For all bellydancers eager to know everything there is to know about our art: Morocco is truly a wealth of information. If you are so lucky as to attend one of her workshops or seminars, you can virtually ask her ANYTHING and she will know and always take your question seriously.
A woman to whom we can never fully admire and give the fullest of tribute for her countless efforts to EDUCATE us on the history, mystery and longevity of a dance deeply steeped in traditions dating back thousands of years. With deep bows of love and respect ALLways
Thank you so very, very much. WHAT a wonderful thing to read the last thing of the old year - makes all the hassles/ problems inherent in this career well worth it!
Morroco, soy Zamira de El Salvador, hace 5 dias estuve con usted en Panama y sus workshop fueron maravillosos, la admiro y respeto porque usted si es una diva de la danza oriental y doy gracias a Dios por haber tenido la oportunidad de aprender con usted que es realmente una leyenda y un ser unico. Besitos y abrazos desde El Salvador.
I had the HONOR of having my toukis kicked by this artist for a solid week of summer camp in a class full of professionals. I am an amateur at best, yet 10 years after spending that week learning from her, her instruction has stuck with me. I've yet to find a warm up routine that compared.
The music is "Bahlam Beek" from Hossam Ramzy's "Tribute to Abdel Halim Hafez" CD on ARC records. The drum solo was recorded live, during one of my shows in Cairo in 1984 ...
Beautiful. I danced at your Hafla with Diane Giordano both of us from Carmel, New York in the 80's. You had Eddie the Sheik Have the pics. Brings me back. I'm still dancing. Stay well. Judy Schulman
This video just proves that bigger, faster, stronger isn't always better. You're so graceful and just exude joy when you dance. :D Hopefully I'll be able to say the same after 57 years of dancing!
First time I’ve ever seen you dance. Beautiful & elegant. Taking your workshop in NYC was one of my favorites. Even bought my first costume from it & learned so much. Thank you for your gifts Morocco. 🌹
I love the way the drum solo segues back into Bahlam Beek at the end. And I love your dress! Thanks for your teaching and inspiration this year, and hugs to you from Wales! This brightened up my otherwise wet, windy and dreary day!
THIS is the kind of dancing that inspired me to learn this art. I am SO lucky to have been able to study with Morocco early on in my training. She's an amazing dancer and an incredible teacher -- and a wonderful person. I owe her so much. Our whole dance community owes her so much! There is a little bit of Morocco in the hearts and souls of so many of us dancers: )
Hi Morocco, I was very fortunate to attend your seminar held in Melbourne last year and loved all your stories. I was very inspired. I have been involved with raqs shaki now for 3 years and love everything about it. I hope to see you back in Melbourne again soon :) Nikki
Im not exactly sure but I think she is the same age as my teacher Katarina Burda and she is 65. Someone out there might know. She is fab. I have attended several of her classes and was always impressed by her traditional feel and use of body.
Those are OLD Turquoise zills - 2 are gold-plated for a slightly higher pitch on the #2 hand. In larger venues I prefer to use 2 different tones of Saroyan zills (lower pitch on #1 hand, higher on #2 hand) or actual Zildjians. Peace, Morocco
Ohmigod!!! Thank you for posting this Aunt Rocky! As a woman of color who's being learning Oriental Dance for five years, I can't tell you how much you've been an inspiration for me to continue learning
Dear Morocco, As someone very, very new to Oriental Dance, I just want to say what an inspiration you are! I hope desperately that I can move to New York, not just for graduate schooling ,but for a change to learn so much about the dance, and attend your workshops or seminars!
Awsome! great to see you dancing, Rocky! Hard to believe that the first and last time I saw you dance live was thirty some years ago at a "Bellython" for Muscular Dystrophy at the Darvish....you made an indelible impression then with your spirit as well as your dancing...that same spirit is here in spades...the true spirit of a dancer, something very real, deep, natural and not at all forced...blessings to you! --R
this is fantastic Rocky...always love watching this video. I was trying to find here another nice interpretation of Bahlam Beek, but yours is the only one I like
No - but I've been all over that beautiful country many times since 1963 & was the choreographer for Nabil Ayouch's latest film (set in Cairo & NY, but filmed in Casa & Rabat). I was given that name by the woman who owned the first Middle Eastern restaurant I danced in (1960) because she said I look Moroccan. I do. 8-) FYI -Sharki is not Schikhatt... Aunt Rocky
I remember this choreo from the weeklong years ago! All that shimmying! There is no better ziller-dancer than Aunt Rocky. And I'll chime in that the weeklong is an AMAZING learning experience, not just about dance movements, but also the history.
Thank you SO much! FWIW, my book : "You Asked Aunt Rocky: Answers & Advice About Raqs Sharqi & Raqs Shaabi" is at the publisher's & will be out late September/ early October.
Thank you! FWIW, I am writing that FULL warmup (you got a sort of condensed version) down in a syllabus right now - almost finished with the text, gotta do the photos next. One of my foreign dance communities insisted on it, for their Certification standards ... Woo-woo
Yes - I often do it as a duet with Tarik (& love doing it with him!), but I first choreographed it as a solo ... did it solo here because it was one of the dances I taught at my last weeklong & was repeating it for my darling duckies, so they wouldn't forget it. SO great to hear from so many fab dance sisters & brothers! Hugs & Kisses, Aunt Rocky
I just found my inspiration... Beautiful dance, beutiful lady, full of passion... This video is what I needed to continue learning this dance. Thank you for posting.
@Ritabellydance Thank you so much! I don't sell dresses at all, BUT I had that one custom made by Madamwe Noussa at my dear friend, Mahmoud abdel Ghaffar's store, al Wikalah, in Khan el Khalili in Cairo. Madame Abla used to make all my costumes, but she died 3 years ago. Mme Noussa learned from her.
@MoroccoCasbah Ms. Morocco, You are a true gem that sparkles so brightly. The vast knowledge of Oriental Dance that you have is quite amazing. A beacon to all who wish to know all about this artform. You are such an incredibly gifted and talented woman who has every right to be called a legend. Peace and Blessings to you, madam.
Very sorry you couldn't get there or to Perth - both seminars total successes (thank you Paola & Keti & you wonderful ladies who came!) "Gallop" is wrong/ torture. Scroll down to the comment I wrote 4 months ago on sagat! If we're in the same place, ask & I'll SHOW you!
Thank you SO much! I don't know if I'll get back to Oz - I sure hope so. If enough dancers tell the sponsors they want me, it happens.... Keep dancing!
!Muchisimas gracias, Estrella! ?Donde estas? Quizas estare en tu vecindario algun dia o tu viendras al mio. & thank all you posters for your wonderful, kind comments. Hugs, Morocco Aunt Rocky
Grace and timing, fluend movements and the feeling for the right movement in the right moment - that is what makes a real good dancer. Watch those popular dancers, you can exchange them one with another and nobody will mention it - they are beautiful, gracefull and well trained but the have no personality, the are bellydance pin ups. Watch Morocco, Lucy, Nagua and all the others and you will see the difference!
Dear Morocco, it's been a long time since I've studied oriental Dance with you in New York.Little did I know then that I would be spending my life living in Israel...This video is beautifull and it's great to see that your still going strong. sending my love Sonja Jacob
I watch this again from time to time, to refresh my eyes from all those phony and inadequate performances from today's so-called "artists" and so-called "stars"
OMG! I *so*remember your wonderful mom! The problem is that videotape was only first used in mid 1965 & there were no so-called portable videocams till 1978 (JVC). I wish there was a video of yourmom too *&* I am planning on posting more videos ...
@helennais !Hola Ema! Muchisisimas gracias. Todavia es el unico video que tuve preparado. Tal cuando termino escribiendo mi libre, hare otros... con carino, Rocky
It was a pleasure to watch this video. I've never had the honor to see you perform before now. I tell ya... If you weren't wearing zills I would've thought they were part of the song! Thank you so very much for posting this and allowing people like me to see why you're one of the best known Oriental dancers in the world.
Muchisimas gracis. Fue un placer muy grande para mi tambien y espero tener la oportunidad de bailar contigo otra vez. ?Quizas en el DR en marzo? Abrazos desde Nueva York, Morocco
Don't do "gallop" - it's inadvertent torture if done for more than a minute & not musical. I don't use R&L - some are lefties: I use 1 & 2 the stronger hand is the "steady" #1, the other is the filler-in #2 1 of my "basics" (lots more than that) is: 1221 1221 1221221221 "2" is "stuttered"-NOT two separate touches-done in the same amount of time as 121 121 121 121 Breaks the "torture" 121-121-121-121 becomes If we're in the same place, ask & I'll SHOW you!
I thoroughly enjoyed your refined elegance and precision with every move that you made! Captivating & lovely; I must show my Mom, Electra "Karamargin"(Brashears, now), she will be 80 this October & studied with you in the seventies in N.Y. with many other great belly dancers! I only wish that we had videos of my Mom! Post more, Morocco!
VERY funny! FYI 6/8 is not the *only* Moroccan rhythm & if you read the article "Loving Remembrance" on my website, you'd know when, how & why I was given that name. 8-) Morocco a/k/a Aunt Rocky
Morocco, your sagat playing rocks! Do you put extra beats into your "gallop" pattern (e.g. the one most people play as RLR RLR RLR)? It sounds like there is an extra something to it. Sedonia
Thank you all SO much! After all these years/ experience, I've found that one brain - especially in a female head - in more than enough.(big grin!) Use the castanet technique as a clue in my cymbal playing ... Aunt Rocky
For all bellydancers eager to know everything there is to know about our art: Morocco is truly a wealth of information. If you are so lucky as to attend one of her workshops or seminars, you can virtually ask her ANYTHING and she will know and always take your question seriously.
One of the best teachers I have ever had
from 2002-2005 when I lived in NY!
I miss NY & my dance classes
Her Majesty Queen of Raks finally found her way to UA-cam! Happy to see you here, Rocky. What a fabulous performance!
A woman to whom we can never fully admire and give the fullest of tribute for her countless efforts to EDUCATE us on the history, mystery and longevity of a dance deeply steeped in traditions dating back thousands of years. With deep bows of love and respect ALLways
Thank you so very, very much. WHAT a wonderful thing to read the last thing of the old year - makes all the hassles/ problems inherent in this career well worth it!
Morroco, soy Zamira de El Salvador, hace 5 dias estuve con usted en Panama y sus workshop fueron maravillosos, la admiro y respeto porque usted si es una diva de la danza oriental y doy gracias a Dios por haber tenido la oportunidad de aprender con usted que es realmente una leyenda y un ser unico.
Besitos y abrazos desde El Salvador.
You need to post more videos of you! You were my teacher years ago and you are just incredible! This one does not do you justice! You are incredible!
What a pleasure to see this rhythmic fluidity and grace. Thank you.
Tracy
I had the HONOR of having my toukis kicked by this artist for a solid week of summer camp in a class full of professionals. I am an amateur at best, yet 10 years after spending that week learning from her, her instruction has stuck with me. I've yet to find a warm up routine that compared.
The music is "Bahlam Beek" from Hossam Ramzy's "Tribute to Abdel Halim Hafez" CD on ARC records. The drum solo was recorded live, during one of my shows in Cairo in 1984 ...
Beautiful. I danced at your Hafla with Diane Giordano both of us from Carmel, New York in the 80's. You had Eddie the Sheik Have the pics. Brings me back. I'm still dancing. Stay well. Judy Schulman
This video just proves that bigger, faster, stronger isn't always better. You're so graceful and just exude joy when you dance. :D
Hopefully I'll be able to say the same after 57 years of dancing!
It is always a pleasure to see you dance, one of the most dedicated and knowledgeable teachers that I have the pleasure to meet and admire.
What a wonderful surprise & to get/ read first thing in the morning! Thank you so very much.
Watching her makes me so happy. She truly gives joy to hearts and eyes, ya ma sha' Allah!
Amazing! Would love to see more of Morocco dancing!
First time I’ve ever seen you dance. Beautiful & elegant. Taking your workshop in NYC was one of my favorites. Even bought my first costume from it & learned so much. Thank you for your gifts Morocco. 🌹
I love the way the drum solo segues back into Bahlam Beek at the end. And I love your dress! Thanks for your teaching and inspiration this year, and hugs to you from Wales! This brightened up my otherwise wet, windy and dreary day!
Thank you so much for that!
such beauty, such simplicity. Wonderful.
Bless you all & thank you so much!
Morocco
Wonderful dancing!
Thank you for posting this.
Such beautiful and refreshing dance to watch! I really admire and love your dancing! Thanks for sharing!
so incredibly lovely!!!!
I'm blushing! Thank you...
THIS is the kind of dancing that inspired me to learn this art. I am SO lucky to have been able to study with Morocco early on in my training. She's an amazing dancer and an incredible teacher -- and a wonderful person. I owe her so much. Our whole dance community owes her so much! There is a little bit of Morocco in the hearts and souls of so many of us dancers: )
Hi Morocco, I was very fortunate to attend your seminar held in Melbourne last year and loved all your stories. I was very inspired. I have been involved with raqs shaki now for 3 years and love everything about it. I hope to see you back in Melbourne again soon :) Nikki
Im not exactly sure but I think she is the same age as my teacher Katarina Burda and she is 65. Someone out there might know. She is fab. I have attended several of her classes and was always impressed by her traditional feel and use of body.
Those are OLD Turquoise zills - 2 are gold-plated for a slightly higher pitch on the #2 hand.
In larger venues I prefer to use 2 different tones of Saroyan zills (lower pitch on #1 hand, higher on #2 hand) or actual Zildjians.
Peace,
Morocco
Thank you so so much! BIG hugs...
Ohmigod!!! Thank you for posting this Aunt Rocky! As a woman of color who's being learning Oriental Dance for five years, I can't tell you how much you've been an inspiration for me to continue learning
Dear Morocco,
As someone very, very new to Oriental Dance, I just want to say what an inspiration you are! I hope desperately that I can move to New York, not just for graduate schooling ,but for a change to learn so much about the dance, and attend your workshops or seminars!
One of the greatest artists of our time. Thank you so much for sharing this art with us.
Awsome! great to see you dancing, Rocky! Hard to
believe that the first and last time I saw you dance live was thirty some years ago at a "Bellython" for Muscular Dystrophy at the Darvish....you made an indelible impression then with your spirit as well as your dancing...that same spirit is here in spades...the true spirit of a dancer, something very real, deep, natural and not
at all forced...blessings to you!
--R
I was at that Darvish event,Great time,all day dance.
this is so beautiful and brings back such wonderful memories. aunt rocky', thank you ...just thank you
this is fantastic Rocky...always love watching this video. I was trying to find here another nice interpretation of Bahlam Beek, but yours is the only one I like
I just saw this. Thank you so very, very much! I'm a Katerina Shereen fan myself ...
Thank you so much!
Amen to that !!!!Well said !!
Aunty Rocky! Please post more vids. I love to watch yoy dance. :)
No - but I've been all over that beautiful country many times since 1963 & was the choreographer for Nabil Ayouch's latest film (set in Cairo & NY, but filmed in Casa & Rabat).
I was given that name by the woman who owned the first Middle Eastern restaurant I danced in (1960) because she said I look Moroccan. I do. 8-)
FYI -Sharki is not Schikhatt...
Aunt Rocky
Thank you SO much!
I remember this choreo from the weeklong years ago! All that shimmying! There is no better ziller-dancer than Aunt Rocky. And I'll chime in that the weeklong is an AMAZING learning experience, not just about dance movements, but also the history.
Thank you SO much! FWIW, my book : "You Asked Aunt Rocky: Answers & Advice About Raqs Sharqi & Raqs Shaabi" is at the publisher's & will be out late September/ early October.
Yes, he IS - not only my student, but my protege & sometimes duet partner & constant PIA. 8-)
Aunt Rocky
Muchisimas gracias! Thank you so much for the lovely compliments ...
Thank you! FWIW, I am writing that FULL warmup (you got a sort of condensed version) down in a syllabus right now - almost finished with the text, gotta do the photos next. One of my foreign dance communities insisted on it, for their Certification standards ... Woo-woo
Thank you SO much, you wonderful posters! Keep on dancing!!!
Hugs & kisses,
Morocco
Morocco is the real deal, polished and powerful as a mature woman and definitely not a 'belly baby'.
Love you Aunty Rocky and hope you are doing well.
Yes - I often do it as a duet with Tarik (& love doing it with him!), but I first choreographed it as a solo ... did it solo here because it was one of the dances I taught at my last weeklong & was repeating it for my darling duckies, so they wouldn't forget it.
SO great to hear from so many fab dance sisters & brothers!
Hugs & Kisses,
Aunt Rocky
Beautiful performance, Rocky.
Silvana
Thank you Silvana +Tracy Everitt - so glad you enjoyed it!
Best of the best
I just found my inspiration... Beautiful dance, beutiful lady, full of passion... This video is what I needed to continue learning this dance. Thank you for posting.
Love the zills!
BEAUTIFUL! I could watch for-EVER! Thank you a big hug from an Ecuadorean!
@Ritabellydance
Thank you so much! I don't sell dresses at all, BUT I had that one custom made by Madamwe Noussa at my dear friend, Mahmoud abdel Ghaffar's store, al Wikalah, in Khan el Khalili in Cairo. Madame Abla used to make all my costumes, but she died 3 years ago. Mme Noussa learned from her.
You didn't watch the whole thing, didja? It's 7 minutes into the dance - the exact drum solo I taught youse guys at Raks LA.
Hugs,
Aunt Rocky
Just finished watching the entire clip...she rocks!!
Thank you & bless you! Never stop dancing - it's what makes the rest endurable ... Luv, Aunt Rocky
just wow!
@MoroccoCasbah Ms. Morocco, You are a true gem that sparkles so brightly. The vast knowledge of Oriental Dance that you have is quite amazing. A beacon to all who wish to know all about this artform. You are such an incredibly gifted and talented woman who has every right to be called a legend. Peace and Blessings to you, madam.
Very sorry you couldn't get there or to Perth - both seminars total successes (thank you Paola & Keti & you wonderful ladies who came!)
"Gallop" is wrong/ torture. Scroll down to the comment I wrote 4 months ago on sagat!
If we're in the same place, ask & I'll SHOW you!
You're amazing Morocco!!!! LOVED your workshop this past weekend!!!!
Thank you SO much! I don't know if I'll get back to Oz - I sure hope so. If enough dancers tell the sponsors they want me, it happens....
Keep dancing!
!Muchisimas gracias, Estrella!
?Donde estas? Quizas estare en tu vecindario algun dia o tu viendras al mio.
& thank all you posters for your wonderful, kind comments.
Hugs,
Morocco
Aunt Rocky
Lovely dancing as always - thanks for posting it!
Grace and timing, fluend movements and the feeling for the right movement in the right moment - that is what makes a real good dancer. Watch those popular dancers, you can exchange them one with another and nobody will mention it - they are beautiful, gracefull and well trained but the have no personality, the are bellydance pin ups. Watch Morocco, Lucy, Nagua and all the others and you will see the difference!
Wow! Now you made me all teary-eyed. Thank you SO much!
Dear Morocco,
it's been a long time since I've studied oriental Dance with you in New York.Little did I know then that I would be spending my life living in Israel...This video is beautifull and it's great to see that your still going strong.
sending my love
Sonja Jacob
You are so beautiful, Aunt Rocky!
Excellent -always the Best of the best!
@MoroccoCasbah You truly are the best there is at what you do. Your performance in this video is like a work of art brought to life. Great work.
I watch this again from time to time, to refresh my eyes from all those phony and inadequate performances from today's so-called "artists" and so-called "stars"
@MoroccoCasbah you are an inspiration to me. Respectfully, Shamiss
OMG! I *so*remember your wonderful mom! The problem is that videotape was only first used in mid 1965 & there were no so-called portable videocams till 1978 (JVC). I wish there was a video of yourmom too *&* I am planning on posting more videos ...
AUNT ROCKY!! a national treasure!! xxxooo
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ❤️
Thank you for posting! Another to subscribe to, for sure.
Thank you for your dance! I was once at your workshop with zills on AWS - it was cool!! You are wonderful!
I love you Rocky!!!! When are u coming back to Richmond, VA? You are wonderful!!!!
BatSheva
@helennais
!Hola Ema!
Muchisisimas gracias. Todavia es el unico video que tuve preparado. Tal cuando termino escribiendo mi libre, hare otros...
con carino,
Rocky
It was a pleasure to watch this video. I've never had the honor to see you perform before now. I tell ya... If you weren't wearing zills I would've thought they were part of the song!
Thank you so very much for posting this and allowing people like me to see why you're one of the best known Oriental dancers in the world.
@335devil Thank you SO much & your comment is an inspiration to ME too!
Maybe that's because the country took the name first??? 8-) THANK YOU for your compliment!
"I don't use R&L - some are lefties: I use 1 & 2"
Which is *much* appreciated by southpaws (like me).
WoW!!! Nice!! I enjoyed watching you enjoying!!
I'm very excited that your coming to Georgia. I can't wait to meet you and learn from you.
Muchisimas gracis. Fue un placer muy grande para mi tambien y espero tener la oportunidad de bailar contigo otra vez. ?Quizas en el DR en marzo?
Abrazos desde Nueva York,
Morocco
Don't do "gallop" - it's inadvertent torture if done for more than a minute & not musical.
I don't use R&L - some are lefties: I use 1 & 2
the stronger hand is the "steady" #1, the other is the filler-in #2
1 of my "basics" (lots more than that) is: 1221 1221 1221221221
"2" is "stuttered"-NOT two separate touches-done in the same amount of time as 121 121 121 121
Breaks the "torture" 121-121-121-121 becomes
If we're in the same place, ask & I'll SHOW you!
Aunty Rocky,
Post more videos, please please, pretty please!
I love watching you dance.
Love, love , love your passion! You are an inspiration to everyone!
Dumnezeu sa va dea sanatate! :)
I thoroughly enjoyed your refined elegance and precision with every move that you made! Captivating & lovely; I must show my Mom, Electra "Karamargin"(Brashears, now), she will be 80 this October & studied with you in the seventies in N.Y. with many other great belly dancers! I only wish that we had videos of my Mom! Post more, Morocco!
I hope we can all danse so well at 64!
Wow, this was uploaded in 2007 ? I have searched Morocco so many times and this never came up, thanks for sharing.
VERY funny! FYI 6/8 is not the *only* Moroccan rhythm & if you read the article "Loving Remembrance" on my website, you'd know when, how & why I was given that name. 8-)
Morocco a/k/a Aunt Rocky
How about posting your appearance s on Carson etc.would love to see again.
Don't even know if one exiata. That was in July of 1964, with Bob Newhart & there was another, with Joey Bishop in 1972...
Morocco, your sagat playing rocks! Do you put extra beats into your "gallop" pattern (e.g. the one most people play as RLR RLR RLR)? It sounds like there is an extra something to it. Sedonia
Thank you all SO much!
After all these years/ experience, I've found that one brain - especially in a female head - in more than enough.(big grin!)
Use the castanet technique as a clue in my cymbal playing ...
Aunt Rocky
No - actually I'm 67 ... but who's counting???
Giggles from Cairo,
Morocco
I'll be teaching in Perth again the last weekend in September & Melbourne the first weekend in October. See you there??
Hugs from Wales,
Rocky
Thank you SO much! I don't know HOW to do it yet, but I'm going to try & upload a full dance from the WAMEDA show in Perth.