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

Oinkari Dance-a-thon

If you’re from Boise, you have likely seen some kind of short Basque dance performance by the Oinkari Basque Dancers, Boise’s own Basque-American folkloric dance group.  But at midnight on Friday, May 6^th, the dancers will begin their longest performance yet – a 24-hour dance-a-thon to raise money for a trip to the Basque Country (in Spain) this summer to learn more about authentic Basque dance and culture. 

They will be Basque dancing, true, but during the dance-a-thon, Oinkari will try their hand (or foot, rather) at everything from Lindy Hop, to Tango, to the ever-popular "Junior High Slow Dance.”  Then, around 9:00 PM on Saturday the 7^th (hour 21 of the dance-a-thon), the Basque folk-rock band Amuma Says No will be playing live at the Basque Center to help the group through the last 3 hours. 

The best part of this affair? The public is invited and encouraged to attend.  Come on down to the Basque Center to cheer on the dancers, make fun of their delirious dance moves, learn Tango or Lindy Hop lessons (taught by Heirloom Dance studio) and stay for the Amuma Says No Concert.  If you can’t make the event but want to watch it, we will be streaming live via www.oinkari.org.  It’s going to be a 24-hour rockin’ good time!

What: Oinkari 24-hour Dance-a-Thon

Where: The Basque Center, 601 Grove St, Boise Idaho 83702

When: Midnight on Friday, May 6^th, to midnight on Saturday, May 7, 2011

Why: Fundraising for a group tour to the Basque country

Cost: FREE to come and watch the dancers, $5/professional dance lesson (Tango or Lindy Hop taught by Heirloom Studio), $5 sugg. Donation for Amuma Says No concert at 9pm.

ALSO: We will be streaming the event live at www.oinkari.org