MAGHREB DANCE THEMES FOR WORKSHOPS
I. CITY DANCES
1. Andalusian Court dance with scarves: ( 2-3 hours each)
Join Amel in a journey through the ancientAndalusian Court dances performed by women at various festivities such as weddings in the Maghreb (North Africa). This dance emphasizes the elegant arm and hand gestures of the court dancer, and are based on the classical music and dance that originated in Andalusian Spain and traveled to North Africa when the Arabs were expelled. The movement incorporates the rich tapestry of Arab-Andalusian traditions from the ancient cities of Fes, Algiers and Tunis and many more, during a time regarded by many as a Golden Age of tolerance and cultural exchange. During the workshop, Amel Tafsout will focus on the various hand and hip techniques of dancing with scarves and how to keep the rhythm while improvising. (Please bring two square scarves for the workshops).
2. Dancing to Raï music and “Allawi-Reggada” : (3 hours)
Raï (“rah-AY”) music is a popular genre of world music from Algeria that emerged in the late 1980s as a combination of popular music and traditional Bedouin desert music. This often high-energy and emotional music has an association the the American blues and more recently hip-hop, and fuels the fusion of modern improvisational and more traditional dances performed by women and men alike. Amel has innovated dancing to Raï music, bringing the fluidity and the sensuality of Arabic- Andalusian roots, the strength and energy of the mythical Berber priestess, the earthiness of the African soul, the inspiration of the Sahara-desert and the expression of the great Mediterranean seaport Wahran together into a joyful dance for the people.
II. AMAZIGH BERBER DANCES
1. ‘Abdaoui Fertility dance (3 hours)
Amel Tafsout will share this beautiful dance of the Shawia people, known as the Chaouis, who are Amazigh Berbers from her home region of the Northern East-Algerian Aures mountains.The “Azriyat” (literally, “women without men”) are professional dancers and singers, who once performed at various festivities to celebrate the fertility of Mother Earth. Students will learn a choreography based on the traditional “partridge” steps that have been reinvented for the stage by Amel, and should bring fabric or long veil to class.
2. ‘Raks El Mahra/Raks El Kheyl: The Mare/ Horse dance (2 hours)
Join Amel for a playful dance full of earthy energy, and bring to life a real tale of how an enterprising wife won back the attention of her husband! As the story goes, the husband preferred the mare to his wife, because the mare could dance. By imitating the dancing horse, the wife not only succeeded in captivating her husband, but also became famous and was invited to perform her dance at various festivities.
3. Amazigh-berber Shimmies: Dance of the Kabyle People (2 hours)
This fertility dance comes from the North-Eastern Algerian Mountains of the ‘Kabylie’ and is performed with a long scarf while the dancer is doing very small and fast hip movements. At once earthy and proud, this ritual dance features shimmies and trembling movements that are related to pregnancy, fertility, and ease of birth. The dance is both a public and personal expression, rich in symbolic dimensions that deal with subjects such as the fertility of Mother Earth, the rites of marriage and birth, and the communication between the earthly and the Divine. The Kabyle Berber dances are drawn from this rich colorful dance tradition that has been sustained by the unveiled, earthy, powerful and proud women of Kabylia.
4. Moroccan dance of the Chikhat: (2 hours)
Join Amel for an invigorating exploration into the style and dance of the Chikhat. The Chikhat are female professional dancers and singers, who perform together in cities and villages for men and women, and at various festivities. Sensual hip movements, pelvic undulations and flowing hand movements, and clapping characterize the dance. Often a hip scarf is worn to bring attention to the movements of the lower body with quick, sharp body movements, along with more graceful, flowing movements inspired by flowing string sections in the music. Come ready to sweat!
5. Moroccan ‘Ahwash’ dance: (3 hours)
Performed in the High Atlas Mountains and particularly in the Ouarzazate area, the ahwash dance takes place around a fire. Male participants sit in a circle playing wooden bendir frame drums, while the women stand motionless in a larger circle. As the rhythm of the drums increase the women start swaying with the beat. Learn about the connection between music, spirit, and movement in this traditional dance. This workshop is open to frame drummers and dancers. Please bring a frame drum if you have one.
6. Tunisian dance: (3 hours)Dancing in Tunisia is characterized by a multitude of forms at festive events, and is distinguished mainly by its staccato dynamic and hip movement. The wide variety of dances performed by the Tunisians likely reflects the migration flows that have traversed the country throughout the centuries. In the southern islands of Kerkennah and Djerba, the dance is often performed with a clay water pot balanced on the head. These traditional dancers wear unique garments which will be discussed in a short lecture at the beginning of class.
III. DESERT DANCES:
1. ‘Nayli’ dance of the Ouled Nayl: (3 hours)
“The dancer does not walk she slides along.” Algerian dancers of the Ouled Nayl tribe have fascinated and inspired the West for more than a century, and became known worldwide through many Western written accounts, Orientalist paintings, and a huge number of “Colonial” postcards. In the past 50 years their dance traditions have disappeared, in part because the West could not recognise that there was a difference between prostitution as a profession, and the empowering Algerian tradition which gave the young girls of the Ouled Nayl a temporary freedom. This Nayli tradition started with female children learning the dance from their mothers; at puberty, the girl would leave her home village, making her way to other oases in order to start a new life while travelling and performing, getting paid with jewellery and living a life of a courtesan. When she had earned enough, she would return to her home oasis, look for a husband, marry and end her professional career after which she hands down her dancing skills to her own daughter.
Amel TAFSOUT has conducted extensive research about these famous dancers and published an article about their powerful, grounded, and religious dance; she will share not only the movement, but also the history and culture of these iconic dancers who have so influenced Western forms of Oriental dance.
2. Guedra: (2 hours)
The Guedra is a traditional circle dance that belongs to theBlue People from the West Sahara, Mauritania into Morocco and Algeria. 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 the ceremonial adornment and hand gestures that honor the elements. For the Blue People, Guedra is a ritual whose aim is to envelope all present with good energy, peace, and spiritual love, which is transmitted from the depths of the Guedra's ( meaning the dancer) soul via her fingers and hands. Students will learn the movements, gestures, rhythms, and chanting of this incredible ritual, and should bring blue fabric or veils.
3. Moroccan ‘Houara’ dance: Dance of the Rooster and Hen: (2 hours)
In the South of Agadir lies the towns of Inezgane and Taroundant, homes of the Houara tribe and the origins of this spectacular dance which represents the struggle between the Human being (represented by a male dancer) and Nature (symbolized by a female dancer). The acrobatic movements resemble the courtship fight of a rooster and hen, and are accompanied by loud singing, rapid bursts of footwork, turns, and finally partner dance. Students will learn the male and female movements and vocalization of this dance, and should bring a veil or length of fabric.
4. Mauritanian dance: ( 2 hours)
Mauritania lies at the point where Arab and African cultures meet; it is the link between the countries of North and West Africa. This has given it a special character, with its wonderful ethnic diversity reflected in its unique culture. Mauritania has a rich tradition of games, dances and music, encapsulating the marriage between Arab and African cultures. The country’s name comes from its dominant ethnic group, the Moors, and it is their nomadic traditions and culture that give Mauritania its unique character. One of the country’s great music aficionados says, “music is the only thing we have ever taken the time to develop”.
Amel will introduce you to the dance steps and movements using a veil. Please bring a veil.
5. ‘Nuba’: A Dance Journey through the Maghreb
(Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco). (3/4 hours)
In this workshop Amel Tafsout will introduce the various dance movements that are specific to each country, such as the Tunisian hip twists, the Moroccan hips and belly drops the Algerian hip figures of eights and various steps. She will teach the similarities and differences in each dance, talk about costuming, give some background of each dance and teach some sequences for each style.
IV. OTHER ETHNIC ORIENTAL DANCE AND CULTURAL TOPICS
Khaleejy dance form the Gulf (2 hours)
Khaleeji is the Arabic term for “Gulf”, and in context it relates to the Persian Gulf, also called the Arabian Gulf. The term also refers to the people, music and customs of the Arab Gulf States, and a small part of Iraq. There are several distinctive dance styles in the region, which will be explored in class. Many Oriental dancers focus on a particular women’s dance done with a large decorative dress, called a Thobe An Nashaal, but the dances have influences from other regions, brought in from trade and slavery.
Egyptian Nubian dance (2 hours)
Nubian Dance or Raks at Balad el-Aman (Dance of Nubia) comes from Nubia in Upper Egypt, and is performed at social events. The dance is improvisational in nature, and the dancer draws from a variety of characteristic movements with which to interpret the music and show mastery of the rhythm. Students will learn a selection of these movements, that include footwork in releve, an upright posture, and swinging arms, as well as choreography featuring a rhythm typically played for a person only once in a lifetime: at the occasion of a first wedding. Class time will include a short lecture about the bright and ornamented clothing that the performer wears. This is a fun, fast paced dance, so come to enjoy the spirit of Nubian people!
Sacred Sufi Healing: (5 hours)
Raised in Algeria, and born of a lineage of spiritual Sufi traditions, Amel grew up in the traditional healing practices of her native country. Her extensive research in dance anthropology and Sufi perspective has led her to develop her own distinctive healing practice which can be experienced in a workshop format. Amel’s work unites traditional healing methods, a lifetime of training in various healing practices, and knowledge of music and dance into a sacred dance and healing experience that is unparalleled.
Students will experience sound healing and breathwork, Zikr, whirling, and trance that ends with Zar-Hadra, an ancient healing ceremony performed in the Middle East and Africa. Her research in dance anthropology focuses on a culture’s art and ritual expressed in dance as well as a healing form. Please wear comfortable clothing, preferably white and bring a small blanket and a long shawl for the workshop.
Roots of Tribal (2 hours)
This workshop will introduce basic movements and steps, appropriate posture, arm - hand positions, hip combination and hip accentuation useful for North African Maghreb dance. Amel Tafsout will focus on drills to increase the feeling of the North African rhythms, enabling working in duets in a journey through the Maghreb
Dancing with the Tambourine ( 3 hours)
Tambourine dance is as ancient as the existence of the world, whose exalted purpose serves to let go and forget about a troubled past. In a technical sense, the use of the tambourine helps dancers to be more aware of moving to the rhythm by absorbing the vibration of sounds in her whole body. Amel Tafsout will teach students to use various sounds and techniques while dancing. Please bring a tambourine!
Song immersion, Storytelling and Interpretation in dance (3 hours)
Amel will introduce Maghrebi storytelling, and the ways one can use hand gestures, facial expression, and emotions to express a story or a song. In this workshop, she will share special popular North African songs, such as “Ya RayaH”, “Sidi Mansour”, or others which will be explored in depth. Students will learn the lyrics, and underlying rhythm as well as the cultural and social significance to create a solid foundation of the music before dancing to it. This intensive workshop will culminate in a complete understanding of all facets of this folkloric way of perpetuating cultural stories.
Costuming in the Maghreb (3 hours)
Amel will introduce the various costumes used in the Maghreb, such as the Berber Amazigh dresses and head dresses, Andalusian styles as well as the Sahraoui Desert wrapping. She will also explain the history of the costuming and how they evolved during the centuries. Please bring fabric such a saree (or 10 yards ).
Frame Drumming, singing and dance: (3 hours)
TOPICS FOR LECTURES AND PRESENTATIONS: (2 hours)
1. Professional Female Performers in the Maghreb
2. Andalusian Music and Dance
3. The Ritual in Dance
4. Sufism in North Africa
5. North African Sufi Brotherhoods
6. Sufism and women
7. Beauty Care in the Maghreb
8. Arabic symbols, such as the ‘KHAMSA’ or the Hand of Fatima
9. Wedding ceremonies
10. Arab women in History
11. Legendary North African women
12. Al Kahina: Berber Queen and Warrior Priestess: History and Legend.
13. Algerian Costumes and their connection to Mediterranean costumes.
14. Tribal marks in the Amazigh-Berber culture