The town of El Médano hosted the III Dance Encounter, a key event within the XXXI Folk Festival of the Towns of Granadilla de Abona. The event, which began at 8:00 PM, proceeded from Paseo Picacho to the main square, showcasing the rich traditions from various parts of Tenerife to the public.
This edition featured the Arcos Dance from Charco del Pino, the Varas Dances from Chimiche and Las Vegas, and invited groups Herederos de Chasna with the Ribbon Dance from Los Cristianos, and the Dance from La Florida de La Orotava. These formations brought color and tradition to the streets and the square, in a day dedicated to preserving the cultural and folk heritage of the Canary Islands.
“"The Folk Festival of the Towns is an event that allows us to connect with our roots, our traditions, and at the same time, open Granadilla de Abona to other cultural expressions. This III Dance Encounter demonstrates, once again, that our heritage remains alive thanks to the commitment of the groups, their members, and all the people who work to pass it on to new generations."
The Mayor of Granadilla de Abona, José Domingo Regalado, emphasized the importance of these gatherings for keeping traditions alive and opening the municipality to other cultural expressions. He thanked the participating local and invited groups, highlighting the atmosphere of coexistence generated around popular culture.
“"This third encounter once again highlights the richness and diversity of the traditional dances of our island. We have enjoyed groups that preserve manifestations closely linked to the identity of their towns and who, through their efforts, ensure these traditions continue to be part of our present."
Meanwhile, the Councilor for Culture and Festivals, Carlos Abismael Díaz, valued the consolidation of the initiative, emphasizing the richness and diversity of the island's traditional dances and the groups' efforts to keep them alive. He thanked them for their collaboration and stressed the need for such spaces for sharing experiences and appreciating heritage.
At the end of the encounter, the mayor and the councilor presented gifts to the participating groups. The program for the XXXI Folk Festival continues today, Thursday, August 20th, with the Folk Festival of the municipality's groups in the main square of El Médano.
Tomorrow, Friday, the festival will internationalize its cultural exchange focus with the participation of Folk Dance Ensemble Tucovic from Serbia and the Ñukanchik Cultural Foundation from Ecuador. The Canarian representation will include groups such as Tigaray, Herederos de Chasna, Guantejina, and Los Majuelos. The group Tigaray will play a prominent role in the closing ceremony alongside renowned Canarian artist Luis Morera.
