ESCOLA DE MÚSICA I DANSES DE MALLORCA, SPAIN
o 1975 – Mr. Bartolomeu Ensenyat Estrany founds the school, sponsored by the
Ayuntamiento (city council) of Palma de Mallorca.
o 1977 – Trip to Tunisia with performances in Tunis, Sousse, Sfax y Bizerte.
o 1978 – Trip to Puerto Rico.
o 1980 – Trip to Sicily to participate in the 37 Sagra dil Mandorlo in Fiore, 27
Festival Internacional de Folklore de Agrigento.
o 1980 – Trip to Belguim.
o 1984 – Trip to Sicily to participate in the 41 Sagra dil Mandorlo in Fiore, winning
the Grand Prix of the Festival, the “Tempio di Oro”, as well as the prize for the best
traditional dress.
o 1985 – Trip to Munich, Germany, to participate in the “I World Folk Dance
Festival”, winning the Nations Grand Prix.
o 1986 – Trip to Paris, France, invitation to perform at UNESCO headquarters.
o 1988 – Trip to Greece to participate in the Nápflio International Festival.
o 1989 – Trip to Sicily to participate in the 46 Sagra dil Mandorlo in Fiore, winning
the “Ugo Re Capriata” prize, an award only bestowed upon previous winners of the
“Tempio di Oro”.
o 1989 – Trip to Sardinia to mark the twinning of Palma de Mallorca with the city of
Alghero.
o During the 1980s the school took part in numerous performances in Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera along with various Spanish cities as part of the “Mallorca se presenta” programme, sponsored by the Govern Balear (Balearic Government) and the Fomento del Turismo (Tourist Office).
o 1990 – Trip to Hong Kong and Taiwan to participate in the Taipéi International Folklore Festival.
o 1992 – Trip to Seville at the ‘92 Expo, representing Mallorca.
o 1993 – Trip to Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, with performances in the ’93 Xacobeo.
o 1995 – Trip to Sicily, guests of honour at the “Sagra dil Mandorlo in Fiore” festival.
o 1997 – Mr. Bartolomeu Ensenyat Estrany is awarded the “Ramón Llull” prize by the Govern Balear (Balearic Government) for his work in the recovery and promotion of folklore in Mallorca. Mr. Ensenyat dies in Palma in 1998.
o 1999 – The Escola de Música i Danses de Mallorca is awarded the special
“Bartomeu Ensenyat” prize for folkoric authenticity during the VIII World Folk Dance Festival in Palma, instituted that same year by the festival jury,.
o 2000 – Trip to Sicily to participate in the “Sagra dil Mandorlo in Fiore”, winning the prize for the Best Folkloric and Traditional Music Group.
o 2001 – Trip to Ibiza to mark the celebrations of Ibiza’s recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
o 2001 – Trip to Budapest, Hungary, to participate in the International Folkloric “Duna Festival”.
o 2002 – Trip to Poland to participate in the Folkloric Festivals of Strzregom, Nowa Ruda and Kolobrzeg, wining the prize for the best couple.
o 2003 – Trip to Turkey to participate in the Folkloric Festivals of Büyükçekmece, winning the prize for the best woman dancer.
o 2004 – Trip to Northern Cyprus to participate in the International Folklore Festival of the city of Iskele
2005 – Tip to Sicily to participate in the “Sagra dil Mandorlo in Fiore”, winning the special prize for the most voted group via internet.
o 2005 – Trip to Portugal to participate in the “Celestino Graça de Santarém” International Folklore Festival.
o 2006 – Trip to Turkey to the Bursa International Folklore Festival, winning Second Prize.
o 2006 – Trip to Bulgaria to participate in the Sofía International Folklore Festival.
o 2007 – Trip to Rome, group received by Pope Benedicto XVI at the Papal
congregation. Participated in the Cortona International Folkloric Festival.
o 2007 – Trip to Poland to participate in the 44th International Folklore Festival of Zywiec, winning the prize for the Best Music, Costume and Sance. With performances in the cities of Bielsko-Biala, Zywiec, Auswitch, Wisla y Szczyrk.
o 2008 – Filming of thirteen episodes of the television programme “Històries d’un Ball”, starring the members of the school, produced by Televisión de Mallorca.
o 2008 – Trip to Manila, The Phillipines, invitation from the Phillipines National Ballet to participate together in the programme “Mestizaje”, performances in the Phillipines Cultural Centre.
o 2009 – Trip to Syria to participate in the XXI edition of the Bosra International Folkloric Festival with performances in the cities of Tartus, Latakia, Bosra and Zweida.
o 2010 – Participated in Balearic TV channel IB3’s “Va de Bot” in which the school coached two competitors in Mallorcan dance.
o 2010 – Trip to Port Sur Saône, France, to participate in the XXI International Folkloric Festival.
o 2011 – Trip to Croatia to participate in the Jelenje International Folklore Festival with performances in Opatija, Lovran, Kostrena and Jelenje.
o 2012 – Trip to Hungary, to participate in the Szekésfehérvár International Folkloric Festival.
o 2013 – Trip to Lithuania to participate in the Siauliai International Festival, winning the Grand Prix First Prize, First Prize for Choreographed Dance, First Prize for Music Group, First Prize for Solo Musician and Second Prize for Traditional Dance.
o 2014 - Trip to Romania, participation in the International Folk Dance Festival Carpati, obtaining third prize, performances in Pitesti, Curtea de Arges, and Topolevi Mioveni.
o 2015 - Trip to Turkey, participation in the 16th International Festival of
Büyükçekmece, winning the First Prize of the Festival.
o 2016 – Trip to Sicily, participation in the Flok Caravan.
o 2016 – Trip to Portugal, Participation in the XX Festival International Folk Festival of Alto Minho, Viana do Castelo.
o 2016 – Trip to Greece, participation in the Flok Caravan.
o 2017 – Trip to Hungary, to participate in the Szekésfehérvár International Folkloric Festival.
o 2017 – trip to China, participation in the 10th China Internatonal Younth Arts Festival in Shangai.
o 2018 – trip to Lorca, participation in the XXIX International Folk Festival of Lorca Town.
o 2018 – Trip to Korea, participation in the Cheonan World Dance Festival, winning the second prize of the Festival.
o 2019 – Trip to Bulgaria to participate in the Vitosha International Folklore Festival in Sofia, winnig de First Prize of the Festival.
o 2020 – Participation in the web festival Festifolk Panamá 2020.
o 2020 – Participation in the 8th Internacional Festival folk dance and music Belgrade Award, web edition.
o 2021 – Participation in the web festival Festifolk Panamà 2021.
o 2021 – Participation in the web festival of Colombia.
o 2021 – Participation in the web festival XXVI Internacional Dance Festival “folk Harbor” in Gorzów, Poland, winnig the Grand Prix.
o 2022 – Participation in the 11th International Folk Festival 2022-Nepal (Virtual Edition).
o 2022 Trip to Brasil to participate in the 18th Nova Prata Internationa Folk Festival.
o 2022 trip to Berango (Basque country) to participate in the tribute to Iñaki Gonzalez for his work at the helm of Otxandategi Dantza Taldea.
o 2023 trip to Albania to participate in the 3th Intenational Folk Festival of Tirana, Albania.
AWARDS:
o 1986 - Touristic Merit Award in the category of bronze, awarded by the Ministry of Transport, Tourism and Communications.
o 2015 - Medal of honor and gratitude of the island of Mallorca in the gold category.
o 2019 – Gold medal of the City Council.
o 2023 – Humanities Award from the Rotary Club Mallorca.
PRIZES:
o Templo de Oro, Agrigento Festival, Sicily (1984).
o Nations Grand Prix, I World Folklore Festival, Munich (1985).
o Ugo Re Capriata, Agrigento Festival, Sicily (1989).
o “Bartomeu Ensenyat” Prize, VIII World Folklore Festival, Palma (1999).
o Prize for the Best Folkloric and Traditional Music Group, Agrigento Festival, Sicily (2000).
o Prize for the best couple, Kolobrzeg, Poland (2002)
o Prize for the best woman dancer, Büyükçekmece, Turkey (2003)
o Special Prize Internet Vote, Agrigento Festival, Sicily (2005).
o Second Prize, Bursa International Festival, Turkey (2006).
o Prize for the Best Music, Dress and Dance, Zywiec Festival, Poland (2007).
o First Prize Grand Prix, First Prize Choreographed Dance, First Prize Music
Group, First Prize Solo Musician, Second Prize Traditional Dance, Siauliai
International Festival (2013).
o Third Prize, International Folk Dance Festival Carpati, Pitesti, Romania (2014).
o First Prize, 16th International Festival of Büyükçekmece, Turkey (2015).
o Second Prize, Cheonan World Dance Festival, Korea (2018).
o First Prize, Vitosha International Folkloric Festival in Sofia, Bulgària.
o Grand Prix, in the XXVI International Dance Festival “folk Harbor” in Gorzów, Poland
o Third Prize, Nova Prata International Folk Festival, Brasil (2022).
o Second Prize, in the International Folk Festival of Tirana and special award best live music, Albania (2023)
PUBLICATIONS:
o 2007 – CD recording of a 23-track disc along with an instructional DVD for learners of Mallorcan dance, entitled “Així Fent Escola”, sponsored by the Consell de Mallorca.
o 2009 – Publication of a book, sponsored by the “Institut d’Estudis Baleàrics”, along with a 7-track CD entitled “La Contradansa a Mallorca”, a research and recovery project concerning the Contra Dance in Mallorca. The book was published with the collaboration of Francesc Vallcaneras, Xavier Carbonell, Antoni Bibiloni, Miquel J. Deyá, Verenice Strumia and Gabriel Frontera. The Escola de Música i Danses de Mallorca is a non-profit organisation which aims to study, document, teach, diffuse, and encourage the elements of Mallorcan popular and traditional culture, focusing on dance, music, musical instruments and dress.
Throughout the years the Escola de Música i Danses de Mallorca has participated in numerous cultural events in Mallorca, with the collaboration of the Ayuntamiento de Palma (city council) in various programmes of folkloric performances. It has also performed, and continues to do so, for the various cultural and social organisations on our island. Since 1987 the school assists with the organisation of the biennial World Folkloric Festival which takes place in Palma. The current director of the school, Mr. Gabriel Frontera Mestre, is a member of the comittee and jury of the festival. In recent years the school has collaborated with the Instituto Balear de Turismo, IBATUR, and the Ayuntamiento de Palma with interactive performances in Palma’s municipal theatres and in various streets and squares around the city.
The group will perform in the artistically developed category II.
