The full house at the Plaza de los Remedios highlights the fondness and appreciation that the people of Yaiza and Lanzarote have for Rubicón, the festival established in 2011 by the folk group of the same name. This festival aims to promote the traditional singing and dancing of the Canary Islands, annually inviting soloists and groups from various islands to the Remedios celebrations in Yaiza. This year, Los Dóniz from Los Realejos in Tenerife joined the host group to continue the beautiful mission of fostering both local and visitors’ interest in the rich Canarian folklore, ensuring that traditions endure and thrive.
Óscar Noda, the Mayor of Yaiza and a former member of the Rubicón dance troupe, asserts that the festival has become a benchmark for authentic expressions of Canarian folklore and an essential part of the municipality’s patron celebrations. Rubicón and Los Dóniz gifted Yaiza a memorable evening of song and dance immediately following the announcement of the festival’s events.
The festival captivates audiences with joyful and poetic singing, featuring men and women beautifully dressed in traditional Canarian costumes. It showcases a versatile array of folk styles from the archipelago and includes a special segment in 2025 revealing a fragment of an interview with the late María De la Cruz Eugenio, a Yaiza local, conducted in 2004 by César Rijo, a member of the Rubicón dance group.
Thus, the festival commenced with storytelling, presented by Francisco José Navarro, who has been involved in local media and Canarian folklore for over 50 years. Reflecting the festive atmosphere in Yaiza, Doña María de la Cruz remarked, “At least I would start bright and early… but before leaving, I would peek around the corner to see if the flag was up for Saturday night’s dance, and when we returned from work, we would bathe and dress beautifully for the dance that night… and the same for Sunday… with timple and guitar…”
Once again, timples, guitars, and other instruments resonated powerfully in Yaiza, on another festive Saturday. Folías, isas, malagueñas, seguidillas, polka, saltonas, and sorondongo were performed by soloists alongside nearly a hundred musicians and dancers from Rubicón and Los Dóniz. The success of the two groups is due to Rubicón being led musically by Roberto Gil and choreographed by Magdalena Cáceres, while Los Dóniz’s musicianship is directed by Filiberto López and Arturo Ibañez.
There was a brief respite amidst this torrent of music and dance, allowing for the exchange of gifts between the groups. Los Dóniz expressed that they felt at home and noted that this was their first experience sharing a single stage with another group, in this case, Rubicón, whom they now consider family. The festival organisers also presented a gift to the presenter Francisco José Navarro and the Yaiza Town Hall, represented by Óscar Noda and the Councillor for Festivities, Daniel Medina.
The festival concluded with an isa parrandera, complete with dance, but Yaiza still has much celebration ahead until 9 September, remembering that Monday 8 is their Grand Day, featuring a procession and concert by Coti and his band.
