Ahwach, a World Folklore
FOLKLORE Ahwach is the name of the dance of the chleuh regions, ie the tachelhiyt zone (the Anti-Atlas, the High Western Atlas, the High Atlas and leaving from the Demnat city to the Asif Mgun)
The villagers practice it and organize it voluntarily. The themes treated in these dances often touch on fertility love and pride.
Let's talk about Ahwach of Ourzazate. Presented mainly by "Ait Wawzgit". It is a mixed dance (man and woman) with a rhythm and a fight between women and men with the words, called the msaq.
The group consists of a singing conductor or a Raïss (in Arabic), an improviser or two, a group of drummers and two groups of male and female dancers.
As for the dance, the men are on one side and the women on the other side, it must be said that this separation is due to the jealousy of the husbands of the dancers.
At first it is a vertical dance and on the spot, where women advance their ponds while lowering their heads down looking at the chest. And in a second step they move the whole body forward, which produces a rejection of the head back, and so on.
As for the men, they are seated at the fire playing on their traditional instruments called in Arabic "Bendir". And it is there that the Rais throws a cry to heaven announcing both the theme and the preparation to the dance.
The style of dress is an unavoidable detail to give the dance all its charm and its perfection. But in general, the clothing style of the inhabitants of the region and known by the plurality of colors, as well as the diversity of accessories and exaggeration in makeup. (for women).
As for dancing, women often wear long white silk dresses, with a colored top (green, red, pink, yellow), with strange hairstyles making their hair voluminous, a makeup exaggerated, but natural ...
The men are always dressed in jellaba and white chechs on their heads, and babouche save yellow.
The chief of the singing often dressed differently, either he wears a Jellaba with another color or he puts what is called in Arabic "selham".
The words will never describe the moment of beauty and perfection of the elements constituting this folk art (dress, words, rhythm, pats ...). A real work of art, made of spontaneity, culture and nature.