Morocco is one of the big names in the American scene for Arabic dance. She has been dancing for over 40 years and she knows a lot about Middle Eastern and Arabic dance. Morocco has travelled extensively throughout the
Middle East and Northern Africa and carried out some interesting research on these countries’ cultures and dance forms. Morocco, during her career, has also taught in universities, receiving various formal recognitions for her work, and she has taught Arabic dance all over the world.The Middle Eastern dance seminar I attended during Raqs Britannia with Morocco was about the use of finger cymbals, or zills, in Arabic dance. Morocco taught some basics about how to play with zills and a piece of choreography. Morocco’s rendition of the choreography and the way she played the zills were impeccable; as for us students, of course much practice will be needed before we can get to Morocco’s level!
Morocco’s seminar was very pleasant and what stroke me most was Morocco’s strong personality and her sense of humour. In the evening Morocco performed, during the belly dance show, with the energy of somebody half her age. Morocco’s dance included the use of finger cymbals, which were played really impeccably to accompany every dance move, with extreme precision.
Morocco often travels and she often comes to the UK. For example, she will be in Glastonbury, UK, in March 2009 during a belly dance festival called Majma. Also, Morocco has her own dance studio in New York City, in the heart of Manhattan, where she teaches and organises seminars, such as a week long seminar in January 2009.
