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Josette Daramy (Bakersfield, 1979) started dancing with the Kern County Basque Club when she was only five, but she had to stop to go to the University. Now, after a gap of twenty years, she's back. “Kristie (Onaindia) retired, and the Club was looking for a teacher so I told them I taught dances in the past and that I might as well do it again,” she said in a conversation with EuskalKultura.com.

Ander Egiluz Beramendi. Yesterday, the last day of January, was the first class day for Josette Daramy, who is in charge of the B and C groups (K-2nd and 3rd-5th grades, respectively), with the aid of Nikki Iturriria. She will also help with the kids from the A group (6th-8th grades), that Nicole Esnoz and Ashleigh Rossi, both former students of Daramy, will teach. All in all, Daramy will help around 70 kids learn and get better at Basque dances, at least, until Memorial Day Weekend, on May 29, when the Kern County Basque Club celebrates its annual picnic.

It is said that once you learn how to ride a bicycle, you never forget it. Does it apply to teaching dances?

-We'll see, but I hope so (she laughs). I taught Basque dancing to younger kids twenty years ago, when I was in High School. After Kristie (Onaindia) retired, Maria (Toretta) and Suzy (Iturriria-Alexander) were having a hard time finding a teacher so I told them that I taught Basque dances in the past and that my kids (Noelle and Juliette) wanted to dance, so I might as well do it again.

Are you excited?

-I am. I reached out to some of the girls I used to dance with and taught, to see if they would help me. And we got together and we were laughing so much, trying to remember. We'll try to do it a little differently. We want to teach the kids dances that they can dance at the Basque picnic. Many kids don't know the Jota, Fandango, Arin-arin, Pasacalle, Carnaval… My goal is to bring back the traditional ones, so that when they get older they can dance out there.

So you're not that focused on their performance at the Picnic, but on them enjoying dancing.

-Yes. I want them to stay at night, listen to the music and dance. I want them to enjoy, no matter where they are, in Boise, Chino, Bakersfield, or in the Basque Country.

Are you getting any kind of guidance from John Goyenetche and the other instructors?

-John doesn't want to interfere. I asked him for some music, and he told me he'll give me whatever I need. But I also reached out to Jeannette Erassarret to play for us. We want to do a Jota competition, like in the 80's, and she plays a particular Jota that we couldn't find anywhere. I'll record what she plays but, at the Picninc, we'd like to have her play live.

You started dancing when you were five years old, then you were an instructor in your teenage years, and now again. Things have changed a lot. John, for example, uses tablets in his classes…

-Definitely, things have changed a lot. But I like to look at the tradition. There is a woman that brings her grandson to dance practice, she used to dance in the Basque Country, and I always ask her first. I'm trying to go back to a more traditional way. It's good to bring back the old dances, because they're new for the new generations, and the older ones can also enjoy watching them.

Are you planning on doing this next year too, or just until they find somebody else?

-I committed to this year, and we'll see how it goes. But I have a feeling that I will do it next year too, unless somebody else wants to do it. In any case, if my kids don't want me to be there, I can always say that they kicked m out (she laughs).