Grup de Folklore Casa de Portugal Celebrates 30th Anniversary with Danses del Món Festival

The Grup de Folklore Casa de Portugal has celebrated its 30th anniversary with a concert on Friday evening and the second edition of the Danses del Món folk festival on Saturday, drawing over 150 dancers from Portugal, Argentina, Andorra, Peru, and the host group.

The festivities opened on 1 May at 10pm in Encamp's Complex Cultural, featuring Euphória—a group based in the Principat—and Chris Ribeiro, a Strasbourg-born singer of Portuguese parents, with his band. The programme focused on traditional Portuguese music centred on the concertina. The event had support from Encamp council, the Portuguese General Consulate, Portugal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and several local businesses.

On 2 May, the festival began at 5pm in Escaldes-Engordany's Plaça de l'Església with a planned parade along Avinguda Carlemany to Sala del Prat del Roure, where performances were set to start at 6pm. Heavy rain forced organizers to skip the parade and move directly indoors. The line-up included the Etnogràfic de Vila Praia d’Áncora—described by group president and artistic director Josep Lluís Carvalho as "our godfathers"—alongside Perú Ritmes i Costumbres, Los Argentinos, and Andorra's Esbart de les Valls del Nord.

The event opened with a mixed traditional-contemporary dance by performers from last year's Contadans, accompanied by a choir created by artist Margarida Cepeda as an anniversary gift. Attendees filled the hall, including Social Affairs Minister Trini Marín and Social Democratic group deputy president Pere Baró. The festival closed with a paella for participants.

Carvalho highlighted the milestone for a group "far from home, with deep roots there," crediting its longevity to a 60-strong team fostering a family atmosphere, an integrated community, and strong second- and third-generation ties to Andorra. He noted natural turnover, with some retirees returning to Portugal, but emphasized the younger members' local roots. The group holds such festivals every decade to showcase global traditional cultures.