ALKARTASUNA
EUSKAL DANTZA TALDEA
Pasai Antxo - Gipuzkoa
EUSKAL HERRIA
1. Alkartasuna Euskal Dantza Taldea
Alkartasuna Euskal Dantza Taldea is a folk group that performs traditional dances from all
Basque Country. Therefore, the group's repertoire compiles dances of territories located both in
Spain and France, basing on common cultural characteristics that unite these territories over
politic and / or geographical frontiers.
The language (Euskara) stands out against these all cultural characters.
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2. The Basque Country
The Basque Country is a nation in
southwestern Europe. It is currently
divided between two states: France and
Spain. Our country is located on the coast
of the Bay of Biscay, on both slopes of
the Western Pyrenees that separate Spain
and France (see map).
The Basque Country is the territory which
is historically, ethnically and culturally
Basque. Spanish and French usually call
Basque Country (sp. País Vasco, fr. Pays
Basque) only to a portion of the country,
not the whole territory. Nevertheless,
Basques conceive their country as
embracing the area of the traditional seven provinces: Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa, Araba and Nafarroa on
the Spanish side, Lapurdi, Nafarroa Beherea and Zuberoa on the French side.
The Basque Country is little: just 20.864 sq. km and 2.9 million people. Only 650.000 of them
speak basque, mostly in the Spanish side (only 70.000 in the French side). There is another
minority language in the Basque Country: Occitan; several hundred people (or a few thousand)
speak Gascon and Bearnais dialects of Occitan in the french side of the Basque Country.
The Basque name of the Basque Country is Euskal Herria.
The Basque word for the language is Euskara.
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3. The dances
Within the extensive repertoire of basque popular dances, the following ones are some of
the dances that usually Alkartasuna Euskal Dantza Taldea performs:
3.1.- LAPURDIKO IHAUTERIA / CARNIVAL FROM LAPURDI
Where: Ustaritz ( Lapurdi )
When: The Carnival festivity ( february )
This celebration, in the olden days very
popular throughout Lapurdi, is nowadays
performed almost exclusively in the village
of Ustaritz.
In the carnival from Lapurdi participate
several characters. The most importants are
the Kaskarots, which form the dance corps.
The celebration consists of visiting the
homes in Ustaritz and performing various
dances, like the Makil Dantza (stick dance),
which is performed by the Kaskarots (see
photo).
Also, they dance the Jauziak, a very extended dance in the french part of the Basque
Country. It is danced forming a circle, and following the steps of the dance-leader.
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3.2.- LARRAIN DANTZA - BAILE DE LA ERA / THRESHING FOLK DANCING
Where: Lizarra (in spanish, Estella, Navarre)
When: Originally in the month of August, but actually in any popular festivity
As it is read from its name (the Threshing or
the Square folk dancing) is a folk dancing
which is mainly danced at festivals,
pilgrimages,… as Fandango dancing and
Arin-arin, and not usually performed on
stage or at a determinate local festivals. It
was born in Navarre and it is deeply rooted
at its local festivals every August.
It is a compilation of all the pieces which
were danced one after the other at the main
square whilst the dulzainas (the dulzaina is a
kind of flageolet, a basque traditional
instrument) were playing along many places
around Lizarra county and Iruñea (in
spanish, Pamplona, the capital city of Navarre) basin. Those pieces were collected and
compilated by Julian Romano, a famous musician and dulzaina player who lived in
Navarre during the 19th and 20th centuries. The whole series was first played in an
official way because of Alfonso XIII King of Spain (1886-1941) visit to Lizarra. Ever
since it has been established as a local dancing. These are the enclosed dancings:
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INTRODUCTION
PASACALLES
CHAIN or CADENA
FANDANGO
VALS
JOTA VIEJA
BOLERAS NAVARRAS
CORRIDA
In Larrain Dantza we will be able to appreciate two clearly distinguished parts: the first
one, traditional Basque music and the second one shows a sort of facts which are
completely different from basque folklore and they contribute to give our dancing a wide
variety and makes its richer.
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3.3.- BAILE DE LA BALSA / THE BALSA DANCE
Where: Torralba del Río (Navarre)
When: Saint John's Day (24th of June)
The Balsa (pool) Dance (Baile de la Balsa)
is a curious civil-religious festivity, which
takes place since the 16th century.
According to chronicles, the day of June 24,
1524, the members of Saint John's
Harquebusier Confraternity (Cofradía de
Arcabuceros de San Juan, founded in
Torralba del Río), defeated some fierce
bandits that were intimidating all the region,
and killed their leader Juan Lobo el de la
barba roja (the red bearded man). After the
bandits were defeated, winners gathered
together at a pool outside the village, and
when they saw that there were not casualties,
they started dancing for joy.
Therefore, to commemorate the victory,
in Saint John's Day, the young people
of the village split in two factions and
reproduce the historic battle. In the
afternoon, after taking place a
procession with the Confraternity
members, the participants go to the
pool, and there, the members dance
(this dance is represented by
Alkartasuna Euskal Dantza Taldea) and
next, they defile before the small flag
that holds the Confraternity's Abbot.
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3.4.-ZUBEROAKO MASKARADA / MASQUERADE FROM ZUBEROA
Where: all around Zuberoa county ( In french, Soule)
When: Between Epiphany and the end of Carnival (more or less, from January to March)
Zuberoa's carnival has its beginnings during
the XV - XVI centuries. Its real meaning is
not certainly known. It is enclosed among
the winter popular festivals of mediterranean
rural society and it is related to greco-latin
culture and fools parties at the Middle Ages.
Some others even see a much ancient reflect
on it. No doubt, it is a very important social
event in Zuberoa.
Different episodes are performed, staged by
protagonists of various labours, which
intercalate some smart and difficult
dancings. These characters are divided into
two groups: red ones (Gorriak) and black ones (Beltzak). On one hand, the first group
leads the parade and it is developed by these characters:
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Txerreroa (swineherd) : he opens the parade with his mane stick, which has
magical powers. He is in charge of sweeping the ground where maskarada is
going to be performed.
Gathusaina (cat): This character carries a pantograph which he tries to disturb the
people with by not letting them watch the performance properly.
Kantiniersa: is a man dressed up as a woman, wearing a First Napoleonic Empire
Camp follower's clothes (XIX century). His only duty is to fulfill the performance
with food and drink.
Zamalzaina: man - horse or a Centaur. It is usually the best dancer. Could be
possibly considered the best figure, the most spectacular and enigmatic dancer of
this old Carnival.
Banderazaina: Is the one that carries the lion of Zuberoa's banner.
Up to here we had the dancers. The red's is completed by Kukulleroak (the ones that are
wearing a crest), Marexalak (farriers), Jauna (Mister), Anderea (Lady), Laboraria
(farmer) and Laborarisa (woman farmer). These are the red ones, described by their
order, colour and distinction.
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On the other hand, we can find the black group composed by those who shout,
push and make a mess. The black group is made of Buhamiak or gypsies, Xorrotzak or
knifegrinders, Kereztuak or castraters, Kautereak or boilermakers, Medizina or doctor and
the chemist. Maskarads used to have many more characters, some disappeared, and it was
much longer. Nowadays, as they did before, some dancings are performed and it is
always presented in the same order of episodes. Their order and last meaning are
traditional and enigmatic. Each character and each group has its own special protagonism
and its moment.
Among all these episodes, we perform the branlia dancing, danced by the red
group. It is made of difficult and complicated steps which have their roots about the
Middle Ages. We underline Godalet-dantza or the glass dancing. In order to stage it, the
dancers put a glass of wine on the floor and they have to dance all around avoiding the
glass, showing their ability without spilling it. Zamaltzain's performance is very
important because his dressing does not allow him to see the glass on the floor.
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3.5.- GOIHERRIKO DANTZAK - GOIHERRI DANCINGS
Where: Goiherri (territory at the south-eastern Gipuzkoa)
When: in the Goiherri country festivals
These dancings were collected by Juan
Ignacio de Iztueta (1767-1805) in his book
Gipuzkoako Dantza Gogoangarrien
Kondaira edo Historia (History of the
Most Memorables Dancings from
Gipuzkoa), and they have come to us by
this book and by folklore. Iztueta classified
the dancings in two different cycles: the
brokel dantzak and the ezpata dantzak
The Brokel dantzak: these dancings are closely related to popular jobs in
Gipuzkoa. They are performed at local festivals and they are the main moment of
the festival.
From this type of dancing, we usually perform : Agurra(reverence), Belaun
txingoa, Uztai dantza (arch dancing), Brokel Dantza (buckler dancing, see photo),
Makila haundi dantza (the long stick's dancing), Zinta Dantza( bow dancing).
Usually, after the txistulari (the txistu player; txistu is a typical basque flute)
makes the call (deia), the captain (buruzagi) starts dancing. After the second call
of the txistulari, the rest of the dancers.
The Ezpata dantzak: even though it seems opposite, these are not war dancings.
They are enclosed in the traditional mediterranean cultures' mythology and it is
directly related to metallurgic rituals. The same as the others, they are performed
during very special and important festivals: Corpus Christi, Saint John's day
(Summer solstice), in front of certain authorities,…
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These dancings are built on two groups of dancers which play completely
opposite roles. The most numerous one is parade leaded by buruzagi. Each of the
dancers carries in his right hand a long sword, while in his left hand holds the
point of the sword given to next one in the row. The first one gives the point of
the sword to Buruzagi. The second part, is completed by four dancers called
azkendariak (the last ones) which carry a dagger in both hands.
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3.6.- JAURRIETA
Where: Jaurrieta (Navarre)
At Jaurrieta village, while some neighbours
were taking part at the traditional pork
slaughtering, they used to make their lunch
pleasanter by playing this dancing-game
called Axuri beltza.
It is just a chair game (Alki Dantza) and the
name that is given to it has nothing to do
with the way of dancing it. Axuri beltza are
the very first words of the verses which the
melody is started with, when there are no
musicians to play. The words go on like this:
Axuri beltza ona dut bainan,
xuria berriz hobea,
dantzan ikasi nahi duen horrek
nere oinetara begira.
(I have a good black lamb / but the white one is better / every body that wants to learn how to dance / just
look at my feet)
Zertan ari haiz bakar dantzatzen
agertzen gorputz erdia?
su ilun horrek argitzen badik
agiriko haiz guztia.
(What are you doing dancing on your own / showing half of your body? / if the dark fire lightens you / you
will show it fully)
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3.7.-ELCIEGO
Where: Elciego (South of Araba)
When: September 8th
On September 8th, Elciego commemorates
the main festival of its Virgin, the Virgin of
the Square, with a procession. In front of the
procession, we can see the body of dancers
which perform a series of traditional
dancings in honour of their Virgin. Among
the dancers, Cachimorro (see photo) stands
out against the others because of his
colourful clothes full of bows and bells.
Nowadays, it is danced by youngsters of
both sexes, though at the beginning it was a
special dancing only for men and later, for a
long time, it was only performed by women,
due to the lack of men as a result of the
Spanish Civil War.
These are the parts which compose this dancing:
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Salida (Departure): an
easy
introductory
dancing
Pasacalles:
it
is
distinguished by its
quick row turnings,
crossing each other,
changing places,…
Four streets or Cuatro
Calles: here we can see
the dancers turning
round along the four
cardinal points
Baile del Arbol (the tree dance): it is an absolutely different from the typical tree
made out of bows which entangle and untangle choreographic scheme. The
players are hanging short silken bows out of the tree and slowly start kneeling
around and embracing it. That is how an original structure is created adding arms
and shapes - a fake adoration - to return to their own places.
Jota: to end up, this typical from Euskalerria dancing is performed.
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3.8.-KAIXARRANKA FROM LEKEITIO
Where: Lekeitio (fishermen's village on the coast of Biscay)
When: Saint Peter's Day (29th of June)
Formerly, it used to be a lavish celebration
until long and passionate disputes were
caused, because it was considered an insult
for the saints. Today's dancing is the last
trace of a series of dancings performed as a
ritual menace to Saint Peter, which "obliged"
him to use his power in order to fill all the
fishing nets.
It is about a dancing over the kutxa or
fishermen brotherhood's chest. In that chest,
all the fishermen brotherhood's worthy
belongings used to be kept: account books,
privileges, Saint Peter altar's furniture,… On
the chest, a dancer dressed up with tailcoat,
red strip, white shirt and trousers, uncovered head, a red pennant with a tiara and Saint
Peter's keys will dance some of the most popular dancings from Euskal Herria: a zortziko,
a fandango and an arin-arin.
Dancing the Kaixarranka at Pasaia (the village we come from)
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