La Jota (Dance)

Does anyone here love the Jota as much as I do? I love all it's variations but my favorite of course is from Aragon. They have several styles in the region from the exuberant style of Zaragoza to the more stylized and intricate footwork version of Albalate. I love to dance and watching the Jota makes me wish I knew how. I know a few basic footsteps but that's about it. These clips from YouTube and are of three styles of jota Aragonesa: Calanda (slow and stately), Albalate (intricate and graceful) , Zaragoza (boistrous and exuberant). The dancers are fabulous and notice the great foot work. The dance is very clean and not overly choreographed.

Below: Jota de Calanda


Below: Jota a la Albalate


Below: Jota La Dolores, estilo Zaragoza

My wife danced Jotas with a group in bailes regionales during her Social Service in the Franco years. About 10-years ago, one of her Primas hermanas came to visit us in Philadelphia; I put on a record of Jotas Aragonesas and they danced. They were so happy! The Jota differs from region to region, but it is the National Dance of Spain.

You can enjoy many different regional versions of la Jota if you just Google Jota. My favorites are also Jotas Aragonesas

El hijo de la Dolores