Boleros and copeos mallorquines, a tradition that lasts through the years
On several days of the year, students from the island's music and dance school perform the ball de bot - baile de salto or baile de bote in Spanish - in Palma, a dance that originated in Mallorca in the 17th and 18th centuries and which is made up of several types of dances: the jota, the fandango, the bolero and the copeo. This type of dance is the result of an adaptation by the popular class of a dance, derived from the theatre, introduced by the higher social classes of society.
The costumes stand out because of their colours, design and history. The woman wears a piece of white cloth that covers from head to chest, leaving the face uncovered, and a wide skirt over several other layers of clothing. The man's costume, on the other hand, consists of a white shirt with a waistcoat, a sash that covers the hips and part of the trousers, which go down to the knee.
In the exhibitions you will see dancers of all ages, young and old, enjoying the set of steps and movements of hands, arms and legs in pairs accompanied by stringed and wind instruments.
It is a unique experience that brings you closer to the authenticity of Mallorca, where the dance teachers are former students, so it is a tradition that is taught from teacher to student over the years thanks to their experience. Variety stands out in this dance school as the age of the students varies from 18 to 65 years old.
The days you can enjoy this visual and auditory experience are the day of the Balearic Islands, March 1st, which is the official holiday of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands, it is a public holiday in all the islands and for this reason different events are celebrated in all the towns. In the city of Palma there are gastronomy exhibitions, very interesting handicraft stalls with traditional crafts of the old times, also the regional houses set up a stall with their typical food where tourists and residents can taste the typical dishes of those regions. One of the most visited areas is the medieval market for its charm and for being something different that takes us to another era. On this great day, people take the opportunity to visit Palma's old town, as there are concerts and open days in Palma's museums. Another way to make the tour on this day is the fabulous Bus city sightseeing as it has stops very close to where all the events are held and the institutional buildings such as the Consolat de la Mar.
And the other date to enjoy this dance is the 31st of December in the Plaza de Cort, right in the centre of Palma where the Town Hall is located, and in the same place there is a parade from the same square to the Cathedral of Mallorca, and also on the day of the Beata, which is celebrated on the third Sunday of the month of October.
