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New York, NY.  For sure, the photos do not do justice to how spectacular the surroundings where the dance and singing performances took place.  In order to get there, one had to walk about a half hour from the Basque club as did a large group of local Basques as well as others from all over the country, as well as visitors from Euskadi.

Besides the boards of directors of NABO and the New York Basque club, Lehendakari Urkullu and his wife, as well as his delegation from the Basque Government also attended.  Urkullu presided over the event applauding the performances from his first-row seat.  As before, locals asked what it was all about, “that music and those dancers,” and from where they must be “those folks dressed in such bright colors,” and those dances that were so moving, “kicking so high.”  The Utah’ko Triskalariak of Salt Lake City, Utah represented Basque America and the San Antonio de Iralabarri Choir performed along with the Urki dance group representing Euskadi.

[Dancers from the Urki dance troupe from Andoain danced in front of Lehendakari Urkullu, his wife and the Secretary General of Foreign Action, Marian Elorza along with other members of the Basque Government delegation.  On the left, a dancer holds a sign with the name of the dance group, while members of the Salt Lake City Triskalariak held an Ikurriña.  In the distance, the skyscrapers of Manhattan form a spectacular postcard of New York City (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[Just like the dancers from Andoain, the San Antonio de Iralabarri choir paid their own way to New York, just as did members of the Triskalariak.  The choir from Bilbao participated in various activities in various places throughout the weekend, and provided each audience with a very well-sung selection of popular Basque songs with others in different languages and from different traditions (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[Salt Lake City’s turn, NABO’s artistic representation during the weekend of the Centennial (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[The performance at the East River State Park in Brooklyn was helped by the wonderful weather that day.  Basques from the area that weren’t aware of the Centennial events were also in attendance.  The day ended with dinner at the Eusko Etxea where the sounds of Basque song and the impromptu trikitixa were also heard (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[For those who wished, Sunday began with mass at the Saint Patrick Cathedral on 5th Avenue, officiated by Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York, along with Auxiliary Bishop, Josu Iriondo originally of Legazpia.  In attendance, again in the front row, was Lehendakari Urkullu along with his delegation who was welcomed in Basque by Bishop Iriondo who also wished him much luck in his work for the Basque people (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[Bishop Josu Iriondo was flanked by several priests, one of which (the firs on the left) was Victoriano Etxabe, also from Legazpia, Iriondo’s special guest for the events in New York.  Patxi Garmendia, from Lazkao, Gipuzkoa was Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York from 1977-2001. He was then succeeded by Josu Iriondo. Both of them have been honorary members of the Eusko Etxea of New York (photoEuskalKultura.com)]

[During the sermon, Cardinal Dolan stood and was observed by Bishop Iriondo, as well as the priests.  On Monday, Dolan and Iriondo both attended the traditional Columbus Day Parade organized by the Italian community. They stood to greet the Basque contingent in the parade made up of dancers, singers, musicians, NY Basque club members as well as NABO.  Urkullu and Iriondo met on Sunday for a courtesy visit at Saint Patrick’s as well (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[Mass at St. Patrick’s gave way to a choir concert at the Holy Family Church by the San Antonio de Iralabarri choir directed by Maite Zugaza, again with Lehendakari Urkullu and his delegation in attendance.  The choir members from Bilbao were dressed in traditional Basque dress, and received great applause by the audience (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[A special selection was performed by the choir,  who celebrated their 15st anniversary in New York.  Emotional songs that held a special meaning in New York were Agur Jaunak, Euskal Herriko Semeak Gara, Txoriak Txori, Aita Gurea…Many comments and praise for them from Lehendakari Urkullu and Ibarretxe who was also present.  Singers and the audience were both very happy with the recital (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[A rendition of Mikel Laboa’s Baga, Biga, Higa was the cherry on top and brought the audience to their feet.  In the photo, in the audience at the left members of the Basque Government delegation and on the right, director and co-director o the Etxepare Basque Institute, members of Basque clubs and NABO representatives (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[After that, outside in the Dag Hammarskjold plaza, near the United Nations, there was a dance performance by the Utah’ko Triskalariak as well as the Urki dance group from Andoain, a wonderful warm up for the evening’s Centennial Gala that started at 6pm (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[Aurresku performed in honor of the NY Basque club by Cirbie Lee Sangroniz and Marcel Gaztambide (photoEuskalKultura.com)]

[Member of the Utah’ko Triskalariak, Carina Barajas successfully jumps on the wine glass without spilling a drop, as part of the Godalet Dantza.  Good for Carina, descendant of Basques from Ezterenzubi, Behe Nafarroa (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[Following the performance the audience was invited to dance “Zazpi Jauzi” with the dancers (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[In the photo in red, white and black, among the dancers from Andoain, is Antonia Lee Sangroniz, a Basque from Utah and granddaughter of two Basques from Gernika, Jaime and Madalena (Zatica) Sangroniz.  Antonia, along with the rest of her family and friends are members of the Salt Lake City Basque (photoEuskalKultura.com)]

[The festive atmosphere prompted a joyful kalejira, taking over the plaza as a festive place and included some pedestrians who were surprised by the wonderful event near the United Nations, 47th Street (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[One of those applauding the dancers was Lehendakari Urkullu.  After the performance some local Basques greeted him, as did Sabino Olabarriaga seen here.  Olabarrieta lived in NY for many years but then returned to the Basque Country although he visits his adopted home each year (photoEuskalKultura.com)]

[Also greeting friends made during his time as Lehendakari, former Lehendakari Ibarretxe hugs Mary Gaztambide, former NABO President and Basque referent in Salt Lake City as well as throughout the US (photoEuskalKultura.com)]

                                                                                                                                                 Final installment still to come