Jitanès

The Jitanès is a lively folk dance of the Barzuna of Cape Cross.

Etymology
The name "Jitanès" is derived from the Barzuna for "Gypsy"; literally it means "of/from the gypsies".

History
The Jitanès likely originated in the late 17th and in the 18th centuries. As its name suggests, it was likely influenced by Gypsy dances, including Spanish ones like the Jota and the Flamenco. There are also some Arab influences in the dance. The Jitanès was widely danced from the 18th century onwards and it was very much a popular dance at the time.

Styles
There are two styles to the Jitanès: the Jitanès largo and the Jitanès-a-dos. The largo is a slow, sorrowful variation which is usually sung and accompanied by the guitar, mandola and the accordion. Unlike the Largo, the Jitanès-a-dos is a fast couples dance.