It's obvious to anyone who reads newspapers, watches TV or listens to the radio that the countries of the Near and Middle East and North Africa affect an ever-increasing portion of today's world-shaping events, sometimes affecting our everyday lives.

It's the part of the world where everything depicted in both Bibles took place, where 3 major religions had their origins, over which the Crusades were fought, for which two Nobel Peace Prizes were awarded and peace treaties signed, that gave us mathematics and the pyramids and, if we are to believe Barry Fell's book "America, B.C.", that sent Egyptian, Phoenician, Libyan and Celtic-Iberian seamen and traders to North America as early as 900 B.C.!

In the area of food alone, we've become accustomed to olives, figs, dates, yogurt, shish kebab, hummus, baba ghanoush and tahini and are gobbling Greek gyro and Arabic shawerma sandwiches.

There are definite Mideastern neighborhoods in all 5 boroughs (& many other cities around the U.S.) with stores and restaurants catering to that population as well as non-Mideastern cognoscenti and a recent large influx of immigrants because of wars and other political and economic factors over there.

The hold Middle Eastern mystique has on Americans is evidenced by many books movies, musicals, operettas, TV dramas, clothing styles about or inspired by the area. The popularity of the King Tut and Suleiman exhibits are just two recent examples.

However, these things fill our stomachs and eyes, but teach us very little about the people from whom they sprung. Sometimes they serve only to perpetrate myths and misconceptions.

Even young Americans of Spanish/Hispanic descent are generally oblivious to evidence the Moors (Moroccans) left in Spain and, therefore, on our own culture -- evidence obvious even to the objective amateur historian or philologist.

Understanding other peoples and cultures leads to greater understanding of our own.

So Americans can understand some ideas and motivations from the Mideast and North Africa that have affected our music, dance and culture - especially with the increasing influences and inclusion of African, Mideastern and Mediterranean rhythms, instruments, melodies. etc in "World Music", the popularity of which grows daily - I propose six excellent, entertaining basic formats and ways to introduce them to that culture, seemingly so different from ours, in dance concert format.

All programs have already been successfully presented, indoors and out, and are booked for future engagements. All consist of authentic dance and music from the Near/Middle East and North Africa. Costuming is colorful and authentic. The company is multi-racial/ethnic. Members live in all 5 boroughs.

Morocco & the Casbah Dance Experience was conceived, organized, funded and is directed and choreographed by Morocco (Carolina Varga Dinicu), leading performer, researcher, teacher and authority in this field for over 42 years. The Company is non-profit, tax-exempt: 501 (c)3.

1. A full, inspiring 2 hour concert program of varied and beautiful ethnic dances with 4 live musicians (depending on your budget, location and facilities) & taped music from Egypt, Morocco, etc., narrated and explained. It is possible to have some songs by Morocco, as well as dances. 9 dancers and Morocco
2. 2 hour concert program, to taped music, no live singing. 9 dancers and Morocco
3. 1 hour concert program of a selected variety of the fascinating ethnic dances. 9 dancers & Morocco
4. 45 min. - 1 1/2 hour concert program of selected, thrilling solos and an exciting duet, with or without detailed explanations & Question and Answer period by Morocco and Tarik Sultan (formerly Tarik abdel Malik)
5. 1 - 1 1/2 hour concert program: same as above, but with 3 dancers: Morocco, Tarik and a selected soloist from the Casbah Dance Experience, allowing time for more costume changes and duets...
6. 45 min. - 1 1/2 hour concert program, with fascinating solo Oriental and Cane dances by Morocco, including a short lecture on origins/history of Oriental dance, ending with Q & A period and/or mini-lesson.