The Tuaregs of Morocco

Trance dances: mysteries of the Guedra of the Tuareg.

Southern Morocco is the home of the Guedra dance, Morrocos most known Tribal Dance or ritual dance. Specially the city of Goulimine is known for Guedra shows but became too much touristic in that respect.

The origins of the guedra is hidden is a distant past. On the trance rhythms of the tbol - the big drum or rather some sort of big cauldron covered with goats or camel skin which is painted with geometrical figures in henna or other natural paint. Guedra is also the name of this large drum used to beat the rhythms of the dance. Female dancers make mesmerizing movements with the arms while swaying their heads from left to right. It's a tuareg blessing dance done on the knees where the dancers can get in a sort trance. Typical for this dance are the flickering movements of the hands which are decorated with henna paintings. The torso makes vertical pulses. Some Guedra dancers move or rather shove in a sort of back and forward movement on their knees over the sand or carpets.

Besides the Guedra dance, Morrocco has many other particular tribal Berber dances such as the Hassada, Houara, Qalaat Mgouna (dance of the bees)and the dance of the Aït Bouguemaz. Other danses like the spectacular gnaoua dance is reserved for men only. The North African Tribal Berber population is called Amazigh in Berber language.