The Group of Dances AURTZAKA, was born with this name in 1979. It’s been a result of the union of two older groups that had already covered some years’ trajectory: GOIERRI and SALLEKO ADISKIDEAK. This way, Aurtzaka took the baton of all the dance groups that had been in Beasain during the last century. From the beginning, the group has had one main aim: to get people know and encourage about the Basque Folklore and make participants and spectators enjoy with it. And that’s an actual philosophy of the group yet.
Apart from keeping alive the traditional dances (for example, the sword dances of San Martin from Beasain and the chain dance), it’s been also learning and teaching dances of all the Basque Country during these years. About the performances, there are some annual performances in Beasain that Aurtzaka use to participate, for example, the dance of the descent of the witch Mari in the Festivities of Beasain or the performance considered in the agenda of Cultural Autumn (sometimes it dances Aurtzaka, other times another group is invited to perform). Besides these performances in Beasain or Goierri, Aurtzaka has also danced and continues dancing in more places, including International Festivals.
The young group of Aurtzaka, use to dance in many towns of the Basque Country in some special kind of festivals organized for young dancers. These are called Dantzari Txiki Egunak. The one in Beasain, our town, is organized by the group itself.
Nowadays, Aurtzaka is compoused by 170 kids and 40 adults.
