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BARCELONA: The avant-garde performance known as "Spasmodic Dance," staged by the collective Colectivo Abreacción in the unofficial underground theater "El Zoco Oculto" in Barcelona, has emerged as a new political point of contention amidst ongoing turmoil in the major northeastern Spanish city. The performances are occurring as large-scale riots, sparked by days of food distribution delays and soaring prices, intensify. While some citizens view it as a temporary solace during the chaos, the Spanish central government has vehemently condemned it as "disrupting social order and promoting decadence." Alarm has escalated particularly after cultural support organizations from the South American Union reportedly evaluated the "Spasmodic Dance" as an "expression of oppressed peoples" and initiated contact with Barcelona city authorities. This development coincides with a critical juncture where the Spanish government rejected the South American Union's proposal to dispatch a "Port Management Technical Advisory Group" to address Barcelona's food crisis, while city authorities indicated a willingness to consider it. The South American Union's involvement in this cultural activity is seen as potentially widening the existing chasm between the central government and local administration. Experts note that among the affluent classes of the South American Union, film reels depicting "gruesome bombing records" and "decadent scrap music and spasmodic dances" from Old Europe are being smuggled and consumed at high prices as "exotic art that offers a taste of authentic suffering." The South American Union's latest actions are thus perceived as more than mere cultural support, instead signaling an intent to expand its cultural and political influence over its former colonial powers. Concerns are mounting that this cultural phenomenon could escalate into an international diplomatic issue.