A cross-border stage for Basque choreographic creativity

The Etxepare Basque Institute and the Centre Chorégraphique National Malandain Ballet Biarritz announced a cross-border partnership for Basque dance creation at the Casino Municipal in Biarritz. This was part of the ´Saut de Basque´ professional day during the Maitaldia-Le Temps d´Aimer la Danse festival. This strategic framework for collaboration aims to support the creation, promotion, and international outreach of Basque artists in the French-speaking world. In addition to announcing this cooperation, announcing this cooperation, the meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on the sector´s challenges, together with creators, dance companies, public institutions, and cultural programmers from the French-speaking world.

The meeting brought together more than 80 participants and addressed topics such as internationalisation strategies for Basque artists, resources and tools for cooperation, artistic development, and creative residency programmes. The opening ceremony was hosted by Biarritz Mayor Maider Arosteguy, Malandain Ballet Biarritz Artistic Director Thierry Malandain, and Ibone Bengoetxea, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Culture and Language Policy of the Basque Government. Next, Irene Larraza, Etxepare Basque Institute director, and Yves Kordian, deputy director of the Biarritz Choreographic Centre, presented the resources and structures needed to promote Basque dance in the French-speaking world and to support the creation, co-production, cooperation and dissemination of Basque artists. 

The event also featured Arthur Barat and Cybèle Damestoy (Bilaka Kolektiboa), Martin Harriague (future artistic director of the Centre Chorégraphique National Ballet Biarritz), and choreographer Eneko Gil, who discussed the current and future challenges facing dance in the Basque Country. To conclude, dancers from different companies performed a group choreography. 

A shared strategy

The partnership between the two institutions aims to create a stable framework for collaboration, aligning resources and strengthening a shared ecosystem on both sides of the border. The goal is to offer comprehensive support to artists, from creation and production to professionalisation and dissemination. This cooperation makes Biarritz a key location for the promotion of Basque dance in the French-speaking world and reinforces its status as a benchmark within the sector. 

‘Ça colle au basque’: a leap to the French-speaking world  

The event took the name Saut de basque (Basque jeté or leap), a classical dance step with Basque roots. today, that same energy is expressed through a new leap – contemporary creation expanding into the French-speaking world, within the framework of the Maitaldia festival.

Maitaldia, showcase for Basque dance 

Thanks to the collaboration between the Etxepare Basque Institute and Malandain Ballet Biarritz, the Maitaldia-Le Temps d´Aimer la danse festival will establish itself as a key showcase for Basque dance. Eight companies are participating in this year´s edition, held from 5 to 15 September: Malandain Ballet Biarritz, Kukai Dantza, Bilaka Kolektiboa, Mizel Théret & Beñat Achiary, Dantzaz, Compagnie À Pas Furtifs, Cie Project ra.re / Collectif Rabbit Research and AltxaLili Show. 

Based in Biarritz, Maitaldia is a leading festival of classical and contemporary dance, bringing together international artists, programmers, and attracting a wide audience. For Basque companies, it represents a unique opportunity to showcase their work on the international stage.