The Kingdom of Morocco is a very colorful country. Its ancient history, unique culture and a special, unlike anything spirit attract tourists from all over the world. An interesting topic to study may be Moroccan national dances, which vary in great variety. And besides, they are not at all confined to belly dance, contrary to the opinion held among Europeans.
In this article, you will not only learn about the Moroccan dance from Per Gunt, but also get acquainted with the main dance styles of the North African country.
What, where and on what occasions do they dance in Morocco?
The culture of this region is a harmonious mixture of Arab and Berber traditions. Unfortunately, such a thing as traditional Moroccan dance has not been studied much. Dancers and dancers in other countries do not perform with him. But this part of folklore culture is very popular among locals.
Moroccans, especially villagers, dance at major celebrations and major family celebrations. It looks like a colorful performance accompanied by folk music and colorful costumes. A large role is given to traditional musical instruments: tambourines, rattles, castanets, drums, etc.
Each region of Morocco has its own characteristic dances. They are performed differently in the north of the country, in the mountains, in the south, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Let us dwell in detail on certain types of art of rhythmic movement.
Gedra
The dancer, dressed in a long dress and covered with a wide cloth, makes smooth movements with her hands. The whole body is relaxed. The key components that this Moroccan dance has incorporated are the rhythmic movements of the hands and the shaking of hair with the body swaying from side to side. Sometimes a dancer even goes into a trance during a performance.
Shikhat
The style became known outside of Morocco due to its special purpose. This is a wedding dance, and traditionally it is performed by women at a wedding, gathered around the bride. At the same time, they are dressed in bright outfits of a straight cut, and a belt with a fringe is tied around the waist.
When moving, the emphasis is on the stomach, hips and chest. Fast movements, shaking and waved hair are performed.
Haidus
This Moroccan dance resembles a pagan dance. He is certainly accompanied by singing under the tambourines - musical instruments like tambourines.
Both women and men participate in the dance. All participants make wave-like body movements. Haidus is used for a variety of special occasions: congratulations to the newlyweds, meeting dear guests, honoring warriors, etc.
Moroccan Shaabi
It is characterized by rhythmic head movements with a blow of hair down, as well as various types of shakes (shoulders, hips), accompanied by steps and drowning in place. The dancer is dressed in a traditional fitted caftan with long wide sleeves (it is called galabeya).
Moroccan bellidans
Strictly speaking, Moroccan belly dancing does not exist by itself. What is dancing in this country as part of the Bellydance is a mixture of the Lebanese style (in which the movements are undulating and fast, the emphasis is on the hips) and the popular Egyptian style (fast, but at the same time smooth and relaxed). So belly dancing is not even part of Moroccan culture. In this country, it is performed only for tourists, and not always on a professional level.
