Ball de bastons

Ball de bastons (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈbaʎ də βəsˈtons], lit. 'stick dance') is the name of a ritual weapon dance spread throughout Europe and the rest of the Iberian area, but mostly in Catalonia, Valencia, Aragon and Castile and León where it is UNESCO heritage. English and Welsh Morris dances are well-known relatives to these traditions. The origins of dance are difficult to reference; first recorded mention dates to 1150, in a banquet of Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona. Most melodies are based on easy 2/4 rhythms.