This is without a doubt, together with the “pericote”, the real jewel of Asturian dance.

It is exclusively from the area of Cabrales, from Arenas where it was danced in festivities or in homage to visitors of honour.

It was danced by a varying number of women (six or eight) and just one man to music sung by old women, who also played tambourines and drums. The lone male dancer chases the women, they ignore him, he insists, they flee, he is tired and leaves them, they come back for him….. he realizing a series of skips, greetings, and vigorous arm movements and the women gently waving branches of bay (other herbs are sometimes mentioned: fern, mint..).

There are numerous interpretations:

Cabal underlines its funereal nature because of the solemnity of the dance and the tradition of carrying bay or laurel leaves, which to this day are still placed in coffins in some Asturian villages.

Menéndez Pelayo, who saw the dance in Arenas de Cabrales in August 1930, was convinced of its religious origins. Pola Cuesta talks of an ancient dance in which the religious roots are stronger than in the “pericote”, but sees in both prehistoric emotion and believes that they were ancient ceremonies celebrated in honour of the local gods.

Its prenuptial character is also mentioned as are many others, depending on the author.

But in the end, what all agree on is that it is the most ancient dance in Asturias and distinctive for the purity and elegance of its execution.