The Agrupació de Balls Populars

Was founded in 1979 with the aim of preserving, reviving and disseminating the popular dances and "entremesos" of Vilanova i la Geltrú, the traditional and popular culture of Garraf region, and indeed that of Catalonian. ("Entremesos" have no direct translation on English, they consist of giants, "mulasses", dragons, etc. in parades rather than dances). It currently has around 500 members and has its social centre at is Carrer Major 73, 08800 Vilanova i la Geltrú.

In 1979 the Ball de Diables, Ball de Bastons, Falcons de Vilanova and the Drac de la Geltrú, separate groups in Vilanova i la Geltrú, decided that the best way for the revival of the area’s folklore was to act together and the Agrupació was formed.
During the following years the Agrupació began the task of reviving some of the popular dances from Vilanova that had long disappeared.

In 1980 the Ball de Pastorets and Ball de Gitanes were revived. The Ball de Diables Petits was created in 1981. In 1982 both the Ball de Cercolets and the Ball d’en Joan de Serrallonga were revived. The Ball de Panderos was revived in 1984 and the Ball de Cintes in 1986.

In 1990, the Agrupació became responsible for carriers of the Mulasses and the Capgrossos of Vilanova, although the Mulasses and the Capgrossos remain the property of de city of Vilanova i la Geltrú.

In 2000 the Ball de Valencians, considered to be one of the antecedents of Castells, was revived, and during the Carnival of that year the Ball de Malcasats, a spoken dance with comical and satirical aspects was introduced.

These days, of the original four founders, only the Ball of Bastons remains within the Agrupació. The Bastoners have gone from strength to strength, now having four teams of dancers.

The Agrupació has strong ties with similar groups all over Spain, having organised national events such as the meeting of Bastoners in 1984, and the Trabucaires and the Ball d’en Serrallonga in 1983.

The Agrupació is a member of Provincial Coordination Team of Bastoners and has sponsored the creation of the Mulassa and the Ball de Serrallonga in Tarragona. It has participated in many meetings with other dances from Catalonian and has been represented in many different celebrations in cities, towns and villages of the country.

The cultural and festive activity take place during the summer months, culminating in the Festa Major of Vilanova on the 5th of August.

In order to keep constant and interest throughout the year the Agrupació de Balls Populars also organises other events from children’s activities to gastronomy, but since 1987 the event that stands out is participation in the fun of Carnival at Vilanova.

How to find us?
The Social Centre of the Agrupació de Balls Populars is at 73 Carrer Major, Vilanova i la Geltrú.
The full postal address is:
L’Agrupació de Balls Populars
Carrer Major 73
08800 Vilanova i la Geltrú
Spain
Telephone (from England) 0034 93 814 51 42
Email: agrupacio@ballspopularsvilanova.org
Vilanova i la Geltrú is the capital of Garraf region and is approximately forty minutes south of Barcelona by rail.

If you are arriving by car take the C-32 motorway, the AP7, or the C31 B-road from Vilafranca del Penedès or L’Arboç.