euskalkultura.eus

Last Saturday, the Euskal Echea College celebrated its traditional annual festival at the clubhouse in Llavallol.  The Euskal Jaia gathered more than 1,000 people including students, professors, parents and friends.  During the festivities the college also joined in the 25^th anniversary of Argentinan Euskaraz (Basque language learning program), performing an Aurresku in its honor. 

Llavallol, Argentina.   In hopes of raising awareness of the disciplines offered during the year at the institution the Euskal Echea College in Buenos Aires organizes a Euskal Jaia – Basque festival every year that has become a large event that includes music, dance and gymnastics, mainly featuring the students and also the instructors and parents of the institution which is why there were more than 1,000 people present this year.

The 2015 Basque Festival took place on Saturday September 5 at the Euskal Echea College in Llavallol and began with the students entering with ceremonial flags.  After singing the Argentinean national anthem as well as Gernikako Arbola, Fr. Ruben Tardio blessed everyone present.  An Aurresku was performed in honor of Argentinan Euskaraz celebrating its 25^th anniversary and for those who have worked so hard and made the program possible that trains Basque teachers in the country.  The Aurresku was danced jointly by 70 students.

One of the characteristics that distinguishes the Basque Festival is the possibility of fusing Basque and local cultural expressions.  That is why last Saturday you could also witness a huge Pericon, or group circle dance, on the soccer field.  The Basque dances included Txulalai and Riki Riki by first-year students; Arku Dantza by the second-year students; while 4-6 performed Makil Dantza and the txikis did Polka Pik. Teachers also joined in on the dancing accompanied by parents and students all doing Txapeloaz together.  To close the festival, everyone presented gathered to do a Fandango, Arin Arin and a Biribilketa.

Also as part of the program, the college choir performed part of its repertoire at the Chapel with high-school aged students manning the fundraising stands.  All proceeds have been reported to go to the school’s roof.   

For the Festival to function the instructors’ work was invaluable: from the Department of Basque Lnaguage and Culture: Gabriela Mendia, Maite Azcarate, Ioar Oteiza, and Iñaki Aramayo, coordinated by Begoña Muñiz.

Besides the participation of students, teachers and parents, representatives from various community intuitions were also present, including the president of the Association, Simon Pedro Soroet; treasurer, Eduardo Lizaso; members of the board Juan Manuel Dieguez, Diego Pérez Boulán, María Luisa Álvarez Mujica, Graciela Gatti, Pilar Vildosola de Fagoaga and former president Enrique Fagoaga.

The Director General of Education, Jorge Barros, the Director of Services and Development, Jon Kepa de Erkiaga, the Administrative Director Nestor Raices, the Director of the first level of the Euskal Echea in the Capital Viviana D’Andraia; first grade, Marcela Sanchez Rubio; Intermediates, Graciela Aparicio and coordinators Begoña Muñiz (Basque language and culture), Marcela Maranelli (English), Roxana Garcia Grassi (French), Diana Borsani (CCD), and Diego Supply (P.E.).

The director of first level in Llavallol, Pia Bresciani, Institutional Coordinator in Llavallol, Izaskun Ordoqui as were also at the event.  FEVA was also there being represented by its vice-president and Lehendakari of Laurak Bat, Arantxa Anitua.