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Designed for the youngest members of the euskal etxeas, the Union Vasca Basque club in Bahia Blanca organizes an nually a Regional Txikis and Intermediate Gathering.  In 2016, the event celebrated its 6th year and was attended by a delegation from the Hiru Erreka Basque Club in Tres Arroyos. During the day, the children played, sang and danced in the company of some of the older dancers from the local Basque club. 

Bahia Blanca, Argentina.   “In hopes of shortening the distance,” the Union Vasca in Bahia Blanca organizes annually a Regional Txikis and Intermediate Gathering.  According to those responsible for the initiative, “The Txikis Gathering that FEVA hosts in Llavallol is wonderful,” but in a country as large as Argentina “it becomes hard for some of the clubs to attend because of the distance.”

What could have been a challenge has become an opportunity and the club in Bahia decided to start organizing the regional gathering, aimed mainly at the Basque clubs south of Buenos Aires.  The proposal was a success and thanks to the work and commitment of members of the Union Vasca, especially its older dancers, it is now in its 6th year.

Romina Larrañaga, club reference told EuskaKultura.com that “the gathering selects some kind of theme from Basque culture or history every year; before we worked with regions, mythology and this year we chose the Maskarada fron Xiberoa.  That is why a large number of the activities were run by members of the intermediate dance group, Graciana Koehler and Arantxa Gil Razusta, who are familiar with this dance.”

The event began in the morning with the arrival of the delegation from Tres Arroyos.  They were welcomed with breakfast prepared by the parents of the txikis and intermediates.  After breakfast the games began, along with songs in Basque and dancing.  “After lunch, characters from the Maskarada of Xiberoa, appeared and presented their characteristics and the details of each costume. After the presentation, the children were divided into teams and they played a game related to the different characters,” the organizers explained.

To end the day, the older dantzaris of the Beti Aurrera dance group performed the Maskarada from Xiberoa for the guests.  After saying goodbye, each visiting child received a souvenir.  The dantzaris also let us know that their next public performance will be at the dance at the club on June 4.