Thread: Maghrebi/Moroccan Dance?

Does anyone have some good input on Moroccan dances? I've run across a couple of beautiful songs that have Moroccan rhythms in them and I wonder how dancers have traditionally represented the rhythms.

Does anyone have any information and/or clips?

I have only studied a little Moroccan dance, but lots of other maghrebi styles.
From what I understand of there are so many styles, historical, regional, ethnic etc. There are various berber styles, and things like schikatte. I have some videos but I don't really know what I am watching.
Chaabi, gnawa, andalusian, chamali,bedaoui, mersaoui,ahouach are some style names but are all really varied in their dance styles. All I can say is that some are based in foot/ step patterns, others in hip movement, and things like gnawa is trance based.
Here in Montreal we have a huge Moroccan and Maghrebi population and often hear the music, but I wish I knew more.

Here are some clips
chikatte
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4wgTyVvq4A&feature=related"]http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4wgTyVvq4A&feature=related[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7BeeAY3xDA&feature=related]YouTube - زينة الداودية Ø*Ù�لة الهادي بن عيسى[/ame]

Bnat Oudaden is a good example of berber style music
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUAT_kodBRc&feature=related"]http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUAT_kodBRc&feature=related[/ame]

That's a start.

Ahouachi
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZdjn5EflXM&feature=related]YouTube - ahouach[/ame]

Chaabi
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG16glvEuy8&feature=related]YouTube - Tachinouite chaabi[/ame]

Morocco (the dancer from New York) is a good source. Check her vintage footage of the Moroccan folklore fests.

Amel Tafsout is also worth checking out for information.

Originally Posted by dancingrrrlz

Morocco (the dancer from New York) is a good source. Check her vintage footage of the Moroccan folklore fests.

I agree. She sells a video called Berber Dance Under the Stars that has a lot of footage of traditional Moroccan dance.

Originally Posted by zumarrad

Amel Tafsout is also worth checking out for information.

I am not sure but I think Amel Tafsout focuses on Algerian dance, but maybe she knows about Moroccan dance also.

This is great information, but I was hoping that someone would have some advice on how to interpret sections of Moroccan rhythm I've found within Oriental pieces. Any ideas?

If you're looking for some movements that contrast with Orientale - pelvic downs are typical in schikkhat - pelvic ups are too but you have to be so careful with them since they look completely different in bedleh than a caftan. Watch the stance as well, it's often more open in schikhatt because one is in a caftan. One of my favorite moves is what I call a horizonal 3/4 shimmy - like a hagallah but you slide the hip way out instead of twisting forward. You can do this stationary, walking, turning, w/level changes, emphasizing one side, etc. Hips are usually working down or out - in contrast to hip lifts which are recognized as quintessentially Egyptian. Arms aren't usually layered - if you are working arms you're not working hips. Shoulder drops versus shimmies are typically Berber, and hair tosses are used a lot but of course you have to be really careful with those. Hair tossing or that strong travelling shimmy like in the video above - like a choo choo but with a wider stance - are often used as the piece speeds up at the end and to finish it off - the equivalent of the ending spin in Egyptian.

Christine

Originally Posted by SamanthaFortunata

I am not sure but I think Amel Tafsout focuses on Algerian dance, but maybe she knows about Moroccan dance also.

She does, she is a specialist on Maghrebi dance. Also she is Berber.

Hi there! if you are dancing to shaabi (popular) music which is what is play at a lot of parties and Moroccan clubs, then dance like the moves in the 1st 2 videos. Its all in the hips (and hair)!

Them North African shimmy (I like to term it) is not like the choo choo shimmy. It starts off in the feet. Like in Flamenco dancing where you are like marching on flat feet. The knees are kept semi flexed and straighten just a little to give you the hip lifts. The rhythm is 6/8 so you can fit. Samantha's Video 1 is fast so for example, you dance with empahsis on the step right-left-right- your hips will go lift-drop-lift. It'll really work out your quads!! If you go too fast, then it'll be like samba.

Good luck!

I used to perform shikhat -- I loved it. I believe Aisha Ali's Dances of North Africa has Shikhat snippets in it. Like CFerhat, I did a lot of variations of a horizonal 3/4 shimmy. Also drawing an O with one hip while doing a horizontal hip circle to turn and face another direction. There are several great spins with one foot planted and dropping onto the working foot on the heavy downbeat. They have arm variations including switching hands from over your heart or liver.

My husband and I teach what we call Marrakchi which uses Riksaa (meaning footwork) in some of our North African workshops. Like Flamenco without shoes. One of our favorite songs is Lella Fatima (Lella is used as a title of respect, especially for someone older like a sister, like Sidi for a man)