The president gives the approval with his white handkerchief. Trumpets and drums sound. Everything stops. The arena is empty. Time pauses for just a second before the “paseíllo” begins. The air above the sand is filled with feelings and sensations, anxieties and yearnings, fears and exclamations, passes and stillness. Bullfighting is born when Space is hierarchized with the “paseíllo.” Leading the way are the bailiffs dressed in black, reminiscent of Felipe IV’s era. Mounted on their horses, they represent the ancient “clearance” and perform the task of receiving the keys to the bullpens and handing them over to the bullkeeper to begin the bullfight.

First on foot are the bullfighters arranged by seniority and alternation; the most senior on the right, the second most senior on the left, and the center occupied by the bullfighter with the fewest “paseíllos” performed. The bullfighters advance towards the awaited afternoon, rookies in the arena holding their hats in hand, while the veterans have their hats already placed. They are followed by their respective crews; the “toreros de plata” (assistant bullfighters) who, following the master, arrange themselves in order of seniority. Behind them, the picadors or lance-bearers mounted on their Percheron horses, also following the same order, based on the seniority of the bullfighters and their own. Finally, the “monosabios” (helpers), named after a troupe of puppeteers back in 1847, the sandmen, and the drag team with mules adorned with ribbons and bells.