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 suite is represented by a group of eight dancers positioned in two lines of four.
The different parts of the dance suite 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” when dancing the Dantzari-dantza.
The Andra Mari Dance Group has studied and represents the Dantzari-dantza as danced in Berriz.

Dantzari dantza. 1972.

Soka Dantza-Chain Dance.
2001

This dance is present in all the main celebrations held in the towns and villages as well as in the “romerías” and social celebrations such as weddings. It has an unlimited number of dancers and just as its name suggests, is danced holding hands to form a chain. The dancer at the front of the chain is called the Aurresku, and the dancer at the back of the chain is called the Atzesku.

At one time, these dances were represented in most village squares all over the Basque Country but over the years, especially in the 1960´s and 70´s, the “popular essence” of the dances began to disappear. It was at this time when the Andra Mari Dance Group started to gather together and learn many of the dance steps of the jota and porrusalda first hand from the dancing masters and dancers of Bizkaia: simple steps, more ornate steps, variants etc.until they had collected a great deal of information about how they were danced in the past.

Today, it is becoming increasingly common to be able to watch and enjoy both these types of dance in the celebrations and festivities held in Galdakao. (The “Ascension” in Bekea, the Andra Mariak in Elexalde, and the celebrations in Santa Cruz of Galdakao, etc.). Apart from the great amount of work involved in recuperating these dances, the Andra Mari Dance Group also represents a sample version of the steps of the dances from many different parts of the Basque Country and Europe.

Erromerie.

Erromerie. 2001.