The Maskaradak of Zuberoa are some of the oldest--and most difficult--of Basque dances.  The plural 'k' ending designates the two groups of the performance as the gorriak ("reds") and beltzak ("blacks"), though generally only the five of the principle gorria performers are featured.

From the smallest of the seven Basque provinces, Zuberoa, comes some of the more complicated and splendid Basque folk dances.  With the end of winter, it is traditional that some of the small towns in Zuberoa organize the unique "Maskaradak" or Carnival celebration.  The dances are only a portion of the day-long performance which includes music, song and dance.  The five principal dancers from the "maskarada" are the "txerrero," who prepares the way for the others by sweeping the path with a horse's tail; the "katusaina" or the cat-man character who snaps a wooden apparatus that represents a cat's claws; the "kantiniersa" or canteen carrier which is a recent addition from the Napoleonic period in France; the "zamalzaina" or hobby-horse character that represents a stallion; and the "entsenaria" or standard-bearer.  The dances are centuries old, and they are believed to be an ancient pagan fertility rite. 

A typical size group to put on the entire Maskarada with the Reds & Blacks.

When possible, the dances are played with the Zuberoa style of txistu called the "xirula" and keeping the beat is the "ttun-ttuna"

The five principle "red" characters are (L-R):  Txerreroa, Gatuzaina, Zamalzaina,  Kantiniersa & Entsenaria
 

Zuberoa
Though the smallest historical region, it has some very unique dance traditions