Sa Colla de l’Horta was founded in 1978. It is a folkloric group equipped with all the necessary elements to undertake the task of recovering traditional dances, attire, traditions, musical instruments, and to run a school for dancers and musicians. It also launches a series of complementary activities aimed at promoting the traditions and artisanal crafts of our islands.


In 1992, it became a non-profit folkloric association and has been a member, since its creation, of the Federation of Colles of Dance and Popular Culture of Ibiza and Formentera. From 1978 to 1993, members of the group, along with other components from other folkloric associations, participated in various events and celebrations: in 1982 at the Ibiza and Formentera Week in New York, in 1985 at the Europalia Festival held in Brussels, in 1992 at Expo ’92 and the inauguration of the House of Ibiza and Formentera in Barcelona. In 1993, they were in Galicia for the Xacobeo Year.

In 1993, the group made its first solo appearance at the Montrejeau Festival in France, and from that year until today, the Colla has participated in various exhibitions and festivals in Castelló, Burgos, Alicante, Lugo, Portugal, Porreres (Mallorca) in 2005, Maó (Menorca) in 2006, Villanueva de los Infantes in Ciudad Real in September 2007, and Villagarcía de Arousa in August 2009.


From 1996, and continuously until 2009, the Colla undertook the challenging task of organizing workshops to revive crafts that were at risk of disappearing: workshops on espadrilles and slippers, musical instruments, the production of Burell fabric, and the making of baskets and esparto grass tools. These workshops required the group to reproduce the necessary tools and compile relevant information in various books and booklets: Espadrille Workshop (1996), Our Attire: Men’s Clothing (1997), Our Attire: Women’s Clothing (1996), Workshop on Musical and Traditional Instruments of the Pityusic Islands (1999), Esparto Weaving in the Pityusic Rural World (2001), and the most recent, Sa Colla de l’Horta de Jesús: XXV Anniversary (2003). This book is accompanied by a CD featuring the tunes and bagpipes performed by the group and a song dedicated to the group by the singer from Jesús, Margarida Roig. Additionally, in 2001, the environmental group GEN awarded the folkloric group its Savina Prize.


It also participates in the islands’ craft fairs and exhibitions: the Medieval Market, the Puig de Missa Craft Fair, the S’Olivera Craft Fair during the Puig d’en Valls festivities, the Sant Jordi Festivities, and the Sant Isidre exhibition in Sant Josep. Since 2003, it has organized a popular festival in Jesús square on the last Sunday of August, coinciding with the anniversary of the inauguration of Jesús Square, and since that year, every last Sunday of August, it holds this festival featuring craft displays, traditional children’s games, and folk dancing.


While not leaders, they are considered a vibrant association with a promising future and a strong desire to continue teaching, researching, traveling, and promoting everything related to dance, music, and craftsmanship.