Astero
Euskara Success Story
This week we are beginning a new feature of our NABO Euskera program called "Success Stories." This week we are sharing information about Boise's Basque classes in hopes of encouraging other communities to get involved in teaching Basque as well. Basque has been taught for some time at the Boise Basque Museum and they are still going strong. Currently there are three teachers: Megan Vondemkamp, Oihana Andion and Itxaso Cayero. Megan is a product of NABO's and HABE's Euskara Munduan program having taken Basque at BSU with Nere Lete, and continuing at Maizpide in the Basque Country. Oihana is from Irun and came to Boise to teach at the Ikastola. After completing a Masters she returned to Boise and continues to teach three levels of Basque at the Ikastola. Itxaso doubles as a Basque teacher as well as serving as one of NABO's Euskera Coordinators. Weekly classes are held from September to April. Here are some pictures from their classes including a game of human checkers. Biba ziek!
Korrika Video
Even though Korrika concluded last Sunday in Bilbao, it is not too late to be included in the video being put together by our friends at the Euskaldunak Quebec Basque Club. If you are interested in participating, please email Anton Curutchet for the details. This year's Korrika broke records with events being planned all over the world for the first time. Long-standing events enjoyed record attendance as well. Aupa Euskaldunak!
Bolant Eguna in Luzaide
This week we are also sharing an Easter tradition from Luzaide, Bolant Eguna.
The festivities begin in the morning as the bolantak perform their first dances of the day in different neighborhoods and make their traditional visit to Arnegi. The procession of dancers, xiganteak, gorriak, zapurrak, banderariak, and makilariak spills into the Plaza de Santiago around noon where the bolantak perform bolant jantza, iautziak, euskaldunak and sorginak. The kontra iantzak are also performed. At five in the afternoon the procession reconvenes and performs to a packed fronton.
