Kaxarranka (una danza tradizionale basca della città portuale di Lekeitio) con la musica del musicista svedese-palestinese George Totari, nell’Aste Nagusia di Bilbo, il festival più importante dell’anno della città. 17/9/2024

The dancer is Ane Maruri, a native of Lekeitio. She was the first woman to dance the kaxarranka in her hometown’s 700 year (at least) history, in 2022. Traditionally, the dance has been performed only by men.

It is a special dance that is performed on the day of the patron saint Peter, and it marks the changing of the administrator of the confraternity of sailors (Lekteitio was founded and lived as a fishing town). In the traditional dance, the men who are holding up the box on which the person dances would also be holding a rowing oar in one hand as well. The box they are holding up is where they keep the confraternity’s papers and official documents.

They visit important parts of the town of Lekeitio, and hold up images of the saint. Importantly, while they are walking alongside the port, they “theaten” to throw the saint into the water, if the saint does not bring good fishing catches for the year.

You can see an example of the traditional kaxarranka [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMmr1JSf8cA).