The Sardana: Catalan Dance and Catalan National Identity

The End of a Custom: A Social Necessity or a Lust for “Modernisation”? The Case of Sergiani in Megala Kalyvia (Trikala, Greece)

“…The president of the municipality, who obviously personified the local authority, decides to forbid the performance of a custom as well as the dances that constitute the core of that specific ritual procedure. He did not do so for political or partisan purposes, as it often occurs in the case of prohibition or change in the way of performing some customs (Austerlitz, 1997;Brandes, 1990;Cowan, 1998;Daniel, 1991Daniel, , 1995Loutzaki, 1994;Manning, , 1995Mohd, 1993;Petrides, 1988;Ramsey, 1997;Reed, 1998;Strauss, 1977). The present case is rather related with reasons of progressivism and innovativeness.…”

Sardanaandcastellers: moving bodies and cultural politics in Catalonia

“…During the 19th and 20th century, Sardana thus constituted an example of generative bodies in space‐time. General opinion and my research suggest that Sardana is unlikely to undergo any similar development in relation to the current political climate in Catalonia and that it will remain a ‘stylistic ossification’ (Brandes : 28), a ‘symbol which is condemned to become frozen’ (Martí i Pérez : 123). Today, the impetus of refraction and social change is more clearly associated with the castells .…”

“…With regard to the Sardana , the ‘unbroken circle’ is seen as a ‘temporary society of its own’ (Brandes : 32), so as a distinct social space between the private and the public created through the movement phenomena. This circle and the space are not static, but constituted by the moving bodies of the Sardanistes .…”

“…During the last 10 years nearly one million immigrants have arrived and today approximately 36% of the population is ‘foreign’ (Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya ). Sardana is seen as ‘a microcosmic reflection of the general Catalan belief in ethnicity as an achieved status’ (Brandes : 34), and newcomers to Catalonia continue to participate in Sardana , castells and associanisme as a way of becoming Catalan. The complementary movements are expatriate castellers returning to their (home) countries and founding local colles in, for example, Chile, Australia or China.…”

Friend or Foe: An Analysis of the Contribution National Identity Hegemony Plays in the Acceptance of Asylum Seekers in Australia, Spain and Catalonia

“…Lastly, Catalonia's desire for independence from Spain is a contributing factor for a difference of perceptions within the Catalan community. Catalonia distinguishes itself as being different from Spain, with many Catalans considering the Spanish to be foreign imperialists (Brandes, 1990). With overtly exclusionary language used to describe asylum seekers by the central Spanish government, in attempts to differentiate themselves from Spain, the Catalan people seem to have rejected these negative stereotypes.…”