Coordinating Federation of Muixerangues

The Federació Coordinadora de Muixerangues (Coordinating Federation of Muixerangues) is the umbrella body that organizes and coordinates the colles muixerangueres — the groups that perform the muixeranga, the Valencian tradition of human towers, dances and street parades. According to its official website, the federation is "the body responsible for organizing and coordinating the muixeranga groups, watching over their safety, spreading the muixeranga fact and acting as a single voice before the different social, political and cultural estates." It is a non-profit cultural association rather than a commercial company, but it functions as the collective brand and governing institution of the modern muixeranga movement. The muixeranga is an old festive element preserved in various Valencian towns, with local variants, evolving from an ancient dance that was performed under different names across much of the former Crown of Aragon. That dance was structured around the ball, the soterrament and a final human tower. By the late 20th century the tradition survived mainly in Algemesí and l'Alcúdia. From 2002 a first muixeranga boom began, and from 2011 a true explosion of new groups took place. The federation's website states that there are currently 24 federated colles, listed from north to south of the country, including the historic Muixeranga d'Algemesí and Muixeranga Els negrets de l'Alcúdia alongside newer groups such as the Jove Muixeranga de València, Muixeranga de Barcelona, Muixeranga d'Alacant, Muixeranga d'Elx and many others. The federation was founded on 20 January 2018 in Algemesí, after a process that began with a first attempt to unite the groups in 2005 and gained momentum after UNESCO declared the Processions in honour of the Virgin of Health of Algemesí — which include the Muixeranga — Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2011. Its first president was Enric Sorribes. Among its founding goals were the creation of a unified catalogue of figures, improved training, better insurance and health-and-safety protocols. In 2019 it signed an agreement with the Valencian Institute of Culture to promote and dignify the muixeranga as a Valencian cultural tradition and expression. By 2020 it counted 22 groups, and its website now reports 24. The federation acts as a single voice for the muixeranga before public institutions, coordinates joint events and safety standards, and supports the transmission of the tradition to new generations. It is based in the Valencian Community and its member groups are spread across the region and beyond, including a group in Barcelona.

The Federació Coordinadora de Muixerangues was created to manage and coordinate all muixeranga groups, both the most traditional and the less traditional. The muixeranga is a Valencian festive tradition of human towers, dances and parades that was once widespread but survived mainly in towns such as Algemesí and l'Alcúdia. From 2002 a first wave of new groups appeared, and from 2011 a true explosion of new colles began. The first attempt to unite the groups came in 2005, during the muixeranga renaissance driven by the Nova Muixeranga de Algemesí, the Muixeranga de la Safor, the Ball dels Locos de l'Ollería, Els Negrets de l'Alcúdia and the Muixeranga de Sueca. They organized a round of meetings but did not go further. In 2011 UNESCO declared the Processions in honour of the Virgin of Health of Algemesí — which include the Muixeranga — Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This boosted the founding of several muixerangas and made the need for a coordinating entity clear. The first stone of the current federation was laid in 2015 by the I Diada muixeranguers de Alicante, which brought together 12 groups. Another significant step was the II Encuentro de Muixerangues de Castellón de la Plana in 2017. It was decided that all groups should be represented in the entity and that its statutes would be established by consensus. The statutes were approved the same year. The foundation took place on 20 January 2018 in Algemesí. Among the main challenges set by the entity, presided over by Enric Sorribes, were the creation of a unified catalogue of figures, improving training, obtaining better insurance and creating health and safety protocols. That same year the entity won the award for the Social Use of Valencian from Escola Valenciana, presented on 17 November. In 2019 the entity, which had 21 groups, signed an agreement with the Institut Valencià de Cultura to promote and dignify the muixeranga as a Valencian tradition and cultural expression. At the general assembly in Alicante in 2020, the Muixeranga de la Marina Baja and the Muixeranga de la Vall d'Albaida, both founded in 2018, joined, bringing the entity to 22 groups. In 2021 ETNO organized the exhibition "Muixerangues el cielo." The federation's website now reports 24 federated colles, listed from north to south of the country, including historic groups such as the Muixeranga d'Algemesí and the Muixeranga Els negrets de l'Alcúdia, and newer ones such as the Jove Muixeranga de València, Muixeranga de Barcelona, Muixeranga d'Alacant, Muixeranga d'Elx and Muixeranga de Cullera.

• First attempt to unite muixeranga groups through a round of meetings.

• UNESCO declares the Processions of Algemesí, including the Muixeranga, Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

• I Diada muixeranguers de Alicante brings together 12 groups, laying the first stone of the federation.

• II Encuentro de Muixerangues de Castellón de la Plana; statutes approved by consensus.

• Federation founded in Algemesí; Enric Sorribes becomes first president.

• Receives the award for Social Use of Valencian from Escola Valenciana.

• Signs agreement with the Institut Valencià de Cultura; 21 groups.

• Two new groups join at the Alicante assembly, reaching 22 groups.

• ETNO organizes the exhibition "Muixerangues el cielo."

Non-profit cultural coordinating body and collective voice for the Valencian muixeranga tradition.

• Unified catalogue of figures

  A planned unified catalogue of human-tower figures for all member groups.

• Training and safety protocols

  Improved training, better insurance and health-and-safety protocols for muixeranga groups.

1. 1Inici - www.fcmuixerangues.orgfcmuixerangues.org
2. 2Federació Coordinadora de Muixerangues - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Federación Coordinadora de Muixerangues - Wikipediaes.wikipedia.org