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Cañuelas, Argentina.  In the month of Aberri Eguna, the city of Cañuelas opened its calendar of events to the Basque Diaspora in Argentina and did so, as always with the Regional Dantzari Get-Together.  The event took place last weekend on April 5 and 6^th, and gathered dancers and members from more than 10 Basque clubs in the province of Buenos Aires including: Zazpirak Bat from General Las Heras, Anaitasuna from Maipú, Beti Aurrera from Chivilcoy, Guillermo Larregui from Chacabuco, Eusko Aterpea from Gral. Rodríguez, Toki Eder from José C. Paz, Euskal Sustraiak from Trenque Lauquen, and local group Denak Bat from Cañuelas.  Other participants included representatives from Denak Bat from Lomas de Zamora, Euzko Etxea from La Plata, Zingirako Euskaldunak from Chascomus, Euskaldunak Denak Bat from Arrecifes and Euskaltzaleak in Buenos Aires.

The event program, even though the weekend was marred by heavy rain, didn’t suffer major modifications.  “The bad weather mostly affected our being able to dance in the streets, where we make a larger impact on the city; however we were able to do a short kalejira and later the tamborrada and dances took place at the Cañuelas Soccer Club,” said Daniel Sancholuz, president of the hosting club.

[A group of nearly 20 tamborreros playing the March of San Sebastian, Diana and Retreta (photo J.M. Cherutti)]

After the Tamborrada, the Zazpirak Bat from Gral. Las Heras opened the show with Aurresku and the children from there and of the hosting club performed Zazpi Jauzi and San Petrike Dantza.  They were followed by Anaitasuna from Maipu dancing Sorgin Dantza; Beti Aurrera from Chivilcoy doing Kontradantza; and Eusko Aterpea from Gral. Rodriguez and Toki Eder from Jose C. Paz joining together to do Kuadrillak.

[The dance group Alaia from Chacabuco performing Neskatxena (photoEEChacabuco)]

In the afternoon the Zazpirak Bat from Gral. Las Heras returned to the stage to perform arcos en el suelo; the local intermediate dancers did Arcos Mixtos; and the Guillermo Larregui club from Chacabuco did Neskatxena.  At the end of the show the dancers from Trenque Lauquen, debuted in Cañuelas with Arku Dantza; the hosting group closed with a Fandango/Arin-Arin.

[Dancing, or enjoying the other groups, the dantzaris, of all ages, are always the starts of Aberri Eguna in Cañuelas (photosJ.M. Cherutti)]

After the show, the dancers and chaperones gathered at the clubhouse where they shared dinner and a dance.  As tradition dictates, the local trio lead by Daniel Balfredo entertained.

Mikel Ezkerro and Iñaki Aramayo also participated explaining the significance of Aberri Eguna or the Day of the Basque Homeland as well as various aspects of the festivities.  Both presentations were followed very closely by those present.

The 8^th Dantzari Get-Together concluded on Sunday with a farewell lunch attended by 200 people.  As part of the meal the Basque club choir sang four songs and the board of directors thanked everyone for their participation and presented each with a “very useful” souvenir.  “When we say good-bye every year everyone asks for hot water to make mate and so we thought it would be a good idea this year, as a remembrance, to give everyone a thermos decorated with Basque motifs,” Veronica Zulaica, member of Denak Bat explained.

In regards to the lower attendance, Zulaica referred to the clubs that were farther away, like those in Cordoba or Parana, in Entre Rios, for whom traveling was made more difficult due to the high cost of transportation.  “Since the beginning they intended on participating but this year it was impossible,” she said.

Aberri Eguna in Cañuelas ended on Sunday afternoon with the promise to return next year.