Sustraiak Marks 50 Years, Bridges Basque-Canary Cultures
Basque folk group Sustraiak is celebrating its 50th anniversary in the Canary Islands this weekend, fostering cultural exchange through joint performances of traditional dances from both regions.
The folk group Sustraiak (meaning Roots), which started 50 years ago in Legazpi, Guipúzcoa, has traveled to the Canary Islands to celebrate its anniversary.
This 50-year milestone also coincides with the time Rogelio Botanz, originally from Legazpi, first arrived in the Canary Islands. He has since built strong educational, cultural, and family connections with La Matanza de Acentejo, and previously with the Basque-Canarian indigenous sports events held in Tegueste.
This alignment of dates, places, and symbols creates a unique opportunity for two communities, separated by 2,000 kilometers, to connect. Both are dedicated to nurturing their cultural heritage. They also share a common symbol: iron transformed into agricultural tools, which represents their sustenance, hard work, identity, and ongoing history.
The celebration, supported by Botanz, features events this weekend. Today, Saturday, at 6:00 PM in Matanza's Plaza de El Salvador, attendees can see "El Baile del Niño" (The Child's Dance), a local tradition from the 17th century, alongside Legazpi's "Espatadantza," which dates from the same period. Both dances will be performed again tomorrow, Sunday, at 12:00 PM in Tegueste's Plaza de San Marcos, where they will be joined by the 16th-century "Danza de las Flores" (Dance of the Flowers).