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 North American Basque Organizations
  A federation of organizations to sustain BASQUE culture
 
 


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  Izan ziralako, gara, eta garalako izango dira  
"Because they were, we are, and because we are they will be"
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Eguberri eta
Urte Berri On!

Merry Christmas &
Happy New Year!

Feliz Navidad y
Prospero A
ño Nuevo!

Joyeux No
ël et
Bonne Ann
ée




 

 

 

Baztango "Mutil Dantzak" workshop (Nov. 2009)

Our dance workshop for the dances from the Baztan region of Nafarroa was conducted by our visiting Basque country instructor Patxi Larralde who has developed a system for the teaching of these dances.

Baztango dantzak pages
(follow these links for a description, sheet music, audio and video clips of each dance):
General steps of
Baztan dances
Aunitz urtez
Hiru puntukoa + Billantzikoa
Zazpi (zortzi?) Jauzi
Zurrume
Baztango Sagar

Soka dantza
   

Extra: Zozoarena
Erdizke
Erdizke pike
Erdizke, pike, eskuak
Esker batekin
Eskuin batekin
Eskuin eta hiru
Erdi piketu bi puntu
Erdizke ta hiru

Related link:  NABO dance workshops

Our Nov. 2009 workshop instructor Patxi Larralde (playing the txistu) instructed the "mutil dantzak" of the Baztan region of Nafarroa. 

He has developed a methodology of teaching these dances that works well.

Mil esker to Patxi & his father Javier for making the trip here to teach us these dances.

 
Mutil-dantzak
literally means boys dances, in which young people dance in a circle open.  Based on the name, it appears these dances were originally for young unmarried men. 

Female participation in these dances during the official festivals is controversial with some in favor and others opposed. 

Traditionally the towns of the valley of Baztan in Nafarroa have had dancing holidays, when these dances are performed. 

There are nineteen dances, but not all are danced at the same time.  The choreographic repertoire seems very old, if one takes into account the content of motor steps, very simple but multiple combinations, and the qualifications of many of the dances, alluding to issues of rural areas primarily related to animals and especially with birds.  These dances share some things in common with the iantziak-dances from the Iparralde or northern, French side of the Basque country and in the village of Luzaide in Navarre.



Participants at the Bakersfield workshop



Javier Larralde, Arizkungo txistularia


Old postcard of the mutil dantzak of Baztan
 




  < These
NABO dance workshops are made possible through a grant from the Basque Government.

< The Baztan region
is in the northern
part of Nafarroa
 

The flag of Baztan >

Related link:
N.A.B.O. Dance

 


A view of the valley of Baztan in Nafarroa, the place of origin of many Basque immigrants to the western United States.  Their dances have been under-represented and accordingly, this workshop aimed to feature them.

 

  

 
 

Recreate + Educate = Perpetuate


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