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The Euskel Biotza Basque club in Roldan, in the Argentine province of Santa Fe, has begun a very original and interesting idea.  Aimed at people getting to know their roots and more about the local Basque club activities, club dancers sent 300 letters to neighbors with Basque last names.  The plan, “Basques of Roldan Door to Door” was more than a success and many of the people contacted will participate in this Sunday’s San Ignacio festivities. 

Roldan, Argentina.   Guide by the premise of “to grow, people first have to know about us,” members of the Euskel Biotza dance group in Roldan started an interesting initiative.  “We decided to find everyone in Roldan of Basque descent,” Gabriela Menghi, club dancer told EuskalKultura.com.  “For that we were able to acquire the database from the last elections that allowed us to reach both men and women, unlike the phone book where only one or the other appears per household.  After our first run, we searched Basque last names, registered families, where they live and as a plus the coat of arms of each surname.  All of this was taken from the Juan de Garay website.  In all we found 127 last names and we wrote 323 letters that we delivered door to door between members of the board of directors and the dantzaris,” Menghi explained.

Each of the letters included information on the Basque club including our contact information so that everyone interested could get in touch.  “The first call was from a very excited lady who thanked us for the gesture, and asked us if she could still learn to dance the Jota at age 65.  Of course we told her yes, and so now we have a new dantzari in our adult group,” she concluded.

“But of them all, the last call was the most moving, since it was a lady who didn’t know where her last name came from, and so to make sure she called her sister in Jujuy and her sister told her that yes, they were of Basque descent.  And so they were able to learn more about their roots, thanks to our letter, which really made us emotional.”

San Ignacio and Basque visitors

Just like last year, the Roldan Basque community will host its big San Ignacio festivities in 2015.  Lunch will be served for nearly 300 people and will also include the participation of the club dancers.

“We also have a special guest at our practices.  Ander Oiarbide is from Errenteria, and has family in Roldan who he is visiting.  He and his sisters are teaching us some new steps.”

The event will take place on Augsut 2 at the C.C.U.P. club in Roldan.  Admission is $220 for adults, and $120 for children between the ages of 4 and 12, with children’s menus available for $50.  There will be a dance after lunch.