The Colla de Can Bonet emerged in 1981 as an extracurricular activity of the Can Bonet school, at the initiative of Antònia Torres (Antònia des Pou), who was, at the time, a teacher and director of the school. Mr. Joan Serra, from ca n’Alqueria, was appointed as the manager of this activity; he was a member of the APA and father of some of the dancers who enrolled in traditional Ibizan dance classes.


During that period, there were three instructors: as master musician, Pep Mossènyers; as dance instructors, Vicent Planells for men and Maria d’en Sardina for women. Rehearsals were held once a week in a classroom provided by the school. In 1989, it was legally constituted as the Folkloric Association Sa Colla de Can Bonet, in order to preserve the name of the school and the neighborhood where it was created. The parents of the dancers formed the executive board, as all the dancers were minors. During that stage, Mrs. Maria Roselló led the group.

Regarding the instructors, there were also changes: Miquel d’en Ferrer began to come as a musician; as for the dance instructors, there were Cristina and Evelio (from the Es Vedrà group), later Toni Canyes, and finally, Vicent d’en Frit. Furthermore, from the beginning, we have always relied on the advice of Vicent Llucià, known as Llucianet, one of the longest-serving members of the group, whose contributions are still valued, both concerning women’s and men’s dance, and especially regarding the teaching of castanets. Once the former students, both men and women, had learned, they took on the task of teaching new members.

Regarding the presidents of the Colla, after Maria Roselló, there have been others: firstly, Pepe d’en Debaix; Toni de sa Plana; Maria Antònia Costa d’en Pepís; Clàudia Costa de can Micolau; Sònia Sala, de can Llucià, Toni Costa de ca na Joana, and currently Lluc Costa de Ca n’Andreu.

OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Folkloric Association Sa Colla de Can Bonet have always been to preserve and promote an important part of Ibizan culture: the traditional dance of Ibiza and Formentera, better known in the Pitiusas as ‘ball pagès’, as well as its music, attire, and everything that can help to promote and preserve the roots of the Ibizan people. For this reason, the association has managed to collect, through its members, replicas of most traditional costumes: regarding women’s attire, it has the black ‘gonella’ with ‘mantellina’ and the black ‘gonella’ with a hat, the white dress and the colored one, both in festive and work versions. Regarding men’s attire, white suits are also available, both linen and cotton, the black wool suit, and the ‘camisola’. Regarding musical instruments, we also have the ‘flaüta’, characterized by having three holes, the drum, castanets, and the ‘espasí’. Also, in order not to lose traditions, the association organizes various courses where they focus on making both typical Ibizan clothing and musical instruments.

In parallel with its activity as an autonomous association and dance Colla, Sa Colla de Can Bonet also participates in the Federation of Colles of Dance and Popular Culture of Ibiza and Formentera since its inception, as a way to promote Pitiusan culture to the highest levels.

RECOGNITIONS
The Folkloric Association Sa Colla de Can Bonet was awarded on February 3, 2007, with the Silver Medal by the Sant Antoni de Portmany Town Council for its 25 years of uninterrupted activity and collaboration with the municipality.

PERFORMANCES
To promote and disseminate Ibizan culture, Sa Colla de Can Bonet primarily focuses on dance and its music. That is why it participates in the patron saint festivities of the parish of Sant Antoni de Portmany (Sant Antoni, Sant Bartomeu, Carmen festivities…) and of the chapel of Can Bonet (Sagrada Família), the Festes de la Terra (August 8) along with the other dance Colles of Ibiza and in all places where it is invited. Every four years, it collaborates with the Sant Antoni Town Council in organizing the Festival of Dance and Songs of Our Land (which is held annually at Cine Regio for the town’s festivities). It has participated several times in the Mare Nostrum Folkloric Festival, inviting groups from outside and participating (together with them) in the dances of the municipality of Sant Antoni de Portmany. In 2006, it was responsible for representing Ibiza in the eleventh edition of this festival. In 2016, we invited the group Coros y Danzas Castiella, from Cabezón de Pisuerga (Valladolid), to participate in this festival.

Additionally, our association has revived two ancient festivities, such as the popular dances at wells and springs. Since 1996, the dance at the spring known as es Broll de Buscastell takes place the weekend after Saint James’s Day (July 25). The festival at the well of es Escarabats, also in the ‘vénda’ of Buscastell, is celebrated on the Sunday following Saint John’s Day (June 24), since 1999. In these two festivities, organized with the collaboration of the Sant Antoni de Portmany Town Council and the participation of local residents, one can enjoy and participate in the exhibition of traditional Ibizan dance (‘ball pagès’), bagpipe music, traditional contests, and other displays of Ibizan roots, such as the ‘ucs’ (traditional shouts) and the blowing of the horn.

Outside the island of Ibiza, it has performed in various locations, notably cultural exchange trips to Aurich (Germany), Les Preses (Girona), Ares (A Coruña), Vall d’Uixó (Castelló), Puerto Llano (Ciudad Real), Alhama de Múrcia, Mora (Toledo), Carlet (Valencia), Onís and Blimea (both in Asturias), and various performances on the islands of Mallorca and Menorca, such as Esporles, Ciutadella, or Vilafranca de Bonany in 2009.

Furthermore, Sa Colla de Can Bonet was responsible for representing the island of Ibiza at the FITUR edition in 2007.

It has also been responsible for performing the traditional Ibizan dance (‘ball pagès’) at the Balearic Islands Day (March 1), in various locations: at the Exhibition Center, at the Sant Rafel Hippodrome, and in Sa Coma (in 2011).

The Folkloric Association Sa Colla de Can Bonet was awarded on February 3, 2007, with the Silver Medal by the Sant Antoni de Portmany Town Council for its 25 years of activity.

For the celebration of this 25th anniversary, a ‘xacota pagesa’ (traditional Ibizan party) was held on December 10, 2006, for the festivities of Can Bonet, featuring traditional Ibizan dance (‘ball pagès’), singers, ‘glosadors’ (improvised poets), and musicians. And in January 2007 (from the 2nd to the 20th), an exhibition of photographs and other memorabilia of the Colla was held at Molí d’en Simó (Sant Antoni).

COURSES

Traditional Ibizan Dance:

Every Saturday from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM, the members of Sa Colla de Can Bonet rehearse at the Can Bonet Social Center in Ses Païsses, Sant Antoni.

Free and without obligation. Aimed at young people aged 3 to 99.

#HivernaSantAntoni

Other courses:
In order not to lose traditions, the association organizes various courses where they focus on making both typical Ibizan clothing and musical instruments. The courses held so far are the following:

• Embroidering ‘refacos’: winters 2015/2017
• Making Ibizan shawls, winter of 2003.
• Making Ibizan ‘flaütes’ (winter 2008), taught by Pere Tirurit.