#tapats

The “tapats” dance in Ibi (central Valencian Country).

In some towns of this region of the Valencian Country, there is a traditional dance called tapats (which means “covered”), carasses (“masks”), mucarasses or botargues. People from the town cover their face with a cloth mask and dress up in the clothes of old times, which they fill up to avoid being identified. Then, they walk around town while dancing and joking or pranking the neighbours to the music played by traditional bands. It’s common for the tapats to carry a feather duster, a fly swatter or an umbrella, which they use to jokingly hit the viewers.

This dance is done as part of festivities, whether it be the local patron saint, Corpus Christi, or moros i cristians. In Ibi’s case, it’s done during the Winter Festivities, to be specific, on December 28th which is also Holy Innocents’ Day (our equivalent of April Fool’s Day).