Irrintzi Dantza Taldea  (Zumarraga - Urretxu)

Ezpatadantza of La Antigua

On Saint Isabel's day, on 2nd July, a very special romeria is held in the lovely setting of the Hermitage "de la Antigua", in Zumarraga. Dancers inside the Romanic hermitage perform the Ezpatadantza "de la Antigua/Zumarraga", first on their knees and then on foot, dance in front of the image of the Virgin, making amazing movements with their daggers. It is a very antique dance that may have been started in the 1539. From this year on special celebrations are hold on the hill of “La Antigua” fact that does not confirm that the dance existed for that time. They are some tips that lead the history researchers to date the beginnings of this dance at that time but anyway, what it is sure is that by 1656, this dance was part of the celebration.

Bateleren dantza

It is a dance from Hondarribia. A spectacle that is performed every year and where women show their ability in dancing with big rows while describing movements and with them.
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Brokel dantza (Shield dance)

The first written reference about this dance suite comes from J.I.Iztueta. According to the author, due to the difficulty of representing the dance in the town or village square, it was only danced every 4 or 5 years. However, in the XIX century the dance began to be represented more frequently in public and today, it is one of the most popular of all the dances represented in the province of Gipuzkoa.
The Brokel-dantzak is made up of different “images” or “changes”. The Boastitzea (promenade), Agurra (greeting), Makil-txikikoa (short sticks), Lau aldetako Zortzikoa, Uztai-handiakikoa (large hoops), Makil-handiakikoa (large sticks), Billantzikoa (carole), Zintza-dantza (girdle dance).

Jota and Porrusalda

At one time, these dances were represented in most village squares all over the Basque Country but over the years, specially in the 1960´s and 70´s, the "popular essence" of the dance began to disappear.

Today, it is becoming increasingly common to be able to watch and enjoy these types of dance in the celebrations and festivities held in any town.
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Eltziego and Biasteri

In the south of the Basque country the dances have a different touch. Prove of this touch are the dances of Eltziego and Biasteri. Both of them are named by the name of the town of origin.

The first one is danced during the Virgen de la Plaza festivities in September and is divided into 3 parts: El Árbol, Cuatrocalles and the Jota. The second one, Biasteri, is danced on the feast day of San Juan.

Kaixarranka

The experts say that this dance is a ritual around the change of boss in the fishers' "cofradías" (clubs).

A dancer shows his abilities when dancing on a chest hold by other dancers. These last members will have to keep correctly the dancer on the box as well as the papers and accounts of the "cofradía" that are inside the wooden furniture.

Dantzari dantza

According to the old-style, the Dantzari-dantza from the area of Durango and its neighbouring villages in Bizkaia was danced before the village on the Patron Saint’s Day. This dance is represented by a group of eight dancers positioned in two lines of  four.

The different parts of the dance are: Agintariena, Zortzinango, Espata joku txikia, Banangoa (and/or Banango zaharra), Ezpata joku nagusia, Biñangoa, Launangoa, Makil jokua, and Txankarrenkua (or Txotxongiloa). Some of the parts, Zortzinangoa, Banangoa, Biñangoa and Launangoa are figure dances whilst the rest are either sword or stick dances. Each village, Garai, Durango, Iurreta, Berriz… has its own personal style or “touch”.
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Otsagabia

The village of Ochagavía is situated in the Pyrenean valley of Salazar. On the eve and day of the Virgin of Muskilda - 7th and 8th September-, the young people of the village get together to dance to the Virgin.

The dance is basically played with sticks and it includes the Enperadorea, Katxutxa, Dantza and Modorro. It can also include the Paseoa, Pañolo dantza and Jota.

The dance is represented by eight dancers in two lines and the fool who stands apart from the group and only participates in the Pañolo dantza and the Jota.
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Luzaide

They are a group of dances of the village of Luzaide or Valcarlos which is placed in the Upper Navarre. The dances known as "Luzaideko dantzak" are many but Irrintzi performs some of them.

Carnivals of Altsasu

Carnival is celebrated during the shortest and coldest days of winter. In Europe, as in many other countries of the world, it indicates the end of one season and the beginning of another. It evokes the end of the long lethargy of nature during the winter and the renewal of life that comes with the spring.

Reflecting this change, the carnival dances of Alsasua represent all the different elements of life: happiness, sadness, life, death, old age, youth, etc.. They use fugures and elemets which simulate, personify or symbolise different animals, ghosts and characters from the cosmology as well as some of the inhabitants of Alsasua: The Momotxorroak, the baptism, the Ziripot, the old woman, the gypsies, the bear, and the baliff