euskalkultura.eus

Montevideo, Uruguay.  The Movie Center Theater, situated in a commercial center in Montevideo, was the scene chosen by the Eusko Indarra dance group to celebrate its 30 anniversary.  The spectacle performed by more than 50 dancers gathered more than 400 audience members and was very well received. 

Eusko Indarra was born on October 12, 1982, and according to what its director, Maite Bengoa,   told EuskalKultura.com, its founders never imagined, at that time, that the “adventure” would have been as long or as fruitful: “We didn’t think about it much, we only got together to teach each other dances that we knew, in hopes of uniting youth in our community.  From there we established a Basque club, Haize Hegoa, with different statutes, where the most important thing was the diffusion of Basque culture, dedicating and working for the same, while ensuring equal rights for all our members.”

[The Aurresku opened the show (photo Eusko Indarra)]

[Dancers from the age of 5 to 60 participated in the show (photo Eusko Indarra)]

Enthusiastic reaction

The thirtieth anniversary show demonstrated a great variety of dances including: Aurresku, Jaurrieta, Zinta dantza, Zapatain dantza, Uztai handiak, Otsagi dantza, Arrosen balsa, Maitena…The show was coordinated by  the director of Eusko Indarra, Maite Bengoa, alongside Mariel Fernandez and Karina Fernandez.

Laura Ferreira, Ines Sarraute, Ana Aulet and Marianela Falero worked in the dressing room while live music was provided by the group Txindurri.  The graphic designs were done by Edurne Poittevin, Andrea Bella and Manuela Poittevin.

[The variety of dances and costumes made the spectacle very rich and colorful (photo Eusko Indarra)]

“The comments by friends and family were very enthusiastic as well as the congratulations from guests including directors of other immigrant groups, authorities from various social aid institutions, in which we participate, and personalities from our area.  They left us with the sensation of having offered a artistic spectacle that was very rich in content, color and interesting for anyone who is not familiar with the diversity of our dance,” ensured Bengoa.

The group is very satisfied with the results and is now encouraged to continue on: “Yes, we are proud that our efforts were successful and it is great motivation to keep going.  How much longer can we go, another 35-40 years?  We don’t know but we will try for sure because we feel this Eusko Indarra (Basque force) that guides us and pushes us forward,” she concluded.