Welcome to Morocco's Meanderings

Repertoire
Dances of the Casbah Dance Experience
as well as Solos and Duets by Morocco & Tarik

Guedra: Benediction & Betrothal	Schikhatt
Raks al Assaya (Egyptian Women´s Cane Dance)	Raks al Shemadan (Candelabrum Dance)
Moroccan Tea Tray Dance (Raks Al Senniyya)	Raks Sharki: Oriental Dance
Fella / Fellaha	Tunisian Women’s Dance: Choufou El Arbiyya
Haggala	Raks al Nasha'al: Saudi Women's Dance
Tribute to Mevlaneh (Turkish Dervish)	Solo Debke / el Ard
Urban Karsilama: the Betrothal of the Youngest	Sule Kule (Istanbul Inner City Gypsy Karsilama)

Guedra: Benediction & Betrothal

Trance ritual of the "Blue People" of the Sahara Desert, which stretches from Mauritania through Morocco all the way to Egypt. Hands trace mystical symbols, spreading love & peace, thanking Earth, Water, Wind & Fire, blessing all present in spirit & fact. It is combined with the Betrothal Dance of Tissint. See More Pictures

Schikhatt

Originally performed at pre-wedding parties by a "Sheikha" & her group of "Schikhatt", first for the women´s feasts & then the men´s, this lusty dance is now an at-home diversion for Moroccan city women.

Raks al Assaya (Egyptian Women´s Cane Dance)

To show the dancer´s dexterity, balance, charm, highlight her hipwork & twit the men´s combatative "Tahtiyb"

Raks al Shemadan (Candelabrum Dance)

A traditional dance, performed mostly at Egyptian weddings, the artist leads the bridal processional with a flaming candelabrum on her head to light the way of the happy couple, as they embark on their new lives together.

Moroccan Tea Tray Dance (Raks Al Senniyya)

Traditional. Done by either sex, to show balance & dexterity.

Raks Sharki: Oriental Dance - the correct translation

"Boss Ba'ah, as performed by Casbah in Cairo, July 2004

Over 5,000 years old, the faster parts of this truly classical folk dance demonstrate the joy of life & two of the slower movements have been traced to religious dances imitating the movements of labor & childbirth as an expression of thanks to the female as perpetrator of the species. It is, indeed, done by both sexes, was originally religious & is now secular.

Fella / Fellaha

In Saidi or Upper Egyptian style, to a song by Metkal Kenawi. A young man looking for love, woos a young girl, but his heart is fickle. Shocked at first by his behavior, the women give him his just desserts & he is left alone.

Tunisian Women’s Dance: Choufou El Arbiyya

Tunisian women have a solidarity stronger than most others. In this dance, they mime putting on makeup, show their ankles - to demonstrate that they are not wearing khul-khaal & are therefore, not married & show off their hipwork & agility.

Haggala

Originally from Libya, in Egypt this dance was found most often in Mersa Matruh. When done there "authentically", it is performed by one heavily-veiled woman dancing before a line of clapping, chanting men (called "Keffafeen"), who do not dance at all, except for one man that the Haggala chooses from among them. Casbah´s version shows a group of women dancing just for themselves.

Raks al Nasha'al: Saudi Women's Dance

The purpose of this dance is for the women to show off: their glorious hair, graceful gliding steps & richly embroidered dresses ("thobe al nasha'al"), used solely for this dance, which is usually done at weddings.

Tribute to Mevlaneh (Turkish Dervish)

Jallaleddin al Rumi, known as Mevlaneh (teacher), was the founder of the Mevlevi sect of whirling dervish. Today, their main mosque is in Konya, Turkey. The sect was much repressed under Attaturk's policy of secularization, but their fascinating Sema has brought them world-wide attention & respect. Since this is a religious ritual, we would not presume to profane it & therefore only strive to show the steps a young dervish goes through in learning to whirl.

Solo Debke / el Ard

Solo version of the Levant's most typical folk dance: each village has its own variations on the basic step. Combined with the men's sword dance, it is a dance of bravery and honor.

Urban Karsilama: the Betrothal of the Youngest

A combination of folkloric and "Oryantal" to the joyous 9/8 Karsilama rhythm. Three older, married sisters are surprised by the youngest: she has just become engaged.

Sule Kule (Istanbul Inner City Gypsy Karsilama)

Urban Karsilama (9/8) of the poor, much-harrassed inner-city Istanbul Roma. Not your tambourine-shaking, skirt-flinging Hollywood fantasy, this Romany woman is "fed up" with dancing for tourists, but the joy in the music finally takes her with it - until she remembers where she is...