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General Acha, Argentina.  Under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism of the province of La Pampa, the Festival of the Calf had, in its 41st edition, a rich program of activities in Rodeo and dressage. With the local Basque club being the main promoter, the Basque culture was not left out of the event and that is why Euzko Txokoa invited members of the Macachin Basque club to also attend.

“We invited them in hopes of interacting with other clubs in the community and to spread the Basque culture through expressions like dance.  In the festival, that took place on May 1, the dancers from Euzko Alkartsuna participated with dances and that the public really enjoyed.  Nearly 20 people came from Macachin, among those, club president, Susana Garmendia.  Not knowing each other personally before, we spend a very nice day together,” Osvaldo Videla said.

[The 41^st Provincial Festival of the Calf, the Yerra and the Pial took place on the Jorge Segura facilities of Gral. Acha (photo EE)]

[The Gure Ametsa dance group from Macachin performed 'Cuadrille,' 'Arko dantza,' and 'Xiberoko Maskarada' among other dances (photo P.M. Aguirre)]

One of the most important objectives and challenges at this time for the club in General Acha, according to its board, is to recover and concentrate on the knowledge and practice of the Basque culture.  That is precisely why they formed a dance group that will start teaching dance at the clubhouse, two times a week, taught by local dantzari Nicolas Villarreal.

The Ikurrina accompanies Basque athletes

In response to a need in the area, the Basque club in Gral. Acha has been developing over the last few decades, especially in the area of sports.  They are a kind of community center. They are known as the Basque club in the community in spite of the fact that their Basque identity had been diluted for some time, the current board of directors hopes to reverse this situation.

With this goal in mind, activities aimed at sharing the Basque culture, such as dance, will increase in number.  On the other hand, athletes representing the euskal etxea have recovered and proudly wear the Basque flag.

[Swimmer, Silvana Modon participant in the Master C category nationally. In the last competition, representing the Basque club, Silvano won a bronze medal (photo EE)]

The Basque club pool was the site of the most sporting events, especially since it was heated last year.  Aquatic sports take place there like swimming for children and adults, water aerobics, free swim and mothers and me swimming.  Outside of the pool there are classes in pilota, paleta and ice skating.  “All of the activities are instructed by professionals, specifically by PE teachers.  In the future, the next project to be implemented is the Special School in our city,” Videla explained to EuskalKultura.com.