Ibiza Mourns Death Of Ball Pages Cultural Icon Toni den Planes.

He is widely recognised as the founder and cultural pillar of the Colla de Balansat, a folkloric group established in 1965 dedicated to preserving the island’s indigenous music, dress, and dance styles in the village of Sant Miquel de Balansat, Ibiza. His home, Can Xicu, perched atop the hill next to the village’s beautiful fortified church, has served as a bar and tobacconist for generations. His daughter, actress Tita Planells, currently runs the family business, carefully preserving its 150-year-old historic character. Tita announced the death of her father today, saying he was “a respectful man, very free, an artist and very loving”. Finally, my Father is resting in peace, as he deserves, surrounded by lots of love and his family. We will greatly miss his absence, but we are full of very good memories.”

In a statement, Colla de Balansat, the group of dancers he established in 1965, paid a heartfelt and intimate tribute to the great man, “Today we find it hard to find words. It’s hard to accept that you will no longer be here to hear the ringing of your castanets, the sound of your drum and flute, or to see how that seed you sowed so many years ago continues to dance. Thank you, Toni, for dedicating your life to Ibiza’s popular culture. Thank you for believing in the country dance when there were still those who thought our traditions might disappear. You did much more than found a group. You helped preserve a part of our people’s soul. You carried the name of Ibiza and its traditions around the world, showing that this island is much more than sun, beaches and nightclubs.”