Presentation of the group
In 1967, a proud young group of Basques dreamed of creating a group to preserve and perform the unique dances of their ancient heritage. The enthusiasm and dedication of this dance group, named as IRRINTZI DANTZA TALDEA, is to keep the basque folklore and culture, enforce it and to let it be known in the world through the dances.
The dancing group began its rehearsals in a little room lent by “La Salle” School. Under the direction of Tomas Sadaba and Sebe Egiguren and with the help of many musicians of the town the dream at last came true. The hard work continues and in 1970 the group membership had been widened due to the admission of girls in it; the dream has blossomed and the Irrintzi Dancers have become a source of pride to the Basque community as well as to the town of Zumarraga.
In the best tradition of folk customs, the dances have been taught to hundreds of young Basques throughout the years. It is a group that has been really engaged with the activities carried out in both towns to which it belongs: Zumarraga and Urretxu. It started making the night of the solstice more magic than it really is by dancing the typical dances of the “Akelarre” dressed up as witches in the night that precedes to the longest day of the year (23rd of June). It also took the responsibility of preparing the “Ezpatadantza of Zumarraga” to represent it in the most important day of the fests of the town.
As you can see, it is quite an old dancing group but also dynamic. It keeps one of the most ancient and valued dances of the Basque Country (The Ezpatadantza of Zumarraga) but also makes efforts in actualising their repertoire. Dancers and instructors from the group attend different courses offered by dancing groups of other regions in order to represent the diversity and therefore wealth of the whole country.
The dancers of Irrintzi dantza taldea are not professional performers, but their innate respect for their culture heritage makes their performances a whirl of flying feet, snapping fingers, ancient music, and shouts of exhortation a thrilling combination of precision and enthusiasm. It is an enthusiasm that is shared by around 125 people: 25 adults (the musicians and the dancers) and about 100 children between 4-15 years old and supported by both towns: Urretxu and Zumarraga
From those days in which IRRINTZI started its path, it has had the chance to show the results of their diary work in many different places such as:
- France
- Madrid (The week of the "Sacro Art")
- Catalunya: Vilafranca del Penedes, Vilanova Y la Geltrú, Lleida
- Andalucía: Nebrija
- Alicante
- Zaragoza
- Valencia
- Burgos
- Belgium: Reuzegom Folk Festival (2006)
They are the result of the exchanges that this group does each year during the last years. They are big events for the members of it but they are really concerned that the other different activities that they follow around the year are as important as the mentioned ones and therefore this little performances handled in the town or in close towns take a big space in the calendar of the group
