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Originally called young cantorcillos. Los Seises (the Sixes) is said to be introduced by the the Cardinal Archbishop of Toledo Francis Ximines (c.1490s) in Toledo, Spain and belongs to the Musarabic rite (mozarabes the Christian Arabs). Comes from the Andalusian language of the Castilian word seize, that meant sixteen.
At Seville, the dance of Los Seises was still performed well into 1895 in
Corpus Christi and the Immaculate Conception, during the |
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octaves of the two feasts, and on the three days of carnival. This dance was performed by twelve choirboys in two divisions of six, or meaning "Los Seises" (the Sixes.) The function takes place about vesper-time in presence of the Cardinal Archbishop in full canonicals and the cathedral clergy in front of the high altar, which is brilliantly lighted by thousands of candies.
Boys of about twelve or thirteen years of age dance before the Holy Sacrament, a castanet (originally a adufe or pandero) in hand, and originally wore a quaint mediaeval dress, (now white pants), hats with plumages. The colors blue for the feasts of the Virgin, and red for Corpus are used.
At various times an effort has been made to stop the practice, but it has survived to this day, and every eyewitness acknowledges that the effect produced by the dance is highly reverent and poetic. It was forbidden to print the music, which is very beautiful.
The steps of this dance are not unlike those of the minuet. The castanets are of ivory., the shoes and stockings worn by the Seises are white. The clergy kneel during the whole dance while the congregation watch the performance with deep fervour, fully impressed by its grand solemnity. Of all the religious dances, the most beautiful is the "El Baile de los Seises" in the Cathedral of Seville before the Holy Sacrament.
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