“Galo” Inaugurated Twenty Years Ago

For the occasion of the second anniversary of its rancho folclórico, Associação Migrante de Barcelos Community Centre organized, in 2003, the first international folklore festival in the Portuguese community, fittingly named “Galo” (rooster), the symbol of Barcelos. The event, which included groups from Canada and the United States of America, took place on March 29 at Lithuanian Hall. Although only one non-Portuguese folk-dance group participated in this inaugural event, there were several ethnicities represented in subsequent editions.

A.M. Barcelos’ folk-dance group was founded in 2001, three years the formation of its umbrella organization. It immediately gathered major support from entities such as the Portuguese Folklore Federation, Barcelos City Hall and Grupo Folclórico de Barcelinhos (Barcelos, Portugal). Within its first year of operation, Rancho Folclórico da Associação Migrante de Barcelos became a member of the Portuguese Folklore Federation, affording it great honour but also added responsibilities as one of the very few member groups operating in Canada.

Led by a dedicated and versatile committee, the group quickly became a reference in the Portuguese community of the Greater Toronto Area. Thus, the launch of the international folclore festival, although innovative, was not a surprise to anyone. Carlos Miranda, then Vice-President of Culture and the folk-dance group’s instructor, was the coordinator of the initiative. He formed a committee that included Graça Pereira, Remigio Pereira, Martinho Rodrigues, Lucy de Oliveira, António Pinheiro, Rosa Pinheiro, Artur Moreira, Abilio Pereira, Nancy de Oliveira, Manuel Oliveira, and Adérito Fernandes.

The event began with the introduction of the participating folk-dance groups, which paraded on stage. They were: Rancho Folclórico da Associação Migrante de Barcelos, Rancho Folclórico da Nazaré (the oldest in Canada), Rancho Etnográfico da Casa do Alentejo, Rancho Foclórico da Associação Cultural do Minho, Rancho Folclórico da Casa da Madeira, Rancho Folclórico Os Amigos de Peniche, Rancho Folclórico A Eira (United States of America), and a Ukranian group, which came from Ottawa, called Poltava Ukrainian Dance Company.   

The host opened the show with Malhão de Entrada and then performed Valentim, Lima de Goios, Malhão de Roda, and Vira da Despedida. It was followed by its guests, which were all unique and different from each other not only in relation to the attire but also to the dances. 

Various personalities were present at the event. They included future Mayor Barbara Hall, José Eustáquio and Rosa de Sousa from the Alliance of Portuguese Clubs and Associations of Ontario, future City Councilor Ana Bailão, Member of Parliament Mario Silva, António Pereira from the Portuguese Folklore Federation, then School Trustee Nellie Pedro, João Dias from Local 183, Ontario Minister of Citizenship Carl de Faria, and Licinio Silva, President of Associação Migrante de Barcelos.

At the conclusion of the event, each group was presented with a ribbon to signal their participation in the festival, and with replicas of the traditional Galo de Barcelos (rooster of Barcelos).

The initiative was such a success that, by 2005, the event was held at LiUNA Local 183’s Gerry Gallagher Hall, which has capacity for more than one thousand guests. This specific edition was particularly special because it included groups from various regions of the globe. They included Axe-Girls from Angola, Folklore Inca Peruvian Folk Dance Group from Peru, and Candra Kirana Indonesian Folk Dance Group from Indonesia. Os Tradicionais from the Portuguese Club of London and Rancho Folclórico da Escola Portuguesa do Clube Transmontano, in Toronto, also participated along with the hosting group.

Associção Migrante de Barcelos experienced a few years of unrest at the Board level, which led to the eventual interruption of the festival. Now that the organization has regained stability, there is hope that the “Galo” may one day be resurrected.