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Tell us what Galician Dance is? Galician dance comes from the north of Spain where it is born in the communities of different towns and dance points and complete dances have passed from generation to generation and different styles according to the region of Galicia is concerned. The dances are mostly made up of jumped dance points, walks and generally arms up. There are several types of Galician dances, for example "La Muiñeira" is a popular dance that arose from the mills (muiños said and written in Galician by that translates to Muiñeira), since every time they ground the wheat to make bread, the stone with which they did it when turning it caused a constant noise that created a certain rhythm and later became the Muiñeira, currently it is sung and danced accompanied Galician bagpipes, drums, tambourines, drums, pandeiro, bass drum and sometimes it is complemented with more percussion such as the typical Galician instrument, the charrasco and the shells better known among Galicians as scallops. Other dances involved with the muiñeira are the pandeirada, the carballesa and the alalá, which is a popular song performed by men and women accompanied by tambourines.

Another type of typical Galician dance is the "Xota" which specifically in Galicia is danced differently than in other regions of Spain since it is characterized by its less jumpy and dragging steps but with much more force, sometimes it can be dance with castanets. The dancers or members of the Bagpipe and Percussion Band usually complement the dances with the "aturuxos" which are shouts that are generally used at parties to encourage the dancers and the public.

Most of all Galician dances have a reason and a meaning, one of the most popular is the courtship of the man towards the woman imposing a step and inviting the couple to dance so that they follow the guide.

Not to mention other dances: the Ruada, Alboradas, Foliadas, Pasodobles and the Polka Gallega also belong to the variety of dances that will be found in the Traditional Galician Culture.

Talk about the costumes

The traditional Galician Dance costumes are beautiful, they are also distinguished by the different regions of Galicia but in general there are the costumes used in the countryside (rustic and peasant costumes) and those used by people with greater purchasing power ( gala suits) which have a lot of hand-embroidered rhinestones. The men's suit consists of shoes, cirolas, leggings, bloomers, pants, shirt, sash and as accessories they wear a vest, jacket, scarves, cape and the head can be uncovered and well combed or with a hat, montera or scarf. Women do deserve an added value for dancing and jumping with the costumes that touch us since they weigh at least 7 to approximately 20 kilos depending on the rhinestones and accessories that we wear. We start with flexible shoes and generally with thick heels, it can vary according to the suit, since on special occasions we also use Swedish shoes (souks), as part of the suit, in general, they are openwork stockings (if these are not complete, they are used with a garter belt), bloomers that are shorts that were used as underwear in the past, the petticoat that would be a type of crinoline but all made of cloth, with embroidery, ribbons and starched, the skirt (saia) that if it is not made of cloth is velvet or with applications, the shirt and accessories such as apron, cloak, vest, dengue, cape, jacket, shawl, necklaces, earrings and on the head can be with different hairstyles such as buns or braided hair and with accessories such as the cap, scarf, cap, san cosmeiro and different kinds of hats.

The women's costumes in particular are very laborious and very detailed, some as I mentioned before with a lot of hand-embroidered rhinestones which takes months of work. Also the colors of the ribbons that wear the cuffs and the collar of the shirts or the petticoat and the bloomers according to the color red, black, yellow represents if she is married, widow or single, all the Galician folklore costume has a very significant meaning. special. It is a pride to be able to wear a suit like this and more when they are inspired by real costumes.

Tell us how your passion for dance began? All of my mother Mary Fe Pérez Pérez's family, including her, was born in Galicia and living with her along with my grandparents and siblings instilled in me since I was born. I grew up in a totally Galician culture where people ate, drank typical liquors, watched Galician television and even spoke Galician.

Do you remember your first dance? What was it? Of course, I started dancing from the age of 9 when my aunt decided to enroll my cousin in the Galician Dance classes of the Children's Group of the Centro Gallego de México (the club I have belonged to since I was born) and well My mom, knowing how much I liked to dance since I barely learned to walk, got me in with her. The Dance Group, both for Children and Advanced, has several presentations and the first time I performed was at the Teatro San Rafael, it was such a satisfying and unique experience that it continues in my life today.

Where did the idea of ​​being an Artistic Director and Choreographer come from? All my life I have been fascinated by dancing, I have always said that Galician dance is born in our hearts, runs through our entire body and is reflected in our feet. As I was saying, I started dancing from the age of 9 and as the years went by, they asked me to be a teacher of the Children's Cadre of the Centro Gallego de México. I was just 20 years old and that's when I had to decide between going on an exchange in the University to another country or choose an opportunity that would definitely fill my soul for all the time I had been dancing. Honestly, I didn't doubt it for a minute. After seven years of teaching, they offered me the Artistic and Choreographic Direction of the Advanced Group, a moment that lit up my soul and with my eyes closed I accepted since it was a dream come true.

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Te I tell you that for 55 years and to date, once a year we present at the Palacio de Bellas Artes at the Festival of Spanish Choirs and Dances together with all the presentations in which we participate, typical Galician festivals, charity events and dances that organizes both the Celebration Committee of the Galician Center of Mexico and the Spanish board of Covadonga and it is a true honor to be part of it.

Where and what did you study? I studied Communication at the Universidad Iberoamericana and specialized in Television graduating with a Laudable Mention. While I was studying at the University, I worked at Ibero90.9, the Ibero radio station, organizing events, at the same time, I went to Flamenco classes, gave Galician Dance classes to 152 students from five to fourteen years of age who belonged to the Children's Cadre and took Advanced classes and I was also the Television Production Coordinator of a book program called Contraportada that opened the doors for me to later be the Host of two newscasts, some special capsules and a substitute for a magazine program, but above all the great opportunity to being General Producer of a variety of television programs which were a watershed growing personal and professional anecdotes that tattooed my life. From what you can see, I have always been very active, which is why sometimes I don't believe people who tell me “they don't have time to do things”.

What novelties can we find in your work?Within something so traditional and with so many years of history, it is difficult to do something new unless I get out of the traditional parameters and do Nova Galega dance montages, which is a combination of Galician Traditional Dance mixed with Contemporary Dance and Body Expression, but since we really want to preserve our roots, what I do that is new is to tell stories in different ways, do original and risky dances, with complex and lucid steps, active choreography, with non-traditional costumes. commonly seen and looking for music that is always performed live by the Bagpipe and Percussion Band of the Galician Center that is from current Galician groups, but of course without losing tradition, without forgetting where we come from and in the most original way possible, paying tribute to those who deserve it and thanks to them the Galician Dance and Music that not everyone knows has endured.

How do you see the situation of Dance in Mexico to that of Spain? Speaking of terms of dance as such, it has a similarity, since there are typical dances in Yucatan that are different from those of Veracruz and those of other States of Mexico, in Spain the same thing happens; Galicia has its dances and costumes that are different from those of Asturias, Castilla y León, the same Andalusia, which is what everyone associates as Spanish dance, I gave the previous example so that it is understood that, as in Mexico, it not only has the Tapatío Syrup or the Danza de los Viejitos, in Spain there are only Sevillanas and Flamenco. What I'm getting at with all this is that both countries are so rich in Culture in General, but focusing on dance, there is so much variety that it is a pride that both countries fight and continue to preserve the dances, costumes, music and languages ​​of each region. And I do not want to let you overlook the fact that it is appreciated that there is a place in Mexico (as surely there is in Spain) a place where people who migrated so many years ago can meet, see and develop where they come from and frequent their roots.

Does the economic criterion predominate over the artistic when programming? As in all events, pre-production is needed and if it has a narrow economic power, then there are more possibilities of integrating more elements and of better quality so that the show looks better. I am referring to the scenery, lighting, props, although the costumes are run by the dancers and the music and dance are always professional. It is a whole in general, it helps a lot, but you also have to make an effort in a choreography, steps, walks, music, first-class costumes. They complement each other and I consider that it is not one without the other.

What does dance mean to you? Dance is everything to me, I feel that it is something that is inexplicable in words because only those of us who feel when we are on stage both presenting and producing everything to achieve it understand that vibe that you full from head to toe that makes you radiate with happiness, to transmit where it comes from and what message to give through such a beautiful art which is dancing.

What is a day in the life of Sofía Salafranca like? My days are not always the same but usually I wake up, drink my green smoothie, go to the gym, sometimes take Zumba classes, yoga classes, body combat, I like to cook so sometimes I invent recipes, I dedicate time to a car rental business that I have for weddings, I generally always listen to Galician music, I train my dog, I catch up with my family and friends, I give and/or prepare the Galician dance classes for approximately 50 students, I come home, watch series with my husband and I am always looking forward to new things and trips to plan.

What advice would you give to people who want to venture into the world of Galician Dance? As I always tell my students, it is a constant effort, a self-dedication both in dance style, as in body movement, as in rhythm, memory and teamwork to carry out the choreographies that are assembled. That they believe in themselves and that dance is the most beautiful universal language that can exist, that they never give up on their dreams, that they always demand more and reach results that surprise themselves. That what we want from the soul, sooner or later does come true. What can happen to them like me, that with effort and dedication everything is possible. That there is nothing more beautiful and important than being able to admire a student and see the results in them.

Where can we find you? Tuesdays and Fridays I teach Galician Dance in the afternoons at the Centro Gallego de México located at Calle de Colima 194 in Roma Norte, Mexico City.

What are your next plans? The next plans are definitely to add one more year to the 21 years I have in total, starting the new cycle that will be in August of the current year, start setting up new dances for Fine Arts, take a course with a Galician teacher who is #1 as a professional Galician Dancer in Galicia who is coming to Mexico in October, create new steps and see if I can apply for next summer to go to the Escolas Abertas intensive course 2017 that the Xunta de Galicia does, bringing together dancers and professionals who practice Galician Dance in various countries of the world and waiting for a new business that they will find out that it has nothing to do with dance but with flowers. Thank you very much for the interview, it was a pleasure to be able to share a little piece of Galicia with you.

By Molén Antolin (@mousi)

Photos courtesy of Sofia SalafrancaTwitter: @SofiaSalafrancaFacebook: Centro Gallego de México-NuevaInstagram: sophsalafrancaWebsite: www.centrogallegodemexico.org