Ball de diables
Encyclopedia
The Ball de diables (ˈbaʎ də ðiˈabːɫəs, ˈbaʎ de ðiˈaβles; meaning in English
"Devils dance") is one of the most deeply-routed tradition
s initially in Catalonia
, and subsequently in the Valencian Community
, where it's called Correfoc
s (Fire run), and the Balearic Islands
. Nowadays, its participation in the form of passacaglia
, procession and correfocs became an essential part of the main celebrations of many towns and cities.
(dances, spoken dances or with dialogues, etc.) have been through speech. Therefore, is logic that during this transmission they were altered from the original version.
Regarding the Ball de diables, even though it's popularly known as "dance", it must be considered an entremés
since this kind of performance was represented between plates during meals of the nobility
in the middle ages
.
The synthesis of the Ball de diables is a theatrical representation of the struggle between the good
and the evil
. In its scenic context it has been also used, mainly for the Corpus Christi festivities
, in the ecclesiastic procession
s as accompaniment to provide a more ceremonious and spectacular aspect. Finally, the devil
s, little devils or demon
s used to parade leading the procession to announce its arrival making a racket. In a deafening and noisy way they used to separate the public present opening the path for the procession.
Either way we find the fugire of the devil or little devil in the origin of all the spoken dances. Is a character that doesn't have any relationship with the play being represented, but that is put in the middle and makes the audience laugh with its stunts. At the end of the play some satiric verses are recited which are related to the political
or public life of the locality
where it's represented, and that everyone await with delight.
This could have been the origin of the Ball de diables. Starting from a character that each time was taking more prominence and exceeding the importance of the original play, and as a result the devil part became the most popular one.
The first written news
about the Ball de diables, according to Joan Amades
, dates from the year 1150. The act was represented in the banquet of the wedding of the Barcelona count, Ramon Berenguer IV
with the princess Petronilla, daughter of the king of Aragon
and Catalonia
. The chronicle tells us that it represented the struggle of some demons, commanded by Lucifer
, against the Archangel Saint Michael
and a squad of angel
s.
The second written reference that we know, quoted in the book of solemnities of Barcelona, is about the festivities of 1423 remembering the arrival to Barcelona
of the king Alfonso V of Aragon
, coming from Naples
.
Also in Cervera
the devils participate for the festivities of Corpus Christi in the year 1426. Again in Barcelona, on the occasion of the arrival of the duke
of Calabria
in September 1467, some parties were organized where the devils were also present.
In the beginnings of the 15th century, the processions of Corpus Christi in Barcelona were closed with a short plays, formed by a squad of angels and other of devils.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
"Devils dance") is one of the most deeply-routed tradition
Tradition
A tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past. Common examples include holidays or impractical but socially meaningful clothes , but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as greetings...
s initially in Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, and subsequently in the Valencian Community
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
, where it's called Correfoc
Correfoc
Correfocs ; literally in English "fire-runs") are among the most striking features present in Catalan festivals. In the correfoc, a group of individuals will dress as devils and light fireworks. While dancing to the drums of a traditional gralla, they will set off their fireworks among crowds of...
s (Fire run), and the Balearic Islands
Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands are an archipelago of Spain in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula.The four largest islands are: Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The archipelago forms an autonomous community and a province of Spain with Palma as the capital...
. Nowadays, its participation in the form of passacaglia
Passacaglia
The passacaglia is a musical form that originated in early seventeenth-century Spain and is still used by contemporary composers. It is usually of a serious character and is often, but not always, based on a bass-ostinato and written in triple metre....
, procession and correfocs became an essential part of the main celebrations of many towns and cities.
Origins
The origin of the spoken dances is uncertain and risky to specify, but it seems that it comes from the medieval street theatre. Basically, the transmission path of the folk danceFolk dance
The term folk dance describes dances that share some or all of the following attributes:*They are dances performed at social functions by people with little or no professional training, often to traditional music or music based on traditional music....
(dances, spoken dances or with dialogues, etc.) have been through speech. Therefore, is logic that during this transmission they were altered from the original version.
Regarding the Ball de diables, even though it's popularly known as "dance", it must be considered an entremés
Entremés
Entremés, is a short, comic theatrical performance of one act, usually played during the interlude of a performance of a long dramatic work, in the 16th and 17th centuries in Spain. Later it became the sainete....
since this kind of performance was represented between plates during meals of the nobility
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
in the middle ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
.
The synthesis of the Ball de diables is a theatrical representation of the struggle between the good
Good
Good may refer to:* Good and evil - The distinction between positive and negative entities* Good - Objects produced for market* Form of the Good - Plato's macrocosmic view of goodness in living* Good...
and the evil
Evil
Evil is the violation of, or intent to violate, some moral code. Evil is usually seen as the dualistic opposite of good. Definitions of evil vary along with analysis of its root motive causes, however general actions commonly considered evil include: conscious and deliberate wrongdoing,...
. In its scenic context it has been also used, mainly for the Corpus Christi festivities
Corpus Christi (feast)
Corpus Christi is a Latin Rite solemnity, now designated the solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ . It is also celebrated in some Anglican, Lutheran and Old Catholic Churches. Like Trinity Sunday and the Solemnity of Christ the King, it does not commemorate a particular event in...
, in the ecclesiastic procession
Procession
A procession is an organized body of people advancing in a formal or ceremonial manner.-Procession elements:...
s as accompaniment to provide a more ceremonious and spectacular aspect. Finally, the devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
s, little devils or demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
s used to parade leading the procession to announce its arrival making a racket. In a deafening and noisy way they used to separate the public present opening the path for the procession.
Either way we find the fugire of the devil or little devil in the origin of all the spoken dances. Is a character that doesn't have any relationship with the play being represented, but that is put in the middle and makes the audience laugh with its stunts. At the end of the play some satiric verses are recited which are related to the political
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
or public life of the locality
Locality
Locality may refer to:* Locality, a.k.a. human settlement* Locality of reference in computer-science data-access issue* Locality * Locality * Locality, physics concept re principle of locality* Locality in astronomy...
where it's represented, and that everyone await with delight.
This could have been the origin of the Ball de diables. Starting from a character that each time was taking more prominence and exceeding the importance of the original play, and as a result the devil part became the most popular one.
The first written news
News
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
about the Ball de diables, according to Joan Amades
Joan Amades
Joan Amades i Gelats , was an eminent Catalan ethnologist and folklorist. An autodidact, he worked at the historical archive of the city of Barcelona and at the Museum of Industry and Popular Arts of the same city. From 1956 onwards he collaborated with UNESCO...
, dates from the year 1150. The act was represented in the banquet of the wedding of the Barcelona count, Ramon Berenguer IV
Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona
Ramon Berenguer IV , sometimes called the Holy, was the Count of Barcelona who effected the union between the Kingdom of Aragon and the Principality of Catalonia into the Crown of Aragon....
with the princess Petronilla, daughter of the king of Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
and Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
. The chronicle tells us that it represented the struggle of some demons, commanded by Lucifer
Lucifer
Traditionally, Lucifer is a name that in English generally refers to the devil or Satan before being cast from Heaven, although this is not the original meaning of the term. In Latin, from which the English word is derived, Lucifer means "light-bearer"...
, against the Archangel Saint Michael
Michael (archangel)
Michael , Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; , Mikhaḗl; or Míchaël; , Mīkhā'īl) is an archangel in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic teachings. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans refer to him as Saint Michael the Archangel and also simply as Saint Michael...
and a squad of angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
s.
The second written reference that we know, quoted in the book of solemnities of Barcelona, is about the festivities of 1423 remembering the arrival to Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
of the king Alfonso V of Aragon
Alfonso V of Aragon
Alfonso the Magnanimous KG was the King of Aragon , Valencia , Majorca, Sardinia and Corsica , and Sicily and Count of Barcelona from 1416 and King of Naples from 1442 until his death...
, coming from Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
.
Also in Cervera
Cervera
Cervera is the capital of the comarca of Segarra, in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain. The title Compte de Cervera is a courtesy title, formerly part of the Crown of Aragon, that has been revived for Felipe, Prince of Asturias....
the devils participate for the festivities of Corpus Christi in the year 1426. Again in Barcelona, on the occasion of the arrival of the duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
of Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
in September 1467, some parties were organized where the devils were also present.
In the beginnings of the 15th century, the processions of Corpus Christi in Barcelona were closed with a short plays, formed by a squad of angels and other of devils.