« Transe en danse »

Faites nous l’honneur de venir découvrir cette exposition « Transe en danse » lors de l’inauguration qui aura lieu mercredi 3 mars à la galerie Kacimi de Fès.
Ce travail est le fruit d’une rencontre avec le chorégraphe turc Ziya Azazi qui s’est inspiré des danses des Derviches tourneurs..

Une série de photographies centrées sur le mouvement et la couleur ainsi qu’une série de textes poétiques ont été élaborés suite à cette rencontre et vous seront présentés.

(Cette galerie se trouve entre la place de la Résistance que tout le monde connait sous le nom de « la Fiat » et le palais Royal)
Cette inauguration à 18h sera suivi par un concert de pianoforte au Palais Jamaï à 19h
Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Language Course in Fez

The new Darija conversation course with the Arabic Language Institute Fez,(ALIF). The classes are once a week in 6 week blocks and start the 2nd and 3rd of March.

J'ai le plaisir de vous addresser au sujet du cours de conversation en Arabe Marocain (Darija) a l'Institut de Langue Arabe Fes (ALIF). Les cours auront lieu une fois par semaine pour six semaines, commencant le 2 et 3 mars

For more details contact: Jess Stephens - Culture Coordinator - (00 212)06 45 22 32 03


Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Salsa Festival in Marrakesh

2nd International Festival of Salsa in Marrakech

The first edition of the Marrakech International Salsa Festival (SFIM) was a huge success when more than 2000 participants from around the world participated in workshops, performances and large parties! Now a second edition has been announced.

The second edition of SFIM will be held from 1 to 4 October 2009 in Marrakech with a new artistic palette and a program adapted to include some unforgettable moments. The most famous Latino and Salsa dancers in the world will be on hand for 4 days and visitors can take courses in Latin and Salsa dance suitable for all levels. There will be entertainment and dancing throughout the nights in this prestigious and magnificent site - the Palmeraie Golf Palace.

You will find the full programme here. In English, In French

For further information please contact: contact@salsafestival-marrakech.com


Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Casablanca Restaurant - Mystic Garden

Click on image to enlarge

Restaurant Mystic Garden
33, Bd de la corniche
Ain Diab
(en face de tropicana)
Casablanca
Maroc
Tel : 022 798 877 - 060 894 894

Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Gnaoua dance party in Fez riad

On Monday the 28th of May, Riad Zany and Purple Circle Productions will once again produce a concert of Moroccan Music. This time the focus is on Gnaoua - and it will be more of a "dance party" than a concert. Out with the formal chairs in in with a mass of carpets for bare-foot dancing.

Those who would like to attend please email purplecircle.fez@gmail.com and indicate the number of people you are bringing. We will be asking for a donation ( minimum 50 dirhams) to pay the musicians.

It should be another amazing night as it will also be the welcome home party for Zany (Suzanna) who is returning to Fez to cover the Sacred Music Festival. Roll on the 28th!



Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Artist giving lessons in the Fez Medina

During May French artist Anne Deplace is in residence at Riad Laaroussa.

Anne, who has been teaching watercolour technique for more than ten years, is available to give lessons on request.

Available times are between 9 AM to 12 AM and in the afternoon from 2 to 5PM

« Aquarelle » course « la palette Marocaine »




Course of three hours. Material provided.

50€. (for 3 days : 130 €)

Orientalist theme (face, body , street, medina, craftsmen….)

Beginers :

* Colors creation
* Mix and fusion
* Watercolour from sample document

Higher level :

* Portrait seance- working with a live model.
* Drawing in the medina
* Watercolour on site - for exemple Bab Boujloud.

Available for sale at Riad Laaroussa

* Postcards « portraits Marocains ». Watercolours by A. Delplace
* Numbered edition watercolours with number and signed 30X40
* Original watercolour works

For more information and to book a course, contact Riad Laaroussa

LIEU : riad LAAROUSSA - Fes, Maroc
nombre de participants : 4 - 12 personnes/seance
materiel personnel recommande : couleurs primaires minimum, pinceau aquarelle,feuilles Canson 300g

prix : 50 euros la seance
forfait 3 jours : 130 euros
forfait 5 jours : 210 euros

RESERVATION AUPRES DU RIAD LAAROUSSA
www.riad-laaroussa.com (cliquez ici)

Un sejour artistique, authentique.....

cordialement

anne delplace


Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Exhibition at the Orientalist Gallery

The Orientalist Art Gallery in Fes is opening a new exhibition of the work of four painters. The opening night is March 16 at 38 Rue Abdelaziz Boutaleb. The opening is set for 1830. We look forward to seeing you there.

Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Film Festival

Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Fancy a wild night in Casablanca?

Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Writing workshop and Moroccan tour

Kasbahs, Mint Tea and Medinas is a writing study tour of Morocco.

Writing Workshop Details

Morocco Study Tour with writers Beth Yahp and Sandy McCutcheon
23 March – 9 April 2007


Workshop #1A (Casablanca): Introduction to the tour
and Morocco, with our special guest, Moroccan writer
Laila Lalami.

Workshop #1B (Tangier): Theme: Arrivals/ Beginnings;
the Writer's Journal revisited: using your five
senses; Description: Taking a Word Picture.

Workshop #2 (Fez): Theme: The Spectacle, the Art of
Café-Sitting; Capturing a Place in Action; Writing a
Scene; getting under the skin of a place and people.

Workshop #3 (Fez): Theme: Interactions;
Culture/difference; Point of view/ Worldview; Writing
across Borders & Mindsets; mini-journey exercise).

Workshop #4 (Fez): Theme: Special Interest Features:
Writing About Food/ Art/ Craft etc. Finding the focus
that drives a story; How to Travel and Research;
Selection.

Workshop #5 (Fez): Theme: Spirit Places, Spirit
Electricity; Place & Creativity, using vulnerability;
the ethnographic essay; practicing creativity while
you travel and at home.

Workshop #6 (Fez): Music and the Muse: listening &
dialogue; rhythm & music in writing

Workshop #7 (Fez): Theme: Journeys: Melding the Inner
and Outer; Mapping Space & Time, Movement and
Experience; Focus and Trajectory in your writing;
Plot.

Workshop #8 (Marrakech): Theme: Practicalities:
Writing Practice, from first draft to publication;
Writing for an audience; Publishing advice.

If you are interested please contact fes.riad@gmail.com before February 5. Places are limited.



Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

New Show in Casablanca

Restaurant Bar Lounge Mystic Graden
33, Bd de la corniche
Ain Diab
Casablanca
Maroc
Info et Résa: 022 79 88 77


Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Moroccan Arabic lessons in London?

I'm hoping to find a female teacher based in London who can offer Moroccan Arabic lessons. SOAS are not currently running Moroccan Arabic classes and all their tutors are busy.... I'm using the basic course in Arabic MP3 by Richard Harrell and colleagues. OK it's very old and rickety but it seems better than nothing and at least you can hear someone speaking. The problem for me with the idea of on line learning is that I really feel I need help with pronunciation, which you only get face to face or from a tape. I'd be very grateful for any suggestions or recommendations for a teacher.

Contact Lynne: c/- ArtiZany@gmail.com


Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Response to Skierans #3

We have had a couple of dozen responses to the email from Skierans about foreign property agents and, as promised, we are publishing the best of them. You will find Skierans original post here. SKIERANS.

Today we hear from Mike.

I must admit some confusion about Skieirans comments regarding foreign property agents. Skieirans states that "nearly all the intermediaries are English or French or American" but then Skieirans "easily finds a great Moroccan intermediary". If it is that easy to find a Moroccan, is there really a problem with having foreign property agents available for those who want them? The foreign agents still have to rely on local notaires, simsars, and adouls, so they are still contributing to the local economy. What they do provide is a bridge between cultures allowing those unfamiliar with the culture an easier entrance.

That there would be some disconnect between the existance foreign property agents and their desire to help save the medina, is similarly confusing. Is this because the medina can only be saved at the exclusion of foreign settlement? In the absence of more Moroccans returning to and investing in the medina are we to suggest that no foreigners might work toward saving the medina?

In a perfect world it might seem ideal that only Moroccans benefit from selling houses in the Fes medina. To suggest, however, that it is unethical for foreigners living in Fes to benefit from doing so in and of itself defies logic. What is it exactly that is unethical about making money for providing a service? Surely one's nationality alone can't be considered unethical. Skieirans seems merely to discriminate against foreigners based on their nationality.

Even those foreign intermediaries who charge higher fees for services than local ones are not necessarily being unethical. The ethics of those higher fees are open to discussion. Some agencies argue that their additional services, including consultancy and ongoing support and the additional commitment involved therein, warrant the higher fees. It is up to individual prospectives buyers to determine if they want to pay the higher fees to gain additional support and an intermediary they can more readily relate to, or whether they want to go local either to save on fees and to support the indigenous intermediaries.

To suggest that there is something inherently unethical about expatriate property agents operating in Fes strikes me as unnecessarily prejudicial. I wonder if Skieirans has the same feelings about expatriate property agents in other countries as diverse as France, Spain, and Canada?

Mike L.


Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Response to Skierans

While I agree that it's ideal for Moroccans to be restoring the homes
in the medina, unfortunately, most simply do not have the means. Whilst Moroccan simsaars do a good business, many friends who've used one have found that they're shown houses which require years of work, being sold as "restored."

Another issue is the fact that many Moroccans are simply not interested in this kind of work. Take Meknes, for example - home to approximately five riads in a medina that could host a hundred more. Why? Foreigners haven't yet discovered Meknes as a possibility (or have and decided the city isn't lively enough to live in). All of the restored riads/guesthouses in Meknes are Moroccan-owned, and well-done, but five? Why only five? Because well-to-do Meknassis prefer to buy swank apartments in the ville nouvelle!

As I said, ideally, Moroccans would be taking ownership and pride in
the medina. But since few are, is it preferable to just let it decay?

Jillian York.


Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Foreign property agents in the Fez Medina.

A small point I feel moved to make! I already know and love Morocco from the past 27 years, have two half Moroccan sons but until now I didn't have the means to buy a property here for them to have a foot in both their cultures.

I got lucky! So I recently came to Fes to find a small house and discovered that nearly all the intermediaries are English or French or American. I find that weird,
especially as many of them profess to want to "help save the Medina".

I easily found a great Moroccan intermediary who has been brilliant. He's patient, not pushy, totally honest, and he's working hard in his own town,where he was born, to make a living and get a better life. I actually find it pretty unethical for all the foreigners (probably all lovely individuals) to be making money from selling houses in Fes Medina especially when they are probably already making a killing on the Fes property market.

Skieirans.

What do people think? Feel like responding to Skierans? : email ArtiZany@gmail.com and we will publish the best of the responses!


Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news

Circumcision in Morocco

Researcher needs information on circumcision rituals in Morocco. Stories, details, facts - the lot. If you can help, please email me.

Researcher: c/- Artizany@gmail.com

Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news