Grupo de Danças e Cantares Pioneiros de Vendas Novas

biography Grupo de Danças e Cantares Pioneiros de Vendas Novas is a cultural and recreational association dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of folk traditions in the Vendas Novas region, in the district of Évora. The group was founded on May 29, 1995, by a group of friends who shared a taste for music and popular dance. The group is made up of two folkloric groups, one for children and the other for adults, which represent the uses and customs of the people of Vendas Novas, from the end of the 19th century to the mid-20th century. The ranchos wear typical costumes from the region, such as full skirts, embroidered vests, straw hats and Alentejo blankets. The ranchos dance and sing traditional styles, such as skirts, modinhas, chulas, waltzes and marches. The ranchos are accompanied by a toccata, made up of instruments such as the accordion, the viola campaniça, the cavaquinho, the mandolin, the Portuguese guitar, the tambourine, the tambourine and the ferrinho. The group has participated in several festivals and folklore meetings, both nationally and internationally. The group has already operated in countries such as Spain, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. The group has also collaborated with other cultural and recreational associations in the region, promoting activities such as exhibitions, colloquiums, workshops and shows. The group also has an ethnographic space, where it displays objects related to the history and culture of Vendas Novas. The group is an effective member of the Portuguese Folklore Federation and affiliated with INATEL. The group has received several awards and distinctions for its work in valuing intangible cultural heritage. In 2018, the group was declared of public utility by the Portuguese Government. The group’s motto is “For the culture of our people”. The group's main objectives are the research, collection, preservation and dissemination of cultural manifestations in the Vendas Novas region, contributing to the enrichment of local and national identity. The group's mission is also to educate and train its members and the community in general, encouraging a taste for music and traditional dance. The group's purpose is also to promote coexistence and friendship among its members and among people.