IPARRAIZE II:
Return to Mar del Plata |
It's time to return
to visit our Basque friends of Argentina, with the re-creation of Iparraize
("Northern Wind"), NABO's mixed dance group comprised of dancers
from our various communities, to perform
in Mar de Plata in the Fall of 2010.
N.A.B.O. has been invited to put together a group to perform at
the International Mus Tournament and Semana Vasca ("Basque
Week") in Mar de
Plata, Argentina. Sixteen years ago an initial bunch
made the trip South to take part, and to a person they all had a
great time. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to
experience an alternative way of being Basque, with one of the
biggest Basque celebrations in the world, and of course to make some
new friends.
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The "Denak Bat" clubhouse
in Mar del Plata of. It's several stories, including a
bar/restaurant and fronton.
In the buildup to the final weekend of the Semana Vasca, most all of the action is
here--it'll be your new home! |
Each participant would cover the
cost of travel, and then they would be provided room and board in
the homes of Basques during the week (but you would have to pay for
some of the meals during the festival). The "Denak Bat" Basque
Club of Mar del Plata would be our hosts while their, and they have
a local dance group by the name of "Beti Alai." Then we would
reciprocate and host a visiting group from Argentina when they
travel here to perform.
Participants would have
to commit to multiple practices (in person and online) in order to
put together this hybrid-group. The group would work on
several dances together (to be determined based on those who
sign-up), and then perform together in Mar del Plata. The
group would also likely participate in a general performance along
with a dozen or more dance groups from Argentina.
Tentative travel plans:
Depart U.S. where we would try to coordinate meeting together at a
major connection, then on to Buenos Aires for at least a day to make
the make the flight connection to Mar del Plata the next day.
The travel days vary because each person can make their own plans to
stay as long as desired; the group will have a few minimum days
together.
The contact person for this project will be John Goyenetche
SouparKoul@aol.com
[with the help of Valerie Arrechea & John Ysursa.]
Our Mar del
Plata contact helping us to arrange this is Patxi Valencia, the
treasurer of the Basque Club (and one of the members from the
initial exchange of years ago). |
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Mar del Plata is one of Argentina's
premiere beach towns.
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