Morocco Of Culture ..traditional dances of morocco

Morocco is home to dozens of different traditional dances and musical styles rooted in Arab, Berber and African culture. Visitors can experience Moroccan dances by attending local weddings and parties, going to dance shows at hotels and restaurants, taking cultural tours or attending music and dance festivals.

Shikat

Shikat is the dance commonly known as Moroccan ‘belly dance’ or arabesque. Professional shikat dancers wear colorful costumes with tight, midriff-baring sequined tops and long loose skirts or pants. The dance is characterized by sensual hip movements, pelvic undulations and flowing hand movements. Often a hip scarf is worn to bring attention to the movements of the lower body. Belly dance music alternates between rhythmic percussion sections – which call for quick, sharp body movements – and fluid string sections that prompt more graceful, flowing movements.

If you attend a Moroccan wedding or party, the female guests will most likely be dancing shikat. Instead of belly dance costumes, the women wear traditional wedding clothing called kaftans. These outfits have long, bell-shaped sleeves, delicate embroidery and loose skirts. One woman may dance in the middle of a circle while other women stand around her clapping to the beat of the music. If men are present, the men may kneel down in a circle and encourage the woman to continue her solo dance.

Guedra

Guedra is a traditional dance of the Tuareg Berber from the Goulmime area in southern Morocco. The dance’s name comes from the name of a traditional cooking pot called the guedra that is used to provide the percussive beat of the dance. Only women take part in the dance, and they usually wear loose blue robes and festive head dresses decorated with cowrie shells.

To perform guedra, a group of women kneel in a circle. The group starts singing and clapping, and one woman moves into the middle to perform a solo. The soloist starts her dance covered in a veil that is gradually removed as she moves her hands and shoulders in sharp, quick movements. Much of her solo is performed while kneeling, although she may also stand up during the dance. As the dance intensifies, the women in the circle ululate with their tongues and sing more loudly. The dance ends when the solo dancer throws off the veil and collapses on her back.

Awash

Performed in the High Atlas Mountains and particularly in the Ouarzazate area, the awash dance takes place around a fire. The male participants sit in a circle playing wooden bendir drums, while the women stand motionless in a larger circle. As the rhythm of the drums increase the women start swaying with the beat.

Gnaoua

Gnaoua is a type of music with Sub-Saharan roots and both Arab and Berber influences. The Moroccan oboe, or ghaita, is played to a background of highly rhythmic percussion. Gnaoua dance is characterized by swaying motions, high jumping and acrobatic movements. It is usually performed by a group of men. Visitors to Morocco can see live gnaoua performances at the Marrakech Popular Arts Festival or the World Gnaoua Festival that take place every summer in Morocco.

And there are hundreds of them, in convoluted mazes: cave-like spaces in which men hammer, weld, sculpt wood, sew and, of course, cajole and seduce passers-by. For the first day or so, getting lost in the maze, taking in shelves stacked with intricately inlaid cedar boxes, glimmering silk babouche slippers, bottles of spices, tribal jewellery, and carefully wrought iron lamps, is a treat. But then confusion sets in. How to tell real from fake? Just where does one find the best?
For the past decade or so, most serious shoppers have relied on a band of fashion-conscious expats – Laetitia Trouillet, Elena Masera, Maryam Montague – to guide them through the souks and source delectable, not-too-ethnic wares. Trouillet is the best-known, the woman called on to take visitors such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Sarah Jessica Parker round the most elegant stores, who knows where to get soft-as-butter shoes in the style of Tod's or Prada (Atika); cool cowboy boots patched with Berber weaving (Michèle Baconnier); understated modern kaftans in rough white and cream silks (Moor); and seriously hip bags (Trouillet's own boutique).
But since the official local guides recently took exception to foreigners muscling in on their well-paid patch, these expat shopping experts have been legally restricted to running just their own shops or riads and dispensing advice on a non-official basis. Which is why the publication of a new book by American writer Susan Simon, Shopping Marrakech, is a godsend to visitors wanting advice from non-partisan sources rather than the official guides, many of whom are paid by touristy shops to bring in custom.
The little book is split into seven walks, each listing a range of shops to stop off at, a recommended lunch stop, and clear directions. It's utterly brilliant. For those who have just one day, I would recommend Walk No 3, into the heart of the old souk. For fashionistas who want high-class fashion, No 7 is best.
Having spent four days walking the souks in search of the city's gems, taking in the advice of guides, fashion editors, local blogs and clued-up residents – as well as frequently looking at the book – I now have an idea of the very best shops [see top right]. Most will ship goods, but getting something sent home often doubles the price.
A smarter idea is simply to take a large empty suitcase.

Moroccan Crafts with Store Culture

Moroccan Crafts with Store Culture..Morocco holidays

Moroccan Carpet Styles
Traditional Berber carpets contain distinctive patterns and colors and are woven from sheep wool or camel hair (you can also find them made from nylon and olefin material). The materials are hand-washed and naturally dyed from saffron yellow, to wild mint green, and from pomegranate and henna. These carpets are known for their strong geometric designs, and have been dated them as far back as the Merinid era. Carpets in the Middle Atlas generally have a traditional diamond grid.
Moroccan Carpet Climates
The Berber tribes developed a variety of weaves to be adaptable to different climates. The rugs in the mountains have larger loops, are more loosely knotted to provide protection against the cold. In warmer climates the rugs are made with a finer weave. The carpets in the Middle Atlas were used as sleeping mats, and in regions with mild climates knots tend to be 2cm high.
Moroccan Carpet History
Berber weaving is highly dependent on the female culture, and is passed down traditionally within the home. The young apprentice is expected to learn the the different looping techniques, patterns, colour ranges and motifs. Historically women wove carpets for their families, and men traditionally produced carpets that were more specialized as professional master weavers. These inspiring designs have been motivation for more modern carpet fabrication.
Historically carpets where a preferred gift for people in elite social classes and where used to adorn palaces and other sacred places. The more urban carpets have also been used at prayer mats and rugs in the hammam. Travelers who are interested in Berber carpet weaving should check out the Weavers Cooperative, and the Berber Carpet Demonstration, a famous exhibition. Some ancient Haouz rugs are also preserved in museums such as the Dar Batha Museum.
These intricate rugs can be purchased from the tribes themselves but also in the winding souks of Fes, Marrakech and Rabat or right here in our moroccan carpet shop.
Traditional Berber Carpets  Haouz
Carpets originating in the hills and plains of the Haouz region do not tend to follow traditional designs or rules. In this region, the weavers stress the freedoms of the individual throughout the composition. The carpets have a distinctive style and are often captivating works of art.
Moroccan Art Form
The bold colors, in depth patterns and weaving techniques of  different regions have their own distinct style. Each tribe has a signature pattern and commonly unfold a story, revealing acts of ceremony, or designs that often relate to fertility and protection. Like any other type of abstract art, interpretations can be better guided with additional knowledge of the culture, songs and legends.
For a selection of these fine hand made carpets please visit our Moroccan carpet store.