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“Successful,” show last Saturdays Euskal Jaia 2017 in the Retiro Park is being described.  The Euskal Etxea in Madrid stressed the size of the crowd “from morning to night people enjoyed themselves with an exciting yacht race, the performances of the duo from Iparralde Pauline eta Juliette, who sung “Pongamos que hablo de Madrid,” with a special verse dedicated to the club, the Basque Choir from Madrid and the folk group Briganthya who got everyone dancing, along with our dance group.” 

Madrid, Spain.   The Euskal Etxea in Madrid celebrated its Euskal Jaia 2017 last Saturday in the Retiro Park.  After some years of not celebrating, the Basque festival returned stronger than ever, and gathered Basques and fans of the Basque culture in the Spanish capital.  The weather cooperated and the sunny day attracted a large audience.  Representing the Basque Government was Gorka Alvarez Aranburu, Director of the Basque Community Abroad who traveled from Vitoria-Gasteiz to join in the festivities.

The event began at 10am with the yacht race that took place in the pond between Basque and local crews.  The local team Retiro 66 won, talking the fourth club trophy, “although the Itsasoko Ama from Santurtzi and Ur Kirolak from Donostia came in very close behind,” Julio Elejalde, vicepresident of Euskal Etxea said.

The first performance was by the Kukai dance group from Errenteria who was recently awarded the National Dance Award.  “They left people stunned, hypnotized, and they also gifted us the world premiere of “Aurrestxotis. They really performed a special show; very different and the audience was enchanted by them,” they said.

Many then gathered at the Euskal Etxea’s Txoko for lunch along with the Director of the Basque Community Abroad, Gorka Alvarez Aranburu, the President of Paris’ Euskal Etxea, Sebastien Daguerre and members and directors of the Madrid club including the rowers, dantzaris and musicians.

In the afternoon the Basque Choir from Madrid performed in the auditorium “Casa de las Vascas,” at the Retiro.  Afterwards on the outdoor state, the duo from Iparralde Pauline eta Juliette performed songs in Basque, Spanish and French and moved all present.  “They also gifted us a special performance of “Pongamos que hablo de Madrid,” with a special verse dedicated to the Euskal Etxea, a delight,” Elejalde added.

In the evening the folk group Briganthya closed the event with their joyful music “that got everyone dancing, encouraged by our dance group,” they concluded.