The dance that reveals
the soul of Le Marche
In Ortezzano, the Saltarello is not just a dance but a living legacy that combines music, tradition and community. Originating in the countryside farmyards and passed down from generation to generation, this lively rhythm accompanies folk festivals, weddings, and get-togethers. Between skipped steps, turns and courtship set to music, the Saltarello reveals the cheerfulness and energy of Le Marche's culture, involving both dancers and the audiance in an authentic and engaging experience.
The Saltarello
If there is a sound and movement that capture the most authentic and vibrant essence of Ortezzano and Le Marche, it is undoubtedly that of the Saltarello. Known as the “ballo principe” (main dance) of Le Marche, the Saltarello is not just a dance but the true expression of the joyful and vibrant spirit of its people.
This engaging dance, whose very name evokes the jumping steps (“salti”) that characterize it, is still very popular and vital in Ortezzano today. Although its roots may be traced back to the ancient Latin saltationes, and it has been documented as a “ballo da villa” (ballroom dance) since the 15th century, the Saltarello still lives on. It was performed at patronal celebrations, at the end of major agricultural tasks such as the grape harvest, or on more joyous family occasions like weddings and baptisms.
Typically danced in pairs, the Saltarello enacts a lively courtship: the man and woman dance around each other with leaping steps, turns, drawing close and then pulling away in a game that expresses desire, joy and sometimes even playful jealousy, until the final conquest. It is a dance that comes from the ground, from the countryside farmyard, often improvised to the lively sound of the accordion, capable of chasing away fatigue even after a hard day’s work in the fields.
More than just a dance, the Saltarello is a language, a way for the community to express joy, devotion, social connections and its strong rural identity. Several local associations continue to preserve and share the culture of the Saltarello, keeping this authentic and engaging tradition alive.
