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 dances form the dance suite known as the “paloteado”. It includes the Enperadorea, Katxutxa, Dantza and Modorro and, can also include the Paseoa, Pañolo dantza and Jota.
The dance suite 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.
On the eve of the celebration, at nightfall after the religious ceremony, the dancers, dressed in everyday clothes, meet at the village hall to practise the dances for the following day in front of the gathered crowd. Then, on the actual day of the celebration, this time dressed in full ritual and ceremonial costumes, they represent the dances at the shrine dedicated to the Virgin. When the ceremony has finished, they dance non-stop all the way down the road that leads from the shrine to the village.

Dances from Ochagavia. 1991.

Carnival of Alsasua. 1992-2001.

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 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 figures and elements which simulate, personify or symbolise different animals, ghosts and characters from the cosmology and cosmogony of the inhabitants of Alsasua. The Momotxorroak, the Baptism, the Ziripotak, the old woman, the gypsies, the bear, and the bailiff. The bailiff represents power or law and order.

These dances had disappeared from public life. The only information to be found about them came from the memories of some of the inhabitants of the area and the melodies that had been compiled by the priest Father Donostia. With their help, the Andra Mari Dance Group managed to recuperate and revive them.
The dance suite is divided into nine parts: 1. Pañuelo dantza (handkerchief dance) 2. Zubia (bridge) 3. Pañuelo dantza 4. Zubia 5. Lehenengo andre dantza (first womens´ dance) 6. Bigarren andre dantza (second womens´dance) 7. Jotak eta arin arina 8. Orbaizetako joko dantza and 9. Ezkila fraile or joko dantza. The first six dances in the suite are danced by both men and women. They belong to the category of dance known as Ingurutxo. The seventh dance is very popular in the Basque Country and is known as Jota and Arin-arin.
The last two dances in the suite are of the theatrical style, very popular in Europe. In them, the “boss” who carries a whip in his hand, makes different gestures and faces for the other dancers to copy. If they do not do so, they are “whipped”.

Dances from Burguete. 1979.

Jauziak from Valcarlos.
Hungary 1990.

Although the village of Luzaide or Valcarlos is situated in Upper Navarre, geographically and culturally speaking, it belongs to Lower Navarre. The dances known as “Jauziak” are many. From the endless list of dances which belong to this category, the Andra Mari Dance Group represents but a small sample: Bolant dantza, Euskaldunak eta Sorginak, Hegi, Lapurtar motxak, Makilariarena, Dantza luze and Kontradantzak.
The dances include many different characters. The Zapurrak (sappers), Zigantiak(giants), Makilaria (the representation of the Drum Major in the European Armies), Gorriak (“butlers” who collect money and gifts for the group), the Banderari and the Bolanta-s (dancers dressed in white with coloured ribbons on their backs).

This dance known as Larrain-dantza or baile de la era belonging to the category Ingurutxo (chain dance) was represented in the county of Estella. It was a dance for both men and women, and included jotas, boleros and waltzes. However, the prohibitions and fashions of the past provoked changes to and/or the disappearance of some parts of the dance.
The dance from the shire of Estella represented by the Andra Mari Dance Group, is based on reliable information from Father Hilario Olarzaran and Francisco Beruete and includes the following: Cadena (chain), Fandango, Vals (waltz), Jota antigua (old jota), Boleras and Pasacalles (passacaglia)..

Lizarra. The Group, which,
on 25th May 1932, awoke the Larrain dantza.

Ttun-Ttun. 1995.

This Ingurutxo from the valley of Roncal in Navarre is full of meditteranean overtones. From the colours and decorations of the costumes to the music, accompanied by the sound of castanets, makes this dance the best example of the Basque “Mediterranean”.