With the help of the Herri Soinu association of Uztaritze, a new festival has been created in the Errobi (Lapurdi) association, which seeks to strengthen traditional Basque music and dance. It is called Herri Uzta and will spend the weekend from October 12 to 14 in Luhuso, Ezpeleta, Itsasu and Arrangoitze. More than 300 dancers and musicians are expected, coming from the corners of Euskal Herria, amateurs and professionals, and the offer of publications that have been organized is very wide: talks, concerts, street shows, shows in the halls… This first edition will have special guests: Catalonia. The Cobla group, which has arrived from Perpinyà, in addition to offering two performances, will dance sardinia to local groups.

Special mention deserves the premiere of the work El Señor Ravel (Saturday in the room HARRI Xuri de Luhuso). This show is the first work of the creation of the new band formed by Etorkizuna Gaiak and has had the collaboration of three choreographers: Maider Oyarzabal, Bittor Corret and Christian Larralde. The company wants to be the symbol and meeting point of the new generation, as we have read lehendakari, Peio Labeyrie on the website of the Basque Cultural Association www.eke.org, in an extensive interview with Xan Aire. Here are some passages.

“We want to attract young Basque dancers and be a permanent showcase. Very beautiful projects have been carried out among young people, but very punctual. Perseverance is also important for children, to teach them that other goals can be danced. (…) Amateurs cannot be asked to make multiple spectacular. In that we have to overcome the milestone. And extend our window into new spaces. In the end, the problem we have is the problem of money.”

“What do we show, for example, people from outside? The companies that have arrived in Biarritz are shown flamenco at the conferences. Why are they not taught something well-built about the Basque Country? It shows our culture. In the end, most of the current dance groups are on the campsites in front of tourists in exchange for a miserable burden of money. We should now show what we really are in a very deep sense, paid with its fair value. The important thing is to take a path, because then you throw the others and we move forward all together. (…) The key is to make us respect. We also deserve to work in decent conditions.”