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Andoain, Gipuzkoa.  The Gazte Alai Basque dance group is currently staying at the Gaztetxe in Andoain.  They will then travel to various localities in the Basque Country from there to perform Basque dance, get to know new places and in some cases, find family members and the birth places of their family members.  Later they will move to Bergara which will serve as their base for the rest of the trip, until they leave on August 11.

Lodging has been organized by Basque youth who have participated in earlier editions of Hator Hona traveling to Argentina to teach Basque culture to youth in Necochea.  During their stay they were housed with Basque club families which created very strong ties.  The program has converted into a very important initiative for the Basque community because it has put them in permanent contact with the Basque Country.

This month, after saving for two years, youth from Necochea have returned the visit with “a ton of help from people from here,” Agostini explains.  “In Necochea we have been surprised by what has come with Hator Hona.  Nearly 60 youth have come to Necochea, and many years ago a group of 20 came from there.  After that our parents came too, and this year, 20 of us have come, so that the counts are even.”  

First Visit

For the majority of the youth from Argentina, this is their first visit to EuskalHerria and the experience is an unforgettable one.  “When we arrived we danced in Banka and in Urepele  (Lower Navarre) and were greeted by a youth association in an old farmhouse.  Some of the kids were really affected,’ Marcial says.

After Banka (Behe Nafarroa) we danced in Irurtzun (Nafarroa), Tolosa and Donostia (Gipuzkoa).  “For many it is the first time that they have seen a group from the Diaspora and the audience is surprised by Gazte Alai’s level.  We have danced with various groups from here and, even though we have access to videos, seeing them in person is a big change,” he assures.

[Gazte Alai dancers in Tolosa, Gipuzkoa (photo JIraola)]

Family Reunion

For many of the youth this trip is an opportunity to get to know their roots: and in some cases, meet family members and the places where their families are from.  Others, like Marcial, has already been to Euskal Herria having participated in another Gazte Alai trip as well as in a Barnetegi last February.

“Five of us have studied Basque at the University of La Plata with the lecturer there, Idurre Lekuona,” he says.  They met with Lekuona on Wednesday, taking advantage of the occasion to enjoy the fiestas of Madalenak in Renteria.  They also went to Sanfermines in Pamplona and haven’t stopped enjoying a moment of their trip. 

[Argentinean youth with the Argentinean flag bidding farewell to Sanfermines 2013 during the “Pobre de mi” (photo JIraola)]

“For us this is an opportunity to reunite with friends, get to know new cities, and to share with other dance groups…” Marcial explains.  “Many of those who have participated in the program have come to see us perform, and to surprise us…When we danced at the fiestas in Gros (Donostia), for example, there were so many familiar faces in the audience that we felt like we were at home.  Being here is like being at home,” he concluded.