Aritz Ibáñez, one of the three responsible for launching the chupinazo of the Sanfermines 2024 on behalf of Duguna, stated that the start of the festivities from the balcony of the City Hall was «a moment of immense joy.»
«You have no idea, not for a moment, what it’s about, the energy that comes from there, but you focus, try to say what you have to say, and everything goes well. It’s a moment of immense joy and we are very grateful to all the people who have given us this opportunity,» said Ibáñez, director of the group Duguna Iruñeko Dantzariak/Dantzaris de Pamplona, an entity celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
Along with Ariz Ibáñez, the president of the society, Ángel Arana Seguín, and the dancer Itxaso Martínez de Pera Barrachina went out to the balcony of the City Hall.
Itxaso Martínez and Aritz Ibáñez shared the traditional words: «Iruindarrak. Pamplonesas, pamploneses. ¡Viva San Fermín! ¡Gora San Fermín!». Then Ángel Arana lit the fuse of the rocket.
Aritz Ibáñez explained, moments after the chupinazo was launched in front of a full square at the City Hall, that «it was a very beautiful process, not only today, but since it was announced that the entity would be launching the chupinazo, it was a very nice process, I received love from many people, and today, when I was coming here, then going out to the balcony, the first look at the balcony of the Casa Seminario, where there were 30 other dancers in the group, was an interesting moment.»
The director of Duguna highlighted «the red and white sea, today more red because I had never been in the middle of the square and seeing it from above, and all the people were painting with wine, kalimotxo, that image and smell, there was a strong smell of alcohol, which apparently is also part of the festivities, and then the energy, not just the image, is something that is experienced with all the senses.»
Aritz Ibáñez mentioned that the duguna dancers will also participate in various events of the festival. «Today we will dance dressed in red and white, tomorrow more serious in the procession, and we will continue dancing for the rest of the days of Sanfermines,» he said.
Furthermore, he remembered all the dancers of Duguna who could not access the City Hall. «Only the three of us could go up to the balcony, but for us from the beginning we said that it was Duguna’s greatest success, we couldn’t even all be on that balcony, but it was like being at home, as if we were in the rehearsal room, with the support of our people,» he emphasized.
