1.
LS Village of Anguiano in Northern Spain.
0.05

2.
GV Stilt dancers attaching stilts to their legs & CU stilt being tied to foot. (2 SHOTS)
0.24

3.
CU OF Side drum being played PULL OUT TO stilt dancers dancing in national costume. (3 SHOTS)
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4.
GV Dancers twirl down steps at great speed in front of local church. (3 SHOTS)
1.07

5.
CU OF Street sign "cuesta de los Danzadores".
1.09

6.
GV Shots of dancers twirling at great speed down narrow cobblestone street and crowd cheering. (7 SHOTS)
1.47




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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Every year in the village of Anguiano in Northern Spain eight villagers don strange local costumes to take part in the age-old custom of stilt dancing.

SYNOPSIS: Anguiano lies in a mountainous valley near Logrono in Northern Spain. Stilt dancing took place here every year in the early 17th century but no-one knows exactly when the custom first started. The stilts are tied to the dancers' ankles and knees by tow-foot long ropes.

Music for the dance is provided by drums and pipes and is performed in honour of Anguiano's patron saint. The participants themselves dress in wide yellow skirt costumes. Their performance is stunning.

The dance begins in front of the local church and, to the cheers of onlookers, the participants twirl down a flight of steps through the middle of the village.

The extraordinary dance continues down Cuesta de los Danzadores or Dancers' Street. The cobbled surface adds to the difficulty. No one from outside the village can take part and no prizes are given because there are no winners. But those who spin down the street at the greatest speed without crashing into the walls of the houses are recognised as the most skilful stilt dancers.