Are you interested in Basque dances? Let’s learn more about them!

“The Basque, this person who sings and dances on his mountains” Voltaire

Basque culture is incredibly rich when it comes to dances. They have over 400 national and folk dances. Keeping their traditions alive is important for most Basque people and dances are one of the most popular ways to do that. All over the Basque Country, there are many events where we can witness, learn, and join this tradition.

“Traditional dance is a special artistic and cultural activity involving one or more people who, dressed in special clothing, move their bodies in ways other than they do when going about their normal daily activities. It has been observed that in the so-called traditional societies there is a strong inclination towards dance at moments considered fundamental in the course of peoples' social life, their economic activities and their spiritual and religious conventions. Hence, traditional dance is understood as an activity closely linked to the expression of extraordinary social and cultural sentiment.”

Overview of Basque Dances, Emilio Javier Duenas, nabasque.eus

There are approximately 400 distinct Basque folk dances, each with its own story and significance. Varied according to the style, the purpose, function, and complexity.

“…we wish to show that no dances are more important than others. Some are better known than others. Some are more complex, while others are simpler. Some are ritual and others entertaining. Some religious others pagan. Some sacred and other profane. Some are open group dances and others closed. Generally, the space in which they are carried out is open, although a few were originally danced in closed quarters. The vast majority are danced only by men, some only by women and others by both sexes. “

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Picture from: https://aventurieux.com/2019/09/13/la-place-de-la-fete-dans-la-societe-basque/

The Basque dances are categorized according to three performance formations: the dances based on the pilgrimage or as they are known “dances of the square”/open air dances, the spade or sword dances and the finale/end of festival dances. The first ones are based on the dances that took place at the fairs and whose participation was spontaneous. These dances still occur on the squares of the Basque Country. The spade dances are linked to the memorial or honoring and in some of them sticks are used to simulate the weapons. They have many similarities to other European sword dances. Spade dances are danced by men only. The finale dances mark the end of a festival or a specific period, such as carnival, and they serve as a climax top the festive debauchery, representing the end of a circle and the beginning of another one. These dances are danced by both men and women.

Some examples

“The systematization of the Basque folk dance corpus is a complex task, focusing on festivals, physical context and choreography. We can find complete dance cycles from specific areas together with certain dances common throughout an entire province or only in certain towns.

DANTZARI DANTZA FROM DURANGALDEA (BIZKAIA).

Without question, the best known cycle of dances, both within and beyond the borders of the Basque Country-for a variety of reasons-is the Dantzari Dantza or Jantzari Jantza. It is danced annually and with great ritual by a number of dance groups throughout all of the Basque provinces and at different parish churches in the Duranguesado area, where it is originally from. On the eve of the local feast day, it is the custom to set up the traditional San Juan or Donianeatxa oak tree (nowadays usually a poplar). The trunk is peeled and the branches limbed, and flowers and sometimes a flag or two are placed at the top. All of the festive activities take place around this symbol, which is set up in the middle of the town square.

SORGIN DANTZA FROM ORIA (GIPUZKOA).

The comical or burlesque dances reach their peak in the Sorgin Dantza, or dance of the witches. These dances, a combination of wild and sometimes a bit obscene body movements, have managed to remain alive over time in certain towns. The best known of these dances can be seen in the town of Lasarte-Oria. As the story goes, this dance simulates a group of workers who moved here from the town of Bergara. Today this dance is also danced in the town of Antzuola during Carnival, although here, along with the dantzaris and musicians, there are also people dressed up as bears and monkeys. And the neighboring town of Aretxabaleta has an identical version known as Txino Dantza. The dancers wear a simple linen nightgown and sing a song in allusion to green grapes. It appears that dances of this type were more common in the past. In Otxandio the elders vaguely recall an itinerant Sorgin Iantza which was very theatrical and involved a lot of shouting.

MASKARADAK FROM ZUBEROA. Carnival representation and farce is seen at its best at the winter masquerades in the Zuberoa area. Itinerant dances are mixed with games, gags, curious dress, tattered clothing, money collection, popular participation, exhibition, mock trades and marginal races, varied satirical languages and music. Every year the townspeople, sometimes bolstered by out-of-towners, put together and rehearse a complete repertory to be put on each Sunday for approximately four months, in a different town in the valley.

The entourage is divided into two practically antagonistic groups. The "reds", or Gorriak, are elegantly dressed, orderly and move with great grace. The "blacks", or Beltzak, are disorderly and rude, dress in rags, get in the way of passers-by, shout and formerly would speak in the Bearn dialect or Occitan.

In the morning these groups walk around the town, wined and dined by their hosts. All the while the Barrikadak are taking place, a blend of money collection and peaceful dance confrontation, after which the participants are given, sweet and salty snacks, refreshments and liquors. Dances are taken in turns, featuring the most important characters Txerrero, Gathuzain, Zamaltzain, Kantiniertsa and Banderari, gravitating between muriskas and antrixat before the expectant eyes of Jauna and Anderea (lord and lady). Meanwhile, the Beltzak, Caldereros and Gypsies flounce upon one another, joke playfully and harass, both verbally and physically, the rest of the entourage and the public, bringing about fun and laughter.

FOLKLORE OF THE SOUTH. With a contrast in geography and climate, the Mediterranean offers us an additional varied element in its festive celebrations. First off, the Rioja Alavesa, is closely tied to other nearby towns. In its patron saint feast days, between spring and summer, at the height of the holiday season, is when the processions and rituals come together.

In Iekora, on the feast day of Santo Domingo, a dance known as the Dance of the Virgen de la Bercijana or the Virgen de la Cadena, is performed in front of the image and of the Virgin and along the route between churches. In Biazteri, on the feast day of San Juan, the local flag is waved, accompanied by the Danza de los Ramos. In Eltziego, during the Virgen de la Plaza festivities in September, El Árbol, Cuatrocalles and the Jota. And in Oion, in the middle of winter, the Danza de los Patronos and the unique Revolcón del Cachi. This tradition consists in waving the municipal flag, below which the so-called Cachi, dressed in a Harlequin-like costume, rolls about on the ground.

In most of the dances from this area this character appears dressed in jester-like clothing, and has names such as Cachimorro, Cachirulo and Cachibobo and/or the Bastonero. This character is in charge of leading the parade or of entertaining the crowds, depending on the town.

The Erribera region in Navarra is influenced by other nearby towns. In places such as Kortes, Fustiñana, Ablitas, Monteagudo, Murtxante, Ribaforada or Buñuel, the Dance or Paloteado, is a combination of theatre in verse and dance, with historical relevance and certain reminders of medieval origins: El Rabadán, el Mayoral... and dances with bows, ribbons, and sticks.

SOKA DANTZAK.

This section includes a large group of dances all having one thing in common. The Soka Dantzak or rope dances can be found throughout the Basque Country. They have several different names, including Aurreskua, Erregelak, Ingurutxoa, Zortzikoa, Soka Dantza, Baile de la Era or Larrain Dantza, Ttun ttun, Dantza or Iantza Luze, Branlea, Trapatan, Pamperruque, etc.

Photo: The dancers of Lizarra/Estella (Navarre) dancing in the procession on the most important day of the festivities in honor of the local patron saint.

These are social dances par excellence. Both sexes take an active role, breaking with the traditional male hegemony. There are no set criteria for dress as is often the case in other types of dances. These dances are made up of different parts, some of which are performed on their own. Such is the case of dances a lo suelto (individual) or a lo agarrao (dances where the couple holds each other close together) dances: Jotas, Arin-arin or Porrusaldak/and the so-called Kalejirak dances.”

Overview of Basque Dances, Emilio Javier Duenas, nabasque.eus

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Sources: Instituto Highway , nabasque.eus