Advice on Morocco?? UPDATED

Bellydancefanatic · 01-27-2008, 08:54 PM

I'm planning my trip for Morocco for this year. I'm doing a volunteer program, and I'm going to try to get some dancing into my schedule. Even so, I need some advice from those who have traveled to Morocco or are familiar with the culture, etc.

Also, anyone know of any dance classes and/or seminars going on this summer in Morocco? Not sure what part I'm going to be living in yet, but I'll be there for 2 to 3 weeks.

I'll take all the advice I can get!

Thanks!

Bellydancefanatic

I've got another question I've been wondering about. How strict is Morocco in terms of Islam? I know they're mixed in cultures and religious backgrounds, but I don't want to make assumptions. Would you suggest wearing a headscarf (not hijab, just a decorative loose covering) upon entering and traveling in the country? Cross Cultural Solutions would probably tell me no since I plan on working in the women's improvement program, but I want to know it is like when I'm traveling (and by myself most likely).

Mirabai · 01-28-2008, 01:51 AM

Two things I would do differently on going back to Morocco:
1. Listen to what the guide book says and DO NOT start ANY kind of conversation with the wanna-be-guides who approach you when coming off the ferry in Tangier. We simply said "No Thank you" to their questions about whether we needed a guide or not, and they ended up following us for five to ten minutes, harassing us, and ultimately spitting on my boyfriend of the time. It was very terrible. Everywhere else, once past the ferry, everyone was fabulous!
2. Don't pet the forlorn kittens in the alleys ... not even a teensy touch ... no matter how cute. I wound up with a case of ring worm (sounds awful, though really it's just a dermatological fungus ... hmm ... still sounds awful!).

Something you must do!!! East a tagine meal prepared in a Burbur kitchen. You go to the market, get the ingredients you want for your tagine, take it to a berber kitchen and pass it off to them, then you go and sit and have Moroccan mint tea for an hour or two, then come back and have one of the most fabulous meals in your life!! The meal will serve about 4, all for about $6

Wish I could go with you!

m

zumarrad · 01-28-2008, 03:36 AM

What's the likelihood of your being there when Oasis Dance Camp is in Marrakesh? That will be November.

cbarros · 01-28-2008, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zumarrad

What's the likelihood of your being there when Oasis Dance Camp is in Marrakesh? That will be November.

Oasis Dance Camp in Marrakesh??? I want to gooooooooooooooooo!!!! . . . hehe, I keep saying that . . . I want to go everywhere.

CFerhat · 01-28-2008, 09:15 AM

Leila Haddad Leila Haddad does a weeklong workshop in Marrakesh, July 6-13, that coincides with the national folklore festival.

If you are in a big city, you can try to see if one of the gyms has any dance classes, but, in my experience, it takes a LOT of time to track down this information and you won't necessarily want to spend your days doing that. Instruction is usually very, um, unstructured - follow the bouncing butt.

I hope you can get yourself invited to a wedding or something to see (and participate) in the dancing. Have fun!

lallakahina · 01-28-2008, 11:22 AM

I second Mirabai's suggestions. As for dance, if you can manage it, get yourself invited to a wedding. There's not a place in the Arab world where that isn't a dance class in itself

I'd say it's best to avoid talking to men (for directions, etc) and not even smile or make eye contact with them. Of all the Arab countries I've visited, Moroccan men are the most, um, annoying and persistant. Meeting women would be a great way to learn dancing, since it seems most Moroccan women have belly dancing in their blood!

zumarrad · 01-29-2008, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbarros

Oasis Dance Camp in Marrakesh??? I want to gooooooooooooooooo!!!! . . . hehe, I keep saying that . . . I want to go everywhere.

Man. My former teacher went (so we heard stories and saw pix) and at Oasis in Tongariro in November, we saw some footage of it. It would be worth it just to stay in those riads!

Sashy · 01-29-2008, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbarros

Oasis Dance Camp in Marrakesh??? I want to gooooooooooooooooo!!!! . . . hehe, I keep saying that . . . I want to go everywhere.

Marrrakesh is my favorite exotic city in the world.It's known as the Red City due to the reddish color of all buildings and houses.It's also the gate to the Big South,which are the desert cities and towns like Ouarzazate and Zagorah,for example.

kamilia · 01-29-2008, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lallakahina

I second Mirabai's suggestions. As for dance, if you can manage it, get yourself invited to a wedding. There's not a place in the Arab world where that isn't a dance class in itself

I'd say it's best to avoid talking to men (for directions, etc) and not even smile or make eye contact with them. Of all the Arab countries I've visited, Moroccan men are the most, um, annoying and persistant. Meeting women would be a great way to learn dancing, since it seems most Moroccan women have belly dancing in their blood!

Many Moroccan women have their own dancing in their blood, definitely. I think most belly dancing is absorbed through Egyptian movies and other outside sources, though. That's the impression I got when I was there. I think it would be more worthwhile to learn about the local dances rather than the imported ones when you are there, but that's just my take on it.

But, yes, I agree with the other advice: do NOT look men in the eye if you do not want to do them, lest they think you want to do them. I'm talking about strangers, not necessarily people you might have to talk to, like store clerks and such. This is true in so many countries outside of Morocco, too.

Embrace your inner ice queen! Resist from smiling. You do NOT have to be nice to everyone

However, I had to love whenever a 7-year-old would give a passing female the requisite chorus of "Ca va? Ca va? Ca va?" They learn their gender roles pretty quickly over there. Cute.

On a side note, if you get invited to a segregated wedding, insist on visiting both sides of the party. It's definitely worth seeing