Let's start a joint dance group, that brings together young people from various California communities.  The group Hartza (Basque for "Bear" based on the California flag symbol) will perform at several Basque festivals, including the NABO Convention at Jaialdi 2010 in Boise, Idaho.

We Basque dance because we like the dances, but also dance because we like the company and making friends.  This opportunity, therefore, will be to learn some new dances (including the Baztan dances of Nafarroa) and to meet dancers from other communities.  The tentative name of the group is Hartza which is Basque for bear, based on the California flag symbol, the mythical role of the bear in traditional Basque culture, and the word sounds good in Basque.

This is an open invitation to all--men and women--to participate in this group that will perform together at several Basque festivals and the NABO Convention at Jaialdi 2010.  
 

In addition to the "mutil dantzak" of Baztan, the aim is to also teach some of the ingurutxu or circle dances of Nafarroa.

There will be several occasions where workshops will be organized, including hopefully with some instructors from the Basque Country.  These workshops will be supplemented by online video clips allowing dancers to work individually at home.

This group will also be a great opportunity to meet some new people and make some friends.  It'll be fun!
 

While the bear is now gone from the Basque Country, it remains a mythical figure in traditional Basque culture, likely because of its power and winter hibernation (when it would seemingly re-emerge in the Springtime.

We have Basques here from all parts of the Basque Country, but the dances from the Baztan region of Nafarroa have been under-represented (i.e., not performed very much).  This group will take these dances as a starting point.

Baztango mutil dantzariak