Whilst it is the improviser who’s put in the spotlight, several other essential players ensure sparring matches and championships run smoothly.
the Basque Country National Championship 2009 (ICB - Maite Deliart)Championships throughout the seven provinces
Xi-La-Ba Northern Basque Country Championship (since 2008)
Championship of Navarre (since 1936)
Championship of Gipuzkoa (since 1959)
Championship of Alava
Championship of Biscay
Representatives from each province then take part in the Basque Country National Championship which is held every four years. This exceptional event brings together 13 000 improvisation enthusiasts at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre in Barakaldo.
Organisation of sparring matches
Both the expression of improvisation and the audience’s interest can be seen through the sparring matches and championships where improvisers show their strong minds, humour, poetry and profundity. There are also many other people involved behind the scenes who play an essential role in organising these events.
The judges
The judges. The Basque Country National Championship 2009 (ICB - Maite Deliart)Sitting apart and in a line at a table, the judges, concentrated, mark the performance of the improvisers after each exercise. And competition is synonymous with classification! This is the contradiction of improvisation because , as Jon Sarasua highlights: "improvisation and competition do not go hand in hand". This is why some improvisers don’t take part in championships and prefer friendly sparring matches without a competitive sprit. However, the Basques do like challenges, and competitions attract audiences and make improvisation visible.
Moderators and leaders
The subject preparator generally works in a group which is responsible for choosing a sparring leader.
The subjects given to improvisers are very important since they directly influence their inspiration and the verses they improvise.
The moderator Joana Itzaina (ICB - Jakes Larre)The sparring leader presents the match, directs it and ensures it runs smoothly. He or she therefore plays an essential role.
Joana Itzaina was part of the group which prepared the subjects at the 2009 Basque Country National Championship. She led at the quarter finals in Ustaritz. The Basque Cultural Institute has collected her story.
Bertsozale Elkartea (Federation of Improvisation Enthusiasts) organises training courses for future preparators and leaders because the "profession" of improviser is something that requires training.
What is bertsolaritza? has been carried out with the aim of answering that question and showing people abroad what bertsolaritza is. The film enables people to discover bertsolaritza from its roots and to pay attention to the context, creative process and current situation of the discipline.
Bertsolaritza can designate both the art of improvising verses (bertsogintza) and the social movement created around it (bertsolaritza). The principal goal of this book is to present the necessary means for fully understanding bertsolaritza. A publication of the Etxepare Basque Institute, free to download.
What is bertsolaritza? has been carried out with the aim of answering that question and showing people abroad what bertsolaritza is. The film enables people to discover bertsolaritza from its roots and to pay attention to the context, creative process and current situation of the discipline.
Bertsolaritza can designate both the art of improvising verses (bertsogintza) and the social movement created around it (bertsolaritza). The principal goal of this book is to present the necessary means for fully understanding bertsolaritza. A publication of the Etxepare Basque Institute, free to download.
