Pauliteiros de Miranda

The Pauliteiros da cidade de Miranda do Douro have been around for twenty years, dedicated to the preservation of the Portuguese Mirandese tradition through music and dance. Accompanied by the sounds of bagpipes, snare and bass drums, their movements are a warrior dance that symbolises local historical moments, involving the use of two sticks with which they perform a series of coordinated steps and movements. With typical costumes, contagious energy and a rich repertoire of ‘lhaços’ — the name given to their melodies, text and choreography — the Pauliteiros’ performances have taken the Terras de Miranda, in the north-east of Portugal, to stages all over Europe.

This performance forms part of the programme for the second edition of Fogo Fátuo.

Photographs by Renato Cruz Santos