euskalkultura.eus

Gral. Roca, Argentina.  Located in the extreme north of Patagonia in Argentina, the city of Gral. Roca is one of the principle cities in the Alto Valley of Rio Negro.  Here, the Gure Etxea Basque club has functioned for more than 15 years as the local referent and promoter of Basque culture and participates, with its members and dancers, in event organized in neighboring that aim to celebrate the culture diversity of the region.

Responding to the invitation by organizers, the dance group Urte Askotarako, danced last Sunday October 13 on the main stage of the third edition of the Festival of Communities in Lamarque.  The event took place on the weekend of October 12 and 13, and included participation of representatives of the various communities that live in the city and provided the public with lots of performances and food stands.

This isn’t the only performance by the dance troupe, they also performed at the Immigrant Festival in Villa Regina in September.  According to the Department of Culture in the Province, the IX edition of this celebration that is dedicated to honor immigrants and their descendants was attended by more than 2,000 people and provided food, and traditional of each of the communities represented.

[The Immigrant Festival, in Villa Regina 50 kilometers from Gral. Roca, took place on September 5.  There the Gure Etxea dance group performed “Arku Dantza” thanks to director Mariuchi (photoEE)]

Besides participating in events in neighboring towns, the Roca Basque club celebrated various events with its members and friends.  It should be noted that, like many other entities in the country, the club celebrated July 7^th the Fiesta of San Fermin where members and friends wore red neckerchiefs and toasted San Fermin.

[The San Fermin lunch took place at the clubhouse.  Small txapelas were passed out as souvenirs (photo EE)]

In an effort to raise money to serve the community, members of the club organized several food sales.  The august menu was very lucrative and was very well received.  Looking ahead, among the activities planned by the club is a film series at the clubhouse for which they have already started looking at potential titles.