A Festa dos Bailes Mandados

PédeXumbo’s Association Project «De Volta aos Bailes Mandados em Portugal» aims to enhance the figure of the “mandador" (caller) in traditional dance in Portugal. This project was one of the ten winning projects of the 4th edition of the “Tradições” program, promoted by EDP. Four distinct expressive practices were chosen – Fado Mandado; Vira, Chula and Cana Verde; the Contradança of Baile da Pinha; the Valsa Mandada – and four municipalities from North to South of Portugal: Lousã, Ponte da Barca, Reguengos de Monsaraz and Sines. After the different training sessions, the groups from Sines, Lousã and Ponte da Barca gathered for a party in Reguengos de Monsaraz. Msicians, dancers and trainers shared the different types of balls sent, and all regions danced the proposed modalities.