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[[Image:Bastoners in Barcelona 1.jpg|thumb|Bastoners in Barcelona]]
[[File:Ball bastons.webm|thumb|Traditional Catalan folk dance Ball de bastons]]
'''''Ball de bastons''''' ({{IPA|ca|ˈbaʎ də βəsˈtons}}, ''stick dance'') is the name of a ritual [[weapon dance]] spread throughout Europe and the rest of the Iberian area (''cossiers'' in [[Majorca]], [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] ''pauliteiros'', [[Aragonese language|Aragonese]] ''palotiau'', [[Basque language|Basque]] ''ezpatadantza'' and [[Spanish language|Spanish]] ''paloteo'' or ''troqueado'') but mostly in [[Catalonia]], [[Valencia]], [[Aragón]] and [[Castilla y León]] where it is UNESCO heritage. English and Welsh [[Morris dance]]s are well-known relatives to these traditions. The origins of dance are difficult to reference; first recorded mention dates to 1150, in a banquet of Count Berenguer IV)<ref>{{cite book|last=AA.VV.|title=Un cop fort i sec : historia del Ball de bastons del Vendrell|year=2009|publisher=Cossetània Edicions|isbn=978-84-9791-471-0|page=15}}</ref>

Most melodies are based on easy 2/4 rhythms.  Instrumentarium includes [[tabor pipe]], [[shawm]] or [[bagpipes]]. Some of these tunes as ''Villano de Zamora'' were strikingly popular grounds among European Renaissance and Baroque composers.

The phrase encompasses various traditions, but typically, the dancers carry one or two sticks (bastons), traditionally made of [[Quercus ilex|holm oak]], measuring about 40–50 centimeters (16–20 inches) long and 5 centimeters (2 inches) thick.

In the most common arrangement, two opposite rows of dancers create intricate stick-clashing patterns. Occasionally, a chief character directs the movements and changes. The dancers often wear white skirts or short trousers, along with red ribbons and ornaments.

==See also==
*[[Dandiya Raas]]
*[[Călușari]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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[[Category:Catalan folk dances]]
[[Category:Dance forms in classical music]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]


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