Page 341 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Morocco

ENTER T AINMENT IN MOROC C O  339

Feast Days and Festivals
Prominent among the many
feast days that punctuate
the year (see pp42–5) are the
moussems. These large popular
gatherings usually focus on the
tomb of a saint (see pp202–203),
and are spectacular shows with
traditional dance performances.
Certain festivals, such as
the Marrakech Folk Festival
in June, draw dancers and
musicians from all over Morocco,
and the Gnaoua Music Festival
in Essaouira, also in June, offers
high-quality performances. Other
festivals include the Sacred
World Music Festival held in Fès
in June and the Rabat Cultural
Festival in July. Fantasias (pp38–9)
are typically high-spirited
Moroccan shows. They are
performed most famously at A group performing at the Festival of Andalusian Music in Fès
the moussem of Moulay
Abdallah, which takes place Shows and Concerts hearing Moroccan music can
near El-Jadida in August. Large hotels often organize choose between raï, which has
The types of dances Moroccan evenings giving roots in Bedouin music and
vary between the different visitors a chance to see whose star performer is Cheb
Berber and rural tribes. Often authen tic popular perfor mances Amrou; Gnaoua music, which
per formed are the ahouach of of music and dance. Mustapha Baqbou has taken to
the High Atlas and Ouarzazate, Certain restaurants also put many European jazz festivals;
and the ahidou of the Middle on performances of folk dance and the nostalgic chants of
Atlas, in which men and women in the evenings. At Chez Ali in Andalusian music. Many such
take part. The guedra, a dance Marrakech, on certain evenings concerts are organized by
from the Guelmim and Sahara, guests are served their meal various cultural institutes.
is performed by one woman in a tent while a fantasia is Ask the local tourist office
within a circle of musicians. performed. Those interested in for information.
DIRECTORY
Cinemas Rex TANGIER Mohamed, Belvédère.
Corner of Avenue Tel (0522) 40 99 45.
CASABLANCA Mohammed Es-Slaoui & Le Paris
11 Rue de Fès.
IMAX Morocco Mall Boulevard Mohammed V. Tel (0539) 32 43 30. RABAT
Boulevard de la Tel (0535) 62 24 96. ∑ leparis-tanger.com Salle Haj
Corniche. MARRAKECH Rif: Cinémathèque Mohammed Bahnini
Tel 0801 00 12 30. de Tanger 1 Rue Gandhi.
Colisée Tel (0537) 20 94 94.
Megarama Boulevard M. Zerktouni. Grand Socco.
Boulevard de la Tel (0524) 44 88 93. Tel (0539) 93 46 83. Théâtre Mohammed V
Corniche. Megarama ∑ cinematheque Charia al Mansour
detanger.com
Tel 0890 10 20 20. Jardins de L’Aguedal. Eddahbi.
∑ megarama.ma Tel 0890 10 20 20. Theatres Tel (0537) 70 73 00.
Rialto ∑ megarama.ma AGADIR Shows
35 Rue Med Qorri. RABAT
Tel (0522) 26 26 32. Théâtre Municipal Chez Ali
Renaissance de Plein Air After Pont de Tensift,
FÈS 266 Avenue Mohammed V. Avenue Mohammed V. Marrakech.
Megarama Tel (0537) 73 80 49. CASABLANCA Tel (0524) 30 77 30.
60 Avenue Hassan II. Salle du 7eme Art Théâtre Mohammed VI
Tel 0890 10 20 20. Avenue Allal Ben Abdellah. Corner Blvd Mohammed V
∑ megarama.ma Tel (0537) 70 29 40. & Rue Lieut. Mahroud

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