Issue date: 27 Apr, 2009
The series entitled “Popular dances” disseminates the Spanish cultural and folklore heritage with these two stamps devoted to La Isa and Las Sevillanas.
Las Sevillanas, native to Seville, is the most popular dance and song in Andalucía where the following are also very well known: The Olé gaditano from Cádiz, the Jaleo from Jerez, the Rondeña from Ronda, the Malagueña from Málaga and the Granadina from Granada. Technically, they are an evolution from the Castilian seguidillas which in time developed into a more flamenco style. Las Sevillanas are danced in twos and have four different movements: paseillos, pasadas, careos and remates in 3 x4 timing. There is a wide variety of Sevillanas but the best known are the boleras, rocieras, corraleras and bíblicas and they take their name depending on the theme of the song or the background conditions. They are mainly accompanied by guitar playing, hand clapping by the palmeros and, castanets or, palillos (drumsticks) as they are called in Andalucía. Their fame spreads all over the country as they are performed throughout Spain in festivals, celebrations and dance clubs and especially in the Feria de Sevilla and El Rocío pilgrimage. Since the sixties, the Sevillanas have evolved with new artists, themes and musical interpretations though observing the original essence and the graceful arm and leg movement.
The dances and songs from the Canary Islands have mixed Iberian and aborigine roots. The most popular are the Isa, the Serinoque, the Tajaraste, the Folias, Seguidillas and Tanguillos. Although all of these are well known, the most representative of the Canary Islands is the Isa, a Canarían variation of the peninsular 'Jota' but with slower and more lilting rhythm. It has an instrumental part with guitars, bandurrias, lutes and timples and another one with couplets and chorus. The dance is performed in a group, with couples holding hands in a circle and conducted by the captain’s voice. It begins with simple movements and evolves into more complicated steps requiring greater rhythm and skill. At one point the music stops and the consecutive complicated turns begin and then end up in the original dancing circle with its unalterable rhythm. It is a genre that allows for improvisation in rhythms and tunes which makes for a great variety in the different islands each with their own choreography.
Rate A - €0.75. For a “standard” letter or postcard within Spain, up to 20 g.
Rate A2 - €0.85. For a “standard” letter or postcard within Spain, between 20 g and 50 g.
Rate B - €1.65. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to Europe (including Greenland), up to 20 g.
Rate C - €1.75. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to the rest of the world (except USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand), up to 20 g.
Rate D - €2.10. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, up to 20 g.