Last Sunday, September 20, the Basque Club of Utah and the club's Triskalariak dance group participated in the annual Carmelite's Fair. Along with some members that sold txorizo, dancers from the Utah-ko Triskalariak performed too. “The carmelite nuns need help to continue their activity, and we are just one of the many groups that help them to keep going through the year. It’s a nice thing to do,” said Larry Osoro, longtime member and former president of the Club, in a conversation with EuskalKultura.com.
Salt Lake City, Utah. Italians, Mexicans, Greeks, Basques… Many ethnic groups gathered, last Sunday, at the Carmelites Monastery in the capital city of Utah, to participate at a fundraise event that helps the sisters “keep going through the year,” as explained by Larry Osoro, longtime member of the Euskal Etxea. The annual event usually has a good turnout, as it did this year.
The participating groups install booths inside the compound and the Basque Club sold txorizo from 10am to 5pm. “Even though we sometimes prepare txorizo ourselves, for this occasion we usually buy it in Twin Falls, Idaho, at Falls Brand,”
indicated Osoro. At other booths, attendants could buy beer, tacos, and different kinds of food and beverages.
Utah-ko Triskalariak, directed by Cirbie Sangroniz, performed in front of an audience that “loved” the show, as the Club described it in their monthly newsletter. “We’ve been participating in this event for the last 30 years and it’s one of our favorite performances. It’s for a good cause and the crowd and the atmosphere is always fun,” in the words of Sangroniz. In a short performance that lasted no more than half an hour, the Triskalariak danced Agurra, Ikurrina, Banako, Makil Txiki, Zahagi Dantza, and Arku Dantza, among other dances.
An active group
Utah Basques also participate in charities for people with diabetes, MS, and with other necessities. “Speaking for myself−indicated Osoro−, I like the Club to participate in charities not just for helping the community but, also, to leave a positive impression in the community of our group. We don’t expect anything back, but for them to say ‘Basques are good people’.”
This Euskal Etxea also organizes parties for major holidays, like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. And next year they will host Udaleku, in the summer. The dates for the Basque Culture camp are July 10 through July 22, and the Club is already working on organizing it.
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