Dance
In Menorca, as in Majorca, it's impossible to miss the Ball de Bot, which literally means "the dance of jumping". It was during the 17th and 18th centuries that the highest classes of society came to perform this art form, leaving the more popular classes to take it up later on. Passed down from generation to generation, Ball de Bot has an official version and many variations. Improvisation is even allowed! What hasn't changed, however, is the presence of music, played on traditional instruments such as the castanyoles, the xeremia (a kind of bagpipe) and the flabiol (a small five-hole flute). The guitarró (a type of guitar) is also very typical. Costumes play an important role in the Ball de Bot: men wear knee-length pants and a wide belt. Women wear a skirt, blouse and rebosillo (a large scarf).
There are several variations on the Ball de Bot: the fandango, the jota, the bolero and the mateixa i el copeo. The most popular is undoubtedly the bolero, which consists of crossing one's partner and twirling around with arms raised. All these traditional dances are still performed today by numerous folk troupes. These include Los Parranderos, Traginada, Joana Pons amb Ses Guiterres and Trio Arrels de Menorca.
Music
A form of improvised singing typical of the Mediterranean, glosa minorquina is a singular and widespread artistic tradition. The song, more akin to spoken poetry, is always accompanied by a guitar melody called "ses porgueres". The glosa is short and takes place during popular festivals, family reunions and village celebrations. The glosa can also be engaged, a little critical of society. In fact, that's where this art form comes from: the glosa was born in the 17th century, denouncing the stereotypes of the class system! The melody is very important in glosa, the tone mastered, sometimes whispered, albeit slightly tragic from time to time. The guitarist also improvises, following the glosador's declamation. It is even said that one inspires the other.
It's not unusual to hear habanera music on Menorca. This aesthetic comes from Cuba, and was originally more of a dance. Performed by two people, it is slow and swaying. The music, which can be heard in many of Menorca's bars, is gentle, festive and popular.
Jazz, too, is one of the most popular forms of music on the Balearic island! This is undoubtedly thanks to the many activities of the Jazz Obert association, created in 1998 by a group of locals passionate about the style. For more than twenty-five years, they have been spearheading the Menorca Jazz Festival, which each year welcomes big names from the international jazz scene as well as local talents such as Marco Mezquida, a Minorcan pianist and composer. The event lasts four months and takes place in a number of emblematic Menorcan venues, including the Teatro Principal de Maó, one of Spain's oldest performance venues, the Sala Albert Camús, the Auditòri de Ferreries, the Teatre des Born and the Lithica, an outdoor amphitheatre built in an old sandstone quarry.
The association organizes other highlights throughout the year around jazz, swing and poetry.
Jazz lovers will undoubtedly want to take to the streets of Ciutadella, Menorca's liveliest town, where numerous clubs host concerts of the genre, including Jazzbah, a must for music lovers.
In addition to hosting the Menorca Jazz Festival, the Teatre Principal de Maó is actually the country's oldest opera house. It was built in 1829 and has been in operation ever since. The building became a prestigious venue foropera, staging works by musician and composer Joan Bellot i Taltavull, and later by Italian composer Rossini. The people of Menorca became fond of opera, especially Italian opera! Today, opera continues to feature prominently in the town's programming, and some of its citizens are even working to continue promoting this artistic discipline. The Amics de s'Òpera de Maó association was formed in 1971 to promote the town's operatic tradition. Their action was reinforced by the launch of the Fundació Menorquina de l'Òpera in 2006, making Menorca, more than ever, the Spanish island of opera par excellence.
The island has also seen the birth of two ambassadors of this art form, Joan Pons, reputed to be the world's best baritone, and Simón Orfila, also an opera singer, who performs internationally.
A classical music festival, the Summer Music Festival, has been held every year since 1973 in the Socors church in Ciutadella. An opportunity to listen to opera and orchestras in a different context.
Two other not-to-be-missed events in Menorcan summers are the Fosquets de Lithica, held at Pedreres de S'Hostal, featuring concerts of world, classical and ancient music. And the Pedra Viva Festival, which celebrates music and the performing arts at well-known and unusual sites of heritage interest.
The Balearic Islands are also on the circuit for many international artists on the electronic music scene. Although Menorca does not specialize in electronic music like its neighbor Ibiza, a number of clubs offer a nightlife atmosphere that appeals to the younger generation and completes Menorca's tourist offer. The few discotheques are mainly to be found in Ciutadella, to the west of Menorca, a seaside resort known for its port and old town.
Theater
Alongside opera, the theater is also highly valued on Menorca: two venues host plays throughout the year, namely the Théâtre Principal de Maó and the Théâtre des Born, which together account for the bulk of the island's theatrical activity, in addition to the small auditoriums dotted around the territory. The Théâtre des Born was closed for ten years before reopening due to reforms and renovation work. The structure even lends its name to one of the country's most prestigious theater prizes, the Born Theatre Award, which brings the best Spanish playwrights to Menorca every autumn. The island's history is even closely linked to that of Albert Camus, a distinguished playwright whose grandmother was from Menorca. The writer visited Menorca in 1958, and was deeply moved by the experience.
In Menorca, it is said, there are more horses than inhabitants... What is certain is that on the island, the spectacle does not only reside on the floors of the theaters. Menorca's horse shows , known as jaleo, are very famous. These usually take place during the summer months, when the island's villages celebrate their patron saint's day. Sant Joan kicks off in Ciutadella on June 23 and 24, and the festive period generally ends with Mare de Déu de Gràcia, celebrated in Maó on September 9. In between, the "festes populars" take place in July at Sant Martí de Es Mercadal, Sant Antoni de Fornells and Sant Jaume de Es Castell, and in August at Sant Cristòfol de Es Migjorn Gran, Sant Gaietà de Llucmaçanes, Sant Llorenç de Alaior, Sant Climent de Sant Climent, Sant Bartomeu de Ferreries and Sant Lluís de Sant Lluís.
Since the 14th century, pilgrimages have been organized from village to village to follow the festivities. The horse naturally became the means of locomotion for these journeys. The animal was integrated into the celebrations through spectacular equestrian jousts involving various stakeholders in the society of the time. These rituals have survived to the present day.
These shows feature riders and squires, all dressed in black and white costumes. The Menorcan horses form a procession called a "qualcada" and parade through the villages. The highlight of the show is the "Bôts", typical figures of this practice, in which the horse stands up on its two hind legs and poses for a few seconds.
The atmosphere is both solemn (in the religious sense of the word) and festive. In Maó, the atmosphere is heightened tenfold at the end of the patron saint's day. The jaleo is an experience not to be missed when discovering the island of Menorca. All you have to do is hear the church bells ring to know that the festivities have begun. After the parade of riders and horses through the streets of the town, it's time for the night jousting in the town hall square.
In Castilian, jaleo can be translated as "racket" or "mess". This is due to the fervor of the crowd, the constant music and the late summer heat. Another vision of vacation tranquillity, but a guaranteed cultural bath!
In Menorca, another artistic tradition is added to the list: that embodied by the Giants who come out to entertain the crowds during Carnival. These giants even have names: Llucmaçanes, Gorguina, Xisca, Pili, Bernat and Xim. In an atmosphere similar to that of the patron saint's day, carnival is also an important highlight on the Balearic island. Traditionally held at the beginning of March, it consists of a parade of floats and carriages. All participants are dressed in costume. A black and white ball ("ball Blanc i Negre") completes the festivities in two towns: Es Migjorn Gran and Ciutadella.
