Figueres dance school Aprenem wins twice in Reus
Aprenem, a dance school based in Figueres, has made a strong start to the new competitive season. Both of its couples won their categories at the opening round of the Catalan dance sport circuit, held last weekend in Reus.
The event was the first competition of the 2026/27 season. Aprenem sent two couples to Reus, and both came home as champions.
Two couples, two titles
Arnau Serra and Elisabet Mercader won the Júnior 2 category. Jordi Serra and Kiara Montinaro won in Juvenil 2.
Both titles covered three disciplines: standard dances, Latin dances and Caribbean dances. Each couple finished top of its category in the combined competition.
Júnior and Juvenil are age groups used in Catalan dance sport. The numbers after each name mark subdivisions within those groups. This lets younger dancers compete against others at a similar stage of development.
What dance sport involves
Dance sport is the competitive form of ballroom and Latin dancing. Couples perform set routines in front of a panel of judges. The judges score them on technique, timing, presentation and how well the partners move together.
The disciplines are usually grouped into styles:
- Standard dances are the classic ballroom dances, performed in a closed hold as the couple travels around the floor.
- Latin dances are faster and more rhythmic, with more open movement between the partners.
- Caribbean dances draw on the social dance styles of the Caribbean, with a strong focus on rhythm and footwork.
Winning across all three disciplines asks a lot of young dancers. They have to switch between very different styles, each with its own technique and character.
The Catalan circuit
The Catalan circuit is a series of competitions held in different towns across Catalonia during the season. Couples collect results at each round.
The Reus event was the first of these. Aprenem's couples now go into the rest of the season as winners of the opening round in their categories. Details of the next rounds and venues were not included in the report on the Reus competition.
A Figueres success story
For Figueres, the result adds to a run of good news from local clubs and schools competing beyond the Alt Empordà. Earlier this month, Figueres skaters took European Cup silver on home ice.
Aprenem's success in Reus shows that dance also has a competitive side in the capital of the Alt Empordà, alongside its role as a social and leisure activity.
For families in Empuriabrava and Castelló d'Empúries, Figueres is the nearest large town. Many local children already travel there for school, sport and other activities, so a school with competitive results is close to home.
Why It Matters
For readers in Empuriabrava and the wider Alt Empordà, the result is a reminder that young people from the area can compete, and win, at the top level in Catalonia. Dance sport gets less attention than football or basketball. Results like this suggest it has a solid base in the comarca, the Catalan county that includes Figueres, Castelló d'Empúries and Empuriabrava.
The double win also fits a wider pattern. Figueres clubs and schools have picked up notable results in several sports this season, and this suggests that the town's sporting and cultural groups are raising their profile outside the region.
It is too early to say how the season will unfold. This was only the first round, and winning the opener does not guarantee success at later events. Still, a clean sweep for both couples is a strong starting point. It is worth watching whether Arnau Serra and Elisabet Mercader, and Jordi Serra and Kiara Montinaro, can hold on to their form as the circuit moves to other venues.
International families living on the Costa Brava may also find the result useful. It shows that there are options for children interested in dance beyond recreational classes, including a route into formal competition.
Empuriabrava News will follow the Catalan circuit as it continues and report on how the Figueres dancers perform in the coming rounds.