Music and Dance

There exists in this part Morocco a tradition of spontaneous and joyous celebration. Everyone sings, chants, drums, dances, plays an instrument and takes part in the very frequent local celebration events and gatherings that always involve music. Some of the performers are semi professional, but generally there is not the big division between the artist and the audience that usually exists in Western performance situations. Visitors at Dar Sidi Bounou who would not normally drum, sing or dance are led into participating in the relaxed  friendly atmosphere. Wonderful musicians and other very creative people have been turning up here by chance and by invitation, and some incredible music making has been the result. This has been going on ever since the beginning of Dar Sidi Bounou. The SAHARA DANCE gatherings in Oct 2009 and 2010 produced the same creative spirit existing in conjunction with a programmed event that included formal teaching situations and workshops, as well as performances and parties where all showed their skills and learned from each other while having fun.

We have a beautiful and decorative Caidal tent which opens on one side to a spectacular desert view of dunes and palms. It has a smooth carpeted floor area of about twelve meters square. It can be sufficiently private to allow for concentration in a workshop situation or opened up to make a performance ’stage’ or a very atmospheric party space. Often in the cool winter evenings after supper we have a big fire on the dune in the the bivouac area. This can be an occasion for some very spontaneous music making under the stars.

We are presently organizing music, dance, and celebration events at Dar Sidi Bounou in connection with Allal MadNomad.

Tribe Zuza Workshop
The Third  SAHARA DANCE GATHERING –  for information contact: allalyamine@hotmail.com I.       Hilary Thacker – Oct 16th – Oct 20th,  2011

www.hilarysbazaar.com

II.      Angela Noble & Judi Freeman – Oct 23rd – Oct 27th,  2011

www.tribezuza.co.uk / www. judaliyoga.com


11.11.11.  WATER IS LIFE, A CELEBRATION – Nov 11th, 2011
Sangaat Institute of London Workshops at DSB – Feb 2012
If you have an activity like Yoga, Circle Dance, Shamanism, Meditation, Therapy, Painting,  etc. or want to celebrate a significant Birthday, Anniversary, Reunion, or present a Seminar, you might like to do it here. If you would like to find out about the local Culture, Cooking, or Languages, we can arrange informal lessons.

If you are interested in Traditional Desert Herbal Medicine or having a pain relieving Hot Sand Hammam, this effective ancient knowledge is still in everyday use.
If our female visitors would like to meet some of the local women to learn something of their lives and ways, and possibly have some Henna Painting or Massage, that can be arranged as well.
If you would like to have an exotic Berber Style Marriage Celebration, a Gnawa Lila Trance, Ceremony or Mechoui Feast, it is possible. But perhaps for a change you would prefer to plan or organize absolutely nothing, except getting here, then just relax, have a delicious meal, put your feet up, and EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. Then just see what eventually turns up, because something usually does.