The ensemble comes from the city of San Sebastian-Donostia situated on the Bay of Biscay. Gero Axular was established at Axular Lizeoa School by a group of parents in 2004. The aim was to preserve and develop the tradition of Basque dance which embraces around 400 distinct folk dances revealing some variation in music, steps and dress across the Basque Country. The repertoire of traditional Basque roots is sometimes enriched with more contemporary and innovative elements.
At the Festival the ensemble will present dances from the province of Gipuzkoa (situated in the centre of the Basque Country), such as agurra and ezpata dantza, which have traditionally been performed for monarchs and dignitaries. The Gipuzkoan tradition usually provides for the use of such implements as swords, sticks, shields or decorative arches. A set of dances called Dantzari Dantzak is typical of the province of Biscay and includes, among others, agintariena (a dance with a flag). One of the most distinctive dance traditions is a song, dance and acting routine zuberoako maskaradak.
The band will be playing such instruments as a txistu (a flute symbolical of Basque folk revival), a txirula (a three-holed flute), a danbolin (a drum), a txalaparta (a percussion instrument similar to the xylophone), an adarra (a woodwind instrument), an alboka (a horn), an accordion, a guitar, a cajón.
Juan Luis Unzurrunzaga is the ensemble leader, and Lara Mitxelena is the band leader.
At the Festival the ensemble will present dances from the province of Gipuzkoa (situated in the centre of the Basque Country), such as agurra and ezpata dantza, which have traditionally been performed for monarchs and dignitaries. The Gipuzkoan tradition usually provides for the use of such implements as swords, sticks, shields or decorative arches. A set of dances called Dantzari Dantzak is typical of the province of Biscay and includes, among others, agintariena (a dance with a flag). One of the most distinctive dance traditions is a song, dance and acting routine zuberoako maskaradak.
The band will be playing such instruments as a txistu (a flute symbolical of Basque folk revival), a txirula (a three-holed flute), a danbolin (a drum), a txalaparta (a percussion instrument similar to the xylophone), an adarra (a woodwind instrument), an alboka (a horn), an accordion, a guitar, a cajón.
Juan Luis Unzurrunzaga is the ensemble leader, and Lara Mitxelena is the band leader.