Euskal kultura

NABO, the North American federation of Basque organizations held its first meeting of 2015 in Salt Lake City in conjunction with the Utah Basque Club’s “31st Annual Basque Dinner and Dance” that is open to the public and regularly sells out. This year it was held on January 31 and began with the NABO meeting in the morning, followed by the dinner dance festivities.

Salt Lake City, UT. This is an annual event that includes a display of Basque food and folklore that also serves as a major source of funding for Basque club activities and its dancers, the Utah-ko Triskalariak. Again this year, the venue was filled to capacity with more than 300 attendees. The food was again prepared by a group of veteran chefs from the club, led by Jean Flesher, who prepared a Basque-style dinner, to the delight of the diners. Basque club vice-president, Cirbie Lee Sangroniz coordinated the dance performance that included the participation of at least three generations of local Basques.

The day began with the NABO meeting, the first of 2015, that was held in the facilities of St. Ambrose Catholic Parish. Delegates from clubs from all over the country attended, with President Valerie Etcharren Arrechea presiding, accompanied at the head table by vice-president, Mary Gaztambide from Salt Lake City, and Secretary, Marisa Espinal. The presence of NABO Treasurer, Grace Mainvil, was sorely missed, as she could not attend due to health reasons, and who we wish the quickest recovery.

Among other delegates or NABO members who spoke were Kate Camino, NABO Facilitator; Lisa Corcostegui, NABO Webmaster; Education Chair, John Ysursa; Euskera Chair, Martin Goicoechea; Euskera Coordinator, Itxaso Cayero and many other meeting participants.

Basque Government representatives were also in Attendance including the Director of the Basque Community Abroad, Asier Vallejo Itsaso who led the delegation comprised of Benan Oregi and Jon Garcia. Ander Caballero Barturen, Delegate of Euskadi in the US also attended in dual roles. That of Delegate of Euskadi and also New England Basque club representative.

The meeting was very productive and with presentations and commentaries respecting time limits, the meeting that began at 8am concluded in time for lunch. Just prior to its conclusion, the new chaplain to the Basque community in Idaho, Aita Antton Egiguren who is a Franciscan, was presented to the group. Aita Antton is originally from Bidania, Gipuzkoa and has currently signed a three-year contract in the US. Egiguren speaks ten languages, from Basque to Korean, as well as English, French, Chinese, Thai, Spanish and Portuguese... He arrived in the country, after successfully wading through all the bureaucracy, last November.

Lunch as well as the dinner, were prepared by the group of expert club cooks under the direction of John Cendagorta. The excellent lunch, included generous portions. At 6:30pm the public began to arrive in time for the gala that would begin at 7:30 with dinner served by Basque club youth, with the Utah-ko Triskalariak performing throughout dinner.

After dinner, the dance began to the music of Jean Flesher on the accordion, adding to his role as chef. He has beren playing all his life in Basque festival throughout the West, this time accompanied by Jay Shortsleeve on the drums. Some Basque-American classics were heard, from jotas/fandangos, arin-arin and mutxikoak and jauziak, to waltzes, paso-dobles, and even Basque rock and roll like the classic “Zu eta ni biok goxoki, dantzan dantzan rock and rolly" by Niko Etxart. Another success, fruit of hard work by volunteers at the Utah Basque club and NABO.