THE DANCING HORSES OF JEREZ

The Royal Andalucían School of Equestrian Art, in Jerez de la Frontera, organizes an unique show which is unequalled in elegance and tradition

"How the Andalucían Horses Dance" (Cómo Bailan los Caballos Andaluces) combines choreography, classical flamenco and the Andalucían equestrian tradition in a magical and unique show. This delight for the senses is organised by the Royal Andalucían School of Equestrian Art (Real Escuela Andaluza de Arte Ecuestre), which is backed by the Junta de Andalucía's Tourism, Business and Sports departments, and which is situated in the "Recreo de las Cadenas" in Jerez de la Frontera, a town which is famous throughout the world for its equestrian traditions, and the unofficial 'horse capital of Spain'.

The Royal School was recently awarded the Jerez Prize for Tourist Promotion by the local Council, which is not surprising as its shows and facilities are a major attraction for visitors to the town.

The show called 'How the Andalucían Horses Dance' is an equestrian ballet with essentially Spanish music and costumes of the type worn in the 18th Century, and its choreography is based on the different types of dressage and other forms of traditional horsemanship. Each performance consists of between six and eight set pieces, all of high quality and conforming to the following repertoire, which is set by the Institution:

A demonstration of Doma Vaquera, the 'cowboy' type of dressage used in the countryside to herd cattle. This includes pieces with titles such as 'How the horses move in the countryside', 'Horses in the countryside', 'At the sound of the 'garrocha' and Jerez Fair'.

The show also includes a performance of classic dressage , with pieces such as The Foals, Equestrian Airs, Two Step, Three Step, Passage and Piaffer, Horse Control, and Fantasy. Other sections of the show are carriage driving, where the horses pull beautiful period carriages, and hand control, where the horse obeys instructions from its rider on the ground. Finally, the Carousel is the piéce de resistance of the show, where a group of horses and their riders, in unison, carry out advanced equitation exercises in the ring.

The Foundation of the Royal Andalucían School of Equestrian Art organises selective tours of Spain and abroad with its "Cómo bailan los Caballos Andaluces" show, acting as an ambassador for Andalucía and Spain. Visit the school's website at http://www.realescuela.org