- In recent weeks we have read that in Lazkao they are thinking of recovering the carnival that was lost in the decade of 1960-70. On the basis of these festivities, various local groups will gather and celebrate the Carnival on February 28. To learn more, we asked Anne Zubiarrain of the dance group Oin Arin a few questions.
What exactly are you planning to do in Lazkao?
Lazkao has had a habit that has completely disappeared to celebrate the carnival until 1960-70. The characters called costumes danced and begged from house to house and from street to street. Our intention is to recover the habit that was interrupted around 1960.
How do you plan the 28th day?
We're organizing the day for local agents. With the support and collaboration of the Lazkao Town Hall, the members of the Oin Arin dance group have organized rehearsals to learn the dances that we will carry out so that the citizens are encouraged to participate in the carnival. At the San Benito school, the Primary students will not only perform the Basque carnival, and specifically the Lazkao carnival, but also the dances that we will perform on February 28. On the same day we will have the support of the trichillers and panderos of the music school Lazkao Umea for the dance. In addition, the joaldas of Jotake Lazkaun will be part of our tour of the town.
Parade, parade... what do you plan for that day?
We will make a tour of the village, in the alley, and we will make stops in several squares to dance.
Will the costumes come out, in the style that appears in the old photo?
Yes, the idea is to dress like the group of friends known as Costumes, dressed as dancers: white trousers and shirts, white dresses crossed with red ribbons, red hats and belts and a colored scarf on the neck. In addition, since we have also heard about some special white trousers that were used in Lazkaomendi during the carnival dances, which had the image of the red hand placed on the thigh, we have also decided to add this element to our garments. Therefore, the Zagupe leisure group will organize a workshop so that children, young people and adults who have been encouraged to participate in the carnival can make their hands as a complement to the garments.
What dances will you do?
The dances we have chosen to perform in the village are also suitable for dancers and non-dancers in a festive atmosphere: Pxit, Polks, Hand Dance, Eight to Work, Fountain, Round... And then, a group of dancers will also offer us a costume dance.
Did you create the costume dance?
No, we have not created the dance now, now it will be the costume dance of Ataun reconstructed a few years ago. Beasain’s Aurtzaka dance group rebuilt it for the Goierri dance show.