Euskal kultura

The 38th edition of the Festival of European-Argentine Communities in Bariloche, in the Andes Mountain area, also includes a large Basque presence. The Mendiko Eusko Etxea didn’t only have a food stand, but also performed on stage where they performed a suite based on the Xiberoko Maskarada, and included the participation of all of the club’s dance groups.

Bariloche, Argentina. The local Basque club always has a large presence at the Festival of European-Argentine Communities, and this year they were even more recognized as Facundo Galvan, member of Mendiko Eusko Etxea was elected as the president of the event’s organizing committee.

The 38th edition of the event began last Saturday and will run through next Sunday, with 13 foreign communities having displayed their artistic shows, as well as traditional dishes. In the case of the Basque club, the stand provided menu items like squid, tripe Biscayan style, txistorra in cider and for dessert Basque cake and small red fruit tarts.

In regards to dances, dance director Federico Ezquerra explained to EuskalKultura.com that their performance was similar to last year’s, with all of the club’s dantzaris performing together. “With Martin Quezada and Luciana Haran, the other dance directors, we put the groups together to show that we don’t necessarily need the txikis, intermediates and adults to dance separately, but instead together with the women interacting with the intermediates and txikis, as well as with the adults. That is how we composed a suite with characters from the Xiberoko Maskarada, with the stars and hosts. The boys between the ages of 8-10 love to jump on the glass, while surrounding them, the festivities and joy that are characterized by the Fandango and Arin Arin is present.

A segment of the Maskarada done by the Bariloche Basque dancers

“I also think that besides any dance that we propose, the important thing is the dancers commitment to the Basque club, understanding that it is our house and that we have to take care of it and defend it. It is also notable the help we receive from the board of directors for the dance group,” the director said.

Next weekend, the 38^th Festival of Communities will conclude with another show of music and dance, with the Basque dancers returning to the stage with contribution of dances and costumes.