- “We have been given love and responsibility for dance. If Xemein’s ezek is so important, why can’t I do it?” asked Iraide Antxia, a member of the Zerutxu dance group. But after an internal process of about 4-5 years, this year it does. The opportunity has come for all members of the team to do so on St. Michael's day. On 29 September, in the festivities of the Arretxinaga district of Markina-Xemein, the ezains-dantza and the colloquium will be made known without gender discrimination.
“We have been given half a job, we have collected many recovered things,” says Oier Onaindia. They see clearly that the previous generation has done a great job in the recovery and conservation of the dances of the people. They are aware of the treasure they have in the people through the voluntary work of their predecessors, and they are aware that they are now giving what they have received to their descendants. However, they understand that this transmission should be carried out in a manner adjusted to current values, without gender exclusions.
Result of a process
In 2020, the aurresku of saragi-dantza and carnivals was launched by boys and girls; in this year 2022, the Xemein and the table’s ezza’s turn has come. In the carnival, women participated for the first time in saragi-dagger and in that special summer of a pandemic aurresku was fired without gender distinction. “With these steps in San Miguel, we expected our participation in the ezains-dantza and the round table, but the Arretxinaga festivities were not celebrated,” explains Ainhoa Basterretxea.
They recognize that the pandemic stop has allowed them to reflect and change the dynamics of the group. For 4-5 years the issue has been on the table and began to change the direction of the group’s activities. Little by little steps have been taken, they have been discussed, angry, reconciled... but in the end they believe that the transition has been made in a paused and appropriate manner.
In Arretxinaga both boys and girls dance
The steps to reach Xemein’s ezek are gradual, and in the end, the most significant dance of the people will be made public without distinction of gender, even of table. Basterretxea says that no one said anything about ezains-dantza, but they asked them many times about the topic of the table: “When is a girl on the table?” He thinks it looks more or less popular from the outside. Anchovy is also clear that with the table they have had more pressure from many young people in the village. They think it can be because more people are coming to Arretxinaga at sunset than at noon. Ezains-dantza has prestige, but at the time of the table more people are concentrated, as the day of San Miguel is not holiday for many citizens.
Zerutxu’s dancers are pleased and proud. “I’m sorry as a big step forward. I’m really glad to be in the group that has made the change,” says Basterretxea. “Within a few years the girls first came out in 2022, it will be said on Xemein’s ezek, and I was there.” Antxia says she is also very proud and that the square is the result of the small steps they have taken for many years: “Xemeingo-ezpata dantza is a result, but I’m more proud of all the changes we’ve made behind it than what we show in the plaza.”