ABOUT THE RANCHO
Our Existance
Friday nights the house is filled for the dance practices of our two ranchos – the youth Rancho and Senior Rancho. Our Folkloric Group was born in April 2000 and represents the Baixo Minho region of Portugal, with songs and dances from the municipality of Barcelos, Braga, Guimarães and Famalicão, and made it’s debut on October 20, 2001 on our Association’s anniversary. Our costumes are imported from Portugal due to our desire to be part of the Portuguese Federation of Folklore, which happened on 4 May 2002 and continues until today.
Our Performances
this rancho has performed in many cities throughout Ontario, including international festivals of folklore in Ottawa (Festival of Tulips), Brockville and Kingston. The group participates annually at parties, picnics and processions in the city of Toronto and surrounding areas, highlighted by our Portugal Week performance. We’ve also had several performances in the USA – New Jersey, Fall River, and Mineola , New York. One of the highlights of this Rancho, was our trip to Portugal where we danced at the Rio Festival in Barcelinhos, and for the television show “Praca da Alegria” on RTP.
Our Passion
At Rancho AM Barcelos Toronto, folklore dancing is more than just movement— it is the heartbeat of tradition, culture, and community. Each step, rhythm, and costume tells a story carried from Portugal to Canada, keeping our heritage alive through music and dance.
Our group celebrates the beauty of Portuguese folklore by sharing authentic dances passed down through generations. The passion of our dancers shines in every performance, where joy, pride, and unity bring audiences closer to the spirit of Portugal.
For us, folklore dancing is not only about preserving tradition but also about creating connections—between past and present, young and old, and among the vibrant Portuguese community here in Toronto. Rancho AM Barcelos is a living expression of culture, danced with heart.