A journey measuring lived and shared moments has united the Muixeranga de la Marina Alta with the Sevillian town of Utrera. The expedition, which took place last weekend, has served to confirm that "culture knows no borders," according to statements by the president of the Federació de Muixerangues, Saül Ortolà. The group, comprising nearly a hundred people of various ages from different parts of the region, demonstrated respect, interest in local culture and gastronomy, resilience, and a spirit of self-improvement, leaving a profound impression of friendliness and admiration in Utrera.
One of the most surprising sights for the people of Utrera was seeing how the elders supported the younger members to reach heights. This unity, led by teacher Raquel Jurado, is maintained off-stage, with dialogue and coexistence without divisions. "Nobody here is more than anyone else, we are all equal," stated Miguel Ángel, one of the adventure's organizers, highlighting the uniqueness of this cohesion in current times.
“"Saül and Raquel's dream of coming to Andalusia, and mine of bringing the muixeranga to my town."
The idea of uniting the muixeranga with manual bell ringing and flamenco originated from Marián and Miguel Ángel, a native of Utrera and a former bell ringer. Last Saturday, June 13th, at the church of Santiago, this shared dream materialized, fulfilling the dual wish of Saül Ortolà and Raquel Jurado to visit Andalusia, and Miguel Ángel's desire to bring the muixeranga to his hometown.
The emotional intensity of the trip reached its peak in the church of Santiago el Mayor. The rehearsal of the piece "La Muixeranga" with local musicians and a flamenco guitarist brought tears to everyone present, including the group's president, Vicent Pastor. The reverence shown to the image of Cristo de Santiago connected the spirituality of both cultures, an event that Saül Ortolà described as "exponentially multiplying the emotion" in sacred spaces.
The Association of Bell Ringers of Utrera presented an exhibition of manual bell ringing, including a dangerous maneuver of standing on a bell during its ringing. The bell ringers, who shared details about their tradition and the church, expressed admiration for the Muixaranga and their desire to reciprocate the visit to La Marina Alta.
The main performance in the church of Santiago experienced an incident when the five-tier figure, the 'copera', collapsed after its successful crowning by Esperanza, daughter of Miguel Ángel. Despite the scare, the Muixeranga demonstrated its resilience in a subsequent street parade, performing seven more figures in the crowded Plaza del Altozano.
The day concluded with a dinner and a flamenco show exclusively for the guests. On Sunday, an attempt to form a figure at the Alhambra was thwarted by security services. The teacher summarized the experience as "frustrating" but enriching, highlighting the friendships made and the historic performance of the "Ball de Valencians" in Andalusia.
