Three Basque companies at Fest ´Arts in Libourne

Basque performers will once again take part in Fest ´Arts, the International Festival of Street Arts in Libourne, France, held from 3 to 7 August. This year, three Basque companies will be on the roster: Deabru Beltzak with ´Les tambours de feu´; Lasala, with the shows ´Female´, ´IU´ and ´Fight´, and Amaia Elizaran with ´Out´.

This window into Basque culture is promoted by the Etxepare Basque Institute´s "Euskadi à Libourne" programme in collaboration with Fest ´Arts. This year the festival celebrates its 30th anniversary by filling the city of Libourne, located in France’s Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, with five days of street performances featuring dance, theatre, music and circus acts. Originally inspired by the fiestas of Logroño, Fest ´Arts has earned a well-deserved place on the French and European cultural scene and has become a popular event for the whole family.

All performances by Basque groups will take place on 6 August. Lasala, directed by Judith Argomaniz, is an award-winning dance company whose productions are a combination of primitive physical language and highly contemporary aesthetics. To its show its range of repertoire, the company will present three shows that vividly reflect the concerns of today´s world: ´Female´, ´IU´ and ´Fight´.

The troupe Deabru Beltzak will also bring their theatre and music show to the festival, with fire act once again playing a crucial role. Their provocative montage ´Les Tambours de feu´, includes plenty of interaction with the audience. After a spectacular entrance, the percussionists dazzle the spectators with drum melodies, completely transforming the atmosphere.

Amaia Elizaran’s production revolves around the moments of absolute freedom of ‘the new normal’. It is a piece that was conceived during lockdown, a project that leaves anxiety behind and breathes in the air of freedom. The company’s previous production, ‘Mar´, submerged the audience into the ocean; ´OUT´ pulls the audience up and out of the sea.

The Etxepare Basque Institute has been working with the Fest ´Arts since 2012 to bring Basque street theatre to international audiences. The partnership between Etxepare and the festival is part of Aquitaine.eus, a project that sets out to build a bridge between the two regions. Aquitaine.eus is a joint effort launched in 2016 by the Basque Government and the Aquitaine-Euskadi Euroregion which comprises the Nouvelle Aquitaine region, Etxepare Basque Institute and Euskal Kultur Erakundea.