Traditions and folk art remain very much alive in Morocco. Music is present everywhere in the country, accompanying festivities and ceremonies. In the towns it has developed into a popular Arabic music. In rural or Berber tribes, music is intimately linked with poetry and dance. The folk dances are magnificent and accompany the tribes' everyday life. These are the most important ones:
- THE AHOUACH in the valley of the High Atlas: The women form a circle around men playing tambourines.
- THE AHAIDOUS of the middle Atlas: Men and women in a circle beat out the rhythm in turn by stamping on the ground.
- THE GUEDRA from southern Morocco:The dancers are on their knees, totally covered by a black veil. A throbbing rhythm builds as the dancer's fingers weave and transfix the audience which goes into a trance.
- THE TISSINT of Tata (from south of Agadir): Women and men dressed in indigo perform the dance of the dagger.
- THE GNAOUAS is of African origin: Against an obsessive rhythm, the dancers rival each other with acrobatic feats.
- THE TASKIOUINE from High Atlas close to Ouarzazate: A dance of warriors, powerful and virile. Dressed in white tunies, a powder flask on their shoulders, the dancers beat out the rhythm with their feet and clap their hands energically.
- THE KELAA M'GOUNA - not to be missed during the Rose Festival every year during the month of May.
- AI AÏTA, rural art, authentic art rural from the valleys and the mountains which accompanies wedding, moussems and popular festivities.
