Traditions in Val Gardena - folk dance in Ortisei

In order to experience living customs in the Dolomite valley, you don’t need to travel through time: Just take a look at the events that take place in the village centre and you will see that the ancient traditions are still alive. From the woodcarving and woodturning tradition, to the art of lace-making and the traditional costumes of Val Gardena: every element of the local way of life is part of the valley’s rich history which, despite its evolution, has lost none of its down-to-earthness and continues to fascinate over and over again. The folk dance group “Grupa Balarins de Gherdëina Urtijëi” was founded in 1963 and has been active without interruption since then. The group dances traditional folk dances based on a long tradition thereunder typical dances for thanksgiving, dances having the intent to attract the other gender and also typical “Schuhplattler”. The “Schuhplattler” dances are demonstrated by male dancers only. All dancers are wearing the “Grödner-Tracht” (traditional costume) which is known as one of the most beautiful and most precious of the alpine area. Due to numerous performances in our country as well as abroad and on TV, the group is very well known far beyond South Tyrol.