Moroccan Arts at The Arabesque Festival in The Kennedy Center

: 03/01/09

After three years preparation and a ten million dollars budge, the Kennedy center for the performing Arts, kicked started its Arabesque Festival; Arts of the Arab World. The opening was a grandiose and a colorful affair. Many members of the Moroccan American Community were present at the opening Gala.
The Kennedy center went out of its way to include the Moroccan American community, as well as other communities from the 22 countries featured in the festival, by including the “Washington Moroccan Club”, “friends of Morocco” among other community organizations that were active in helping to make the festival a success. MoroccoBoard was on hand to cover the events.

The opening show included a 120-member children choir from Syria, Bachir Attar & the Master Musicians of Jajouka from Morocco, Qatar symphony orchestra and Marcel Khalifé and Al Mayadine Ensemble.
Morocco contribution to the festival comprises the following performers: Khalid Benghrib Dance Co. (Morocco), Chabab Al Andalous Rabat Orchestra with Mohammed Bajeddoub and Bahae Ronda, Bachir Attar & the Master Musicians of Jajouka (Morocco), Bnet Houariyat , and hip hop band the Hoba Hoba Spirit .
“ in the following three weeks, we will have more Morocco related events than what we would have, normally, in a single year” said Tim Rush, president of friends-of-Morocco who was garbed in his Moroccan gandoura with a black bow tie.

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Speaking Of Moroccan culture in the US, Washington Moroccan Club Members took advantage of Moroccan Culture Minister, Ms. Touria Jebran, Presence in Washington, DC for a couple of days, and organized a lunch meeting with her, where ideas and future projects relating to Morocco's Cultural activities in the states were broached.
The one piece of information related by the minister that was of particular interest, was that the Morocco Cultural House Project "Maison Du Maroc" was finalized in Spain and similar projects are in the pipeline in Brussels and Paris, among other cities.
She also related that in some countries, community members would make a piece of Land available for "maison du maroc" project, the MRE Ministry would take charge of executing the project and the cultural ministry would work to animate the center.
This raised a host of interesting questions relating to the Moroccan American Community. Would it be able to coordinate and work on a similar project in a major city, here, such as Washington, NYC , Chicago,..etc ?

MoroccoBoard News Service

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Comments (9)

0 #1 COMMENT_TITLE_R E Moroccan Arts at The Arabesque Festival in The Kennedy Center — Abderrahmane Sakkaki 2009-03-03 02:00

I liked the whole atmosphere but I wished it were about Morocco only..

A. SAKKAKI

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0 #2 we don t know a bout this — youness 2009-03-03 16:40

we are Moroccan emigrant in new york we don t know about this thing

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0 #3 COMMENT_TITLE_R E Moroccan Arts at The Arabesque Festival in The Kennedy Center — Guest 2009-03-04 01:09

Why does everybody insist that President Obama speak in Morocco?? I think he should visit the country because USA and Morocco share a very significant historical event: Morocco was the first country to vote in favor of US Independence in 1776..a year later, they signed a treaty of friendship..I think we should promote more events in the US, so that Americans start recognizing the historical ties between the two countries..Havi ng a Moroccan TV channel here in the US will be an effective tool for both the Moroccan-Americ an and Americans alike in all sectors..I am willing to take on this project with the help of some partners.

God bless

A.SakKaki

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0 #4 COMMENT_TITLE_R E Moroccan Arts at The Arabesque Festival in The Kennedy Center — Benkirane Abdellah 2009-03-04 06:42

Well done!It is not as often as we wish to have such events in our area and throughout the rest of the country.We are grateful for this opportunity and we wish to thank all the participants and the people that made this cultural experience possible.I wish i knew about it.Looking forward to attend the next one.
Cordially
Benkirane Abdellah

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0 #5 re: we don t know a bout this — Gabriella 2009-03-05 05:06

Quoting youness:

we are Moroccan emigrant in new york we don t know about this thing

I'm not moroccan but I would have liked to see this..How can I be notified next time ? I am a member of Morocco Board so I do receive some notifications.. ........

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0 #6 watch the train pass by — Samir Labriny 2009-03-05 05:51

Dear friends,
As a member of the Moroccan American community I feel very ashamed to hear about news after facts......I would love to have participated in these events that now and then we hear about them as we watch the train pass by.
Please keep us informed before facts not after...sharing success is great and being part of making it is greater.
Our next generation has so little to offer if truly your efforts are to keep and promote the heritage.....
Sorry for being upfront with these issues but after being a spectator for thirty years and only involved when crisis happens is very shameful.
I am not looking to be voted for popularity as some are craving for but my kids would love to see other kids of same heritage and share a beautiful culture as we know it.
Thank you.

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0 #7 Visit Moroccoboard more often — Mohamed B. 2009-03-05 06:36

This event was posted at MoroccoBoard for about a month before the date.
Please visit more often and check MB's Calendar

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0 #8 guest — h/jaawani 2009-04-17 12:16

Glad to see what's taking place in DC , yet there is plenty of vibes caused by some type of either jealosy or anymosity ??????? i truly hope i'm wrong ,,,,, wish we can do the same in NYC ?????? My friend Samir i feel your pain and beg to let it go for the sake of our kids
thank you

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