ''ezpatadantza'' and Spanish ''paloteo'' or ''troqueado''). English and Welsh Morris dances are well-known relatives to these traditions. Most melodies are based on easy 2/4 rhythms. Instrumentarium includes tabor pipe, shawm or bagpipes. Some of these tunes as ''Villano de Zamora'' were strikingly popular grounds among European Renaissance and Baroque composers.
Various different traditions are encompassed in the phrase, but normally the dancers will all carry one or two sticks (''bastons'') traditionally of holm oak, about 40-50 cm long and 5 cm thick.
In the most common set, two opposite rows of male dancers elaborate some patterns of stick-clashing. Sometimes, a peculiar chief character directs the movements and changes. The dancers may wear white skirts or short trousers, as well as red ribbons and ornaments.