Bilbao, Bizkaia. After 15 years dedicated to the body and soul of instruction and diffusion of traditional dance, the master musicians and dantzaris from AIKO Taldea are not in the business of interrupting their activities because of a pandemic. They did temporarily cancel, in person classes during the 2020-21 term, out of caution and social responsibility as well as following the recommendations of health authorities, but in return they have launched AIKO Eskola, the first digital Basque traditional dance school.
The group of musicians and master dancers are characterized, in their illustrious career of over three decades, by supporting pioneering and innovative projects. From their own teaching philosophy (the AIKO method, progressive, natural and ergonomic, understanding the relationship of the music and movement as a whole and based on the rule “enjoy dancing, learn while enjoying”) to the creation of a new line of carbon fiber drums, through the cycle of pilgrimages in collaboration with the music bands (Bandtzaldia), or the production of “Jotamentala,” a documentary dedicated to the jota.
It allows you to learn dance from any device, choosing the moment to follow the classes from anywhere in the world.
Following this same line, AIKO Taldea is now a Pioneer when it comes to teaching the fundamentals of the jota, the arin-arin, multildantzak and jauziak, the mazurka, the polka, the habanera, or waltz through a digital platform, the first of its kind. From any device (computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone), at a time when everyone chooses for the class, from anywhere in the world.
The virtual course will develop, as the in person ones do, from October through June, with two levels, beginners and improvement. There will be weekly classes live that are recorded so tutorials can be followed when convenient. Something new is that these live classes will be taught in three languages: Basque, Spanish and English, in hopes of reaching the entire world via the internet.
Available in Basque, Spanish and English; in addition to weekly live classes, recorded material is also availablel with dances step by step; all of the mutildantzak and jauziak online for the first time.
Besides the live classes, the platform also includes dantzak a la carte, with all of the dances step by step to complete training, recorded by dance masters from AIKO Taldea. Here you will find all of the jauzis and mutildanzas online for the first time as well as a complete collection of dance steps recorded in a clear, didactic way in order to practice, improvise and create your own choreographies. In short, traditional dance from the Basque Country with its style, rhythms and varied choreographies, explained step by step.
An innovative system has been incorporated that sows in a graphic and simple way, how to synchronize our movements and music, as well as other personalized functions to improve the teaching of the steps; slow or fast motion playback without altering the music, loop playback or 180 degrees of the image to mirror the movement, depending on the student’s interest.
It incorporates personalized functions: playback in fast or slow motion, in a loop, 180 degree rotation of the image as a mirror or an innovative system that teaches how to synchronize our movements and the music.
At the same time, as an extraordinary activity, Aiko Eskola will also include monographic courses and master classes taught by prestigious specialists in the area of traditional dance, including instructors such as Oier Araolaza, Aingeru Berguices, Vanesa Castaños, Nagore de las Cuevas, Pedro Elosegi, Josu Garate, Iñaki Goirizelaia, Aritz Ibáñez, Iñaki Irigoien, Claude Iruretagoyena, Jon Iruretagoyena, Jon Maya, Gari Otamendi, Arkaitz Pascuas, Pantxika Telleria or Ines Uriarte.
AIKO Digital Dantza Eskola’s enrollment is already open for courses beginning mid-October. Cost of annual registration is 160 Euros (or 19 Euros/month), and registration as well as course payment is available on their website aikoeskola.eus.
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