Utah Basque Dancers, Christmas Party 2009, Txotxongillo

In the series of dances that belong to the Duranguesado or Durangoaldea of Biscay, Dantzari Dantza, there is, although not always, the exhibition of the Txotxongillo, Txontxongillo, Txakarrenkua, Txakarrankua, Txakurrin or Txankorrinka Dantza, which are other names by which it is known.

On this occasion, both the steps and the figures they make, have nothing to do with the rest of the repertoire. If the Zortinango could be used as a basis for carrying out the Banango, the Binango and the Launango, and if Makil Jokoa had the same structure and steps as Ezpata Joko Nagusia and Ezpata Joko Txikia, now we find a dance that is completely different in both aspects, with the added factor that there are variants of the dance, both as far as steps and choreography are concerned, therefore, whilst in some places and periods of time it consisted of bouncing on the same foot whilst the other marked three taps to the rhythm of the tabor (right / left, behind, in front) to give impulse to the leg, which reached at least waist level, in others the last tap has been avoided. As far as the figures are concerned, the dance, done by eight men armed with swords and in rows of two, turns each row on itself, the ones at the front going to where the ones at the back are, moving on the outside of the group, making at the same time a different figure, one, three, three, one. The person at the front of the row dances in front of his companions and then throws himself backwards, and is suspended in the arms of the people who are just behind him, who lift him above their heads. Traditionally, those who are holding his feet bang their ankles together, whilst the person at the back just marks the beat on the spot with his sword held high, crossing the tip of his sword with that of the person who is being held up. At the same time, the other four dancers carry out a series of movements under and around the captain, going back to their respective places. Sometimes the dance finishes at this point, however, there is another variant in which the person who has supposedly "died", or to whom the honours have been paid, "comes back to life" and the whole group go back to their original positions.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Utah'ko Triskalariak
• Basque Dancers