Sheepherder's Ball

The Oinkari New Kids 2012-13 had a wonderful debut at the 2012 Sheepherder's Ball at the Basque Center last Saturday (12/22).  Oinkari performed in the middle of the night, sandwiched between the Sheepherder's Dinner and the Lamb Charity Auction.  We had a great time afterwards dancing to Amuma Says No and hanging out with Basque friends.

Click and drag for a 360-degree interactive image below.

Oinkari featured in Downtown Boise video

In October, the Downtown Boise Association invited Oinkari to appear in an ad spot for the Downtown Boise Gift card.  The video features Oinkari dancers (both in costume and in the crowd) and other local Basques. We loved working with Steve Simkins and his crew at NXNW (North by Northwest) Productions in Boise!

Check out NXNW at www.nxnw.net, and DBA at www.downtownboise.org

Video URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOpy74DAMJs

Trailing of the Sheep Festival

The best way to ring in the fall...and Oinkari will be there!

photo by Cydney Conger

www.trailingofthesheep.org

"New Kid" practice #1

Today, Oinkari hosted our first New Kid practice of the year. Amaya Criswell and Ben Monasterio, the 2012-2013 Dance Directors, will offer two more opportunities to join Oinkari on Sunday 9/23 and Sunday 9/30, at noon at the Basque Center. Hope to see new dancers there!

How to join Oinkari as a New Kid in 2012

Ever wanted to join Oinkari Basque Dancers? We accept new dancers each fall, during an open registration period of 3 Sundays in September.

Practice begins promptly at noon in the main hall of the Basque Center (601 Grove St. in downtown Boise).  Please wear comfortable workout clothes and closed-toe, flexible shoes.  We will have leather Basque dance shoes for purchase, which are a required part of the costume.  No previous Basque dance experience is necessary.

9/16: New Kids Join, Practice 12-1pm

9/23: New Kids Join, Practice 12-1pm

9/30: Last day for New Kids to join, Practice from 12-4pm
10/7: Practice from 12-4pm, New Kid Orientation at 4pm

See our public events calendar HERE.

After practice on October 7th, we have a required New Kid Orientation for new dancers and parents,  where we will introduce the Oinkari Board of Directors, give an overview of Oinkari as an organization, answer questions about responsibilities, costuming, traveling, etc.

Qualifications:

• Must be at least 14 years old or in the 9th grade by  9/1/12
• Must be enthusiastic and interested in learning Basque traditional folk dances.
• Must belong to (or join by 1/1/13) Euzkaldunak, Boise's Basque club.  If the dancer is under 18, at least one parent must belong to Euzkaldunak, which is $40/year for a new member.  Members must be of Basque heritage or married to a person of Basque heritage (Euzkaldunak policy.)  For membership information, email secretary@basquecenter.com

Costs: 

Dancing with Oinkari Basque dancers is free.  However, dancers are responsible for the cost of their own traditional dance costume (we have a seamstress that makes all the costumes).  Men's costumes cost about $100 and women's costumes cost about $350.

For more information, email info@oinkari.org , or visit the Oinkari Events Calendar on this site.  See you in September! 

Oinkari Basque Dancers Mission

Through the art of traditional Basque dance, we, the Oinkari Basque Dancers of Boise, Idaho, share our culture with our local and global community while continuing to preserve our unique heritage for future generations

Oinkari San Inazio Pics in New York Times Travel

These photos are from Boise's San Inazio Festival, held every July on the Basque Block.

Oinkari men performing Lesaka Dantza.  Photo by Leah Nash.

Read the original article here (photo credits to Leah Nash)

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/08/26/travel/26BASQUE-4.html

Jaclyn Lasuen and Lael Uberuaga waiting to perform.  Photo by Leah Nash.

Oinkari men performing Lesaka.  Photo by Leah Nash.

An Oinkari dancer steps over one of the cement blocks displaying Boise Basque surnames.  Photo by Leah Nash. 

Fun, fundraising, Western Idaho fair time

As per tradition, the Oinkari Basque Dancers participate in food sales at the Western Idaho Fair. The group has been doing this for over 40 years as one of their main fundraising events of the year. Countless hours are put in by the members' efforts, in hope to raise enough money for upcoming events. Chorizo, Solomo, lamb sandwich, croquetas, and the new "chorizo slider" are served in their prime. Other local Basque clubs and organizations generously donate their time as well in the booths, and are greatly appreciated.
If you are coming by the fair this year or in years to come, make sure you stop by and taste our delicious food, and see our smiling faces!

Oinkari is at the Western Idaho Fair!

Jill, Celia, and Madalen staff the garden booth to sell chorizo, lamb, solomo and croquetas to raise money for Oinkari Basque Dancers. Stop by and visit our booth!

Do you have tickets to WineFest yet?

Oinkari will be performing at 8pm this Friday (8/17) for the Basque Museum's annual WineFest.  Drop by, taste some great wine, support a Basque non-profit and see us perform!

 

Mountain Home Festival this weekend

From http://www.mountainhomenews.com/story/1874466.html:

People from Mountain Home and surrounding communities will relive the traditions, culture and language of the Basque people during an annual festival scheduled for Aug. 11.
 The 52nd Annual Basque Picnic will begin that afternoon at the pelota, or outdoor racquetball court, in the city's Basque Park next to the Bengeochea Hotel.

We have a new website!

After spending time rolling, editing, trashing, editing again, and general nerdery, we have finally introduced our new website!  There is a static website section for information, history and media related to the group, as well as our events blog at news.oinkari.org.  The blog comes complete with a mobile version optimized for smartphones.  Check back soon!

Gipuzkoan Dance Workshops by Gari Otamendi

Day 2...our legs are sore! But we're learning a lot.

The call “Txotx!” gathered more than 100 people at Boise’s Basque Center, thanks to the Oinkaris

Original article published by Euskal Kultura on 6/28/2012

2012-06-28

• news 
• life

Boise’s Oinkari Basque dancers worked tirelessly on June 16 so that its second annual Sagardotegi (is the Basque word for cider plce) would turn out perfectly. The bar had been set high, after last year’s dinner, but this one was a complete success as well, thanks to the Oinkaris’ enthusiasm and hard work. The event gathered 100 people and the atmosphere was familiar and pleasant as explained to EuskalKultura.com by Oinkari president, Lael Uberuaga. All proceeds were shared by the Oinkari Basque Dancers and the Basque Studies Program at Boise State University.

Boise, ID, USA.  The Oinkari Basque Dancers celebrated their second annual Sagardotegi on June 16, and just as last year’s event, it was a complete success that attracted a large number of Boise Basques.  The Oinkaris worked hard on organizing the event that attracted many to enjoy some Basque cider from the traditional barrels, as well as a typical cider house menu.  “This year fewer people attended, 100 instead of 200 like last year, but that allowed us to serve dinner in the basement of the Basque Center and everything turned out great.  The atmosphere was very welcoming and friendly,” explained Lael Uberuaga Oinkari president to EuskalKultura.com.

The menu included either Bacalao Tacos or Bacalao in Piperade as a starter, followed by Bacalao omelet and steak.  For dessert the typical cheese and walnuts was served, and some were even tempted to eat the table decorations “since they were apples,” joked Lael.

[An army of Oinkari waiters helping the chef, Jesus Alcelay, preparing the Bacalao omelet (Photo AnaOvergaard)]

[Plates of cheese and walnuts all in a row, waiting for dessert time (photoAnaOvergaard)]

[Osasuna! Basques and friends enjoying the dinner followed by visits to the txotx and toasts at the table (photo AnaOvergaard)]

[Dan Ansotegui’s trikitixa set the rhythm of the night (photo AnaOvergaard)}

This year the proceeds from the dinner will be split between the Oinkaris and the Basque Studies Program at Boise State University.  On behalf of the university, Program Director Dave Lachiondo, and Professor John Bieter, both prominent members of the local Basque community, collaborated in the organization of the event. 

The Oinkaris will use the proceeds to organize a workshop on Basque dance according to Lael: “We are going to bring Garikoitz Otamendi (from the Arkaitz dance group in Donostia), to teach dances from Gipuzkoa for a week.  Gari will be here for two weeks arriving the weekend before San Inazio and retuning the weekend after.”  San Inazio is one of the main celebrations of the Boise Basque community.

[Oinkari volunteers working as cashiers at the sagardotegi.  Oinkari director, Lael Uberuaga, is at the right, next to Izar Iribarren-Gorrindo Bicandi (photo AnaOvergaard)]

[The team of volunteers that served dinner.  Boise’s youth did a great job and should be very proud.  Bejondaizuela Oinkari! (photo MarieMonasterio)]

Vote "Basque" for Best of Treasure Valley

Promote Basque groups and businesses by voting in the Idaho Statesman Best of Treasure Valley 2011!

Go to www.IdahoStatesman.com/botvballot and enter your email address.  The link to the ballot will be sent to your email inbox.  You must vote for at least 6 choices and you may vote once per day, per email address, until the MAY 13 deadline.

Make sure to click SUBMIT each time you select your vote, or the results won't be saved (e.g. if you vote for 9 groups/businesses, click submit each time, for a total of 9 times)

Suggested votes to promote Basque groups and businesses:

Food and Drink
Best Fine Dining: Epi's A Basque Restaurant (select "other and write it in)
Best Restaurant Bar/Patio: Leku Ona

Arts & Entertainment
Best Local Musician/Band: Amuma Says No
Best Performing Arts Group: Oinkari Basque Dancers

Things To Do
Best Community Event: San Inazio Basque Festival (select "other" and write it in)
Best Historic Spot and/or Best place to impress out-of-towners: Basque Block

Gora Euskal Kultura!

For More Information: www.IdahoStatesman.com/botvballot