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San Francisco, CA.  The Basque Cultural Day organized by the BEO will convert the San Francisco Basque Cultural Center into the meeting point for Basques, Scottish and Irish with dancing, cultural activities, talks on self-determination, as well as a big dinner.  This year’s event was inspired by the documentary Gazta Zati Bat (a piece of cheese) by Jon Maia that premiered in 2011.

The film explores self-determination through the history of the inhabitants of Idiazabal, a Gipuzkoan town known worldwide for its cheese that decides to revive its rural sports and its identity with help from their Scottish friends.

Baserri Cheese, dance and self-determination

The program of activities includes a series of talks, entitled “Hitzaldi zati bat (a piece of talk)", that will take place from 1-4:15pm.  The first will be presented by Marcia Barinaga from the Barinaga Ranch in Marin County that makes its own Basque cheese, Baserri with which they have won several awards.  She will be followed by Lisa Corcostegui, anthropologist, dancer, genealogist and Ph.D. graduate from the Center for Basque Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno who will talk about traditional Basque, Scottish and Irish dances.

Finally, Xabier Irujo, co-director of the Center for Basque Studies will give a talk on self-determination and its significance today in Europe in relation to the Basque, Scottish, Irish, Flamenco and Catalan people.

Dancers and Bagpipe players

Following, there will be a dance performance that will combine Basque, Scottish and Irish folklore thanks to the San Francisco Zazpiak Bat Basque Dancers (directed by Valerie Arrechea), the Scottish Highland Dancers (directed by Barbara Cormack and Kathy Yamy) and the Irish Step Dancers from the Murphy School of Irish Dance with the participation of Bagpipe player, Jeff Campbell.  It will be an inter-cultural show of dance and folklore.

After the dancing there will be dinner at 7pm at the Basque Cultural Center.  All activities of the day are free and open to the public however dinner tickets need to be reserved in advance and cost $35 per adult and $10 for those under the age of 12.

For more information go to the BEO website or contact Nicole Sorhondo at 415-285-0748 or via email: Info@BasqueEd.org.