As midday sounds at the bell tower of the Saint-Sauveur church, the first notes of a sardana resonate on the seafront esplanade. Arriving in orderly rows from the Jean-Jaurès primary school just opposite, the students have a meeting with Guy, president of the Sardana section of the UAICF (Artistic and Intellectual Union of French Railwaymen) in Cerbère.
With the help of Francine, who leads the second round, Guy leads the children during extracurricular time, first the older ones from the primary school and then, when it’s their turn to eat, the preschoolers. Guy never misses an opportunity to teach the young ones Catalan traditions: the intergenerational gatherings in January and June always end with a sardana involving seniors and students. In the sun on the seafront, Guy gives instructions to the formed circles: “The most important thing is the rhythm, the rhythm, the rhythm!” Watching their feet, and those of their neighbors, the children move on their toes, alternately to the left and right, and the circle moves in rhythm. One group seems more disciplined, Léa and Héloïse have been practicing for a long time.
Between two sardanas, Guy congratulates his students and appreciates their efforts: “We see them progressing from session to session.” For Sant Joan and throughout the summer, they will be able to show the culmination of months of training.
