• “Belly Dancing” and Childbirth Written by Morocco Danse du ventre, or, to use the deliberately coined American misnomer, belly dancing, is not at all what Western society thinks it to be, i.e. a dance of sex and seduction. This is an erroneous and ignorant belief, … Continued
  • Roots Written by Morocco Originally published in Habibi Vol.5 No.12 & many others since…. By Morocco (C. Varga Dinicu) When I first came into Oriental dance (way back when Noah got off the Ark), I was drawn by the beauty of its … Continued
  • Giving to Light: Dancing the Baby Into the World Written by Morocco Habibi: Winter ’96 Vol.15, No.1 By Morocco (C.V. Dinicu) My first inkling that there was any connection batween the slower movements of Oriental dance and the physical act of giving birth came in 1961 when, at the end … Continued
  • Nadia Hamdi: Giving Joy to the Heart and Eyes Written by Morocco First Published in Habibi, Spring 96, Vol 15, No. 2 By Morocco “I don’t understand what the problem is, what they find wrong. It isn’t written we must always be serious to be good Muslims. I’m a good … Continued
  • So What Else Is New (or Old)? Written by Morocco Originally published in Caravan, vol 9, #2-4 By Morocco Sorry it’s so long between articles I’m still too busy: performing, researching, teaching classes & seminars, rehearsing my dance company, organizing & leading tours for dancers and myself, lecturing, … Continued
  • Getting Down to Floorwork Written by Morocco First published in Habibi – 1970s  By Morocco (C.V.Dinicu) In addition to her ongoing teaching and performing activities, Morocco has been doing week-long seminars, commuting to Europe twice a year to do seminars and concerts, leading tours to … Continued
  • The Marrakesh Folk Festival Written by Morocco While Morocco (the country, not me) is simply a gorgeous place to visit at just about any time of the year, the only time an ethnic dance freak should go is during the fabulous Marrakesh folk festival. To … Continued
  • Prologue to The Ethics of Ethnic Written by Morocco Originally published in Fantasia By Morocco What is Ethnic dance? How can we tell if we are doing the “correct” thing? Is there such a thing as “correct”? Does it change? How? Why? How far can we go … Continued
  • Don’t Just Applaud, Throw Money!?! Written by Morocco Originally Published in Shimmy Chronicles ’95 By Morocco/Carolina Varga Dinicu ©’94 Headline gotcha curious? Good: I’’ve got alot to say on the subject. During my 38 years in this field, I’’ve heard & read many pro & con … Continued
  • If Prices Are Up All Over, Why Are Oriental Dancers Getting Less? Written by Morocco Fantasia, Vol 5 #5, Sept/Oct 1982 By Morocco When I started in this business, just after Noah landed his ark, milk was 18 cents a quart, yogurt 16 cents a pint (flavored), tuna in water 31 cents a … Continued
  • Dance As Community Identity in Selected Berber Nations of Morocco Written by Morocco FROM the ETHEREAL and SUBLIME to the EROTIC and SEXUAL (For the Congress on Research in Dance & the Society of Dance History Scholars Conference/ Lincoln Center, New York City, June 1993) I. GUEDRA: Spreading Soul’s Love & … Continued
  • The Ethics of Ethnic Written by Morocco By Morocco (Carolina Varga Dinicu) To be considered folk or ethnic does not mean being swathed in black from head to foot or being in lines and circle formations only. Nor does fitting into any of the above … Continued
  • In Loving Remembrance & Requiem: the Best “School” That Ever Was Written by Morocco by Morocco (Carolina Varga Dinicu) © 2001 In late 1960, I got my first job as an Oriental dancer. How? I was a Flamenco dancer with the Ballet Espanol Ximenez-Vargas & we were rehearsing at a Manhattan studio, … Continued
  • Tribute to Dr. Paul Monty the Man Who “Invented” Mideastern Dance Seminars Written by Morocco Dr Paul Monty died at approximately midnight (New York time) on Saturday, September 8, 1986, in Long Beach Hospital, after a long and painful battle with a debilitating disease. However, it was only his corporeal body that left, … Continued
  • Mme. (Haga) Abla Ibrahim (the woman who created the best ever costumes for Oriental dancers) Written by Morocco My relationship with that wonderful, talented, unbelievably patient woman goes back over 40 years, to the mid 1970s and went from “”Who is this crazy American? How did she find me?”” to a deep and longterm friendship. It … Continued
  • Marvelous Mahmoud Abd el Ghaffar: The Beginning of Al Wikalah! Written by Morocco In 1978, one of the members of my dance tour group wandered into the Haberdashery Shop (on Gawhar el Kayeed) and learned that it’s young half-owner, Mahmoud Abd El Ghaffar, had some scarves that had a bit of … Continued
  • Interview with Mahmoud Reda Written by Morocco Graphics compiled/prepared by Lynette Harris, editor of Gilded Serpent Karima Nadira writes: “In June, 2003, I was privileged to assist Morocco in the videotaping of this interview with Mahmoud Reda. When we arrived for the interview, Mahmoud Reda … Continued
  • Nadia Hamdi Triumphs Again! Written by Morocco On April 5th 1997 the Nadia Hamdi encore tour started in New York. Once again, Nadia was presented in a two day workshop and concert by Morocco, her dear friend of more than twenty five years. Those of … Continued
  • A Teacher’s Path Written by Morocco Why & How My Life’s Career Came About My career in dance started on the radio. While channel surfing one afternoon, I stumbled across a weekly Arabic radio program called “Middle Eastern Melodies”. I couldn’t believe my ears, … Continued