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 The dances known as uztai txikiena (Dance of the Small Arches) and uztai handiena (Dance of the Long Arches) are not referred to in Juan Ignacio Iztueta's book of 1824. Nonetheless, researchers have noted that some contemporary dance groups of Iztueta used to regularly perform dances with arches. On the other hand, the arch dances appear to be a standard part of the series of dances making up the brokel-dantza that the dance groups under José Antonio Olano performed. The uztai txikiena (Dance of the Small Arches) passed down to us has the same structure as the uztai handiena (Dance of the Long Arches) and the brokel-makilena (Dance of Bucklers and Sticks).
The uztai txikiena has a similar structure to the other dances involving implements, i.e.: individual performance of the leader, zortziko danced by the whole group and set performed with the implements being banged together. In the same way as in the set of the brokel-makilena and the makila handiena, the whole group will first of all perform the set of the uztai txikiena, then the central quartet and finally, the whole group again.
Two variations of the uztai txikiena zortziko are known. The zortziko of four cantons, in other words, the same one that is performed in the brokel-makilena and makila handiena dance, is sometimes danced. In the other version, the dantzaris perform all the positions changes in the same line: when dancing the simple zortziko, they will move forwards and backwards while remaining in their line. José Lorenzo Pujana taught this zortziko in Añorga and in Legazpia and it is the one we have chosen here.
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