About MACCLA:
The purpose of the Moroccan American Cultural Center, Los Angeles (MACCLA) is to preserve and foster an understanding of the cross-cultural experiences of the Moroccan American community by embracing the uniqueness and commonalities that are present in both Moroccan and American cultures.
MACCLA's goal is to communicate the importance of embracing diversity while celebrating cultural similarities through educational programs, cultural events, and exhibits.
Locations
- Geneva - October 23, 2008
- Los Angeles - November 15, 2008
- New York - November 19, 2008
- Rabat - November 23, 2008
- Paris - November 26, 2008
- Barcelona - December 1, 2008
Performers
- Musicians:
- Ali Alaoui and Moultaqa Salam
- MoMo Loudiyi and LoudOasis
- Fattah Abbou and AZA Band
- A.J. Racy
- Raphael Skouri
- Abderrahim Amrani
- Rashida Tallal
- Sanaa Marahati
- And more...
- blue13 dance company
Principal Dancers: - Kory Keith
- Arun Mathai
- Marisa Cleghorn
- D. Valentine
- Erin Dwyer
- blue13 dance company
Ensemble Dancers: - Tammie Johnston
- TJ Cruz
- Kyrra Richards
- Kelly Allen
- Christopher Fox
- Joelle Cosentino
- Jade Haviland
- Achinta S. McDaniel
MACCLA presents Fez: Queen of Cities
This event is organized in conjunction with the various festivities taking place in Morocco and throughout in the world to celebrate the 1200th Anniversary of the Founding of the city of Fez, headed by Saad Kettani and the Association 1200¸me Anniversaire de la Foundation de la Ville de Fès.
Fez: Queen of Cities is an evening of music and dance in celebration of the 1200th anniversary of the city of Fez, the spiritual and religious center of Morocco. The performance showcases a multi-ethnic cast, with renowned master musicians from Europe, Africa and Asia, and contemporary dancers from Los Angeles.
The musical is an artistic celebration retracing the history of Fez. Home to the world's oldest university and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city flourished as a thriving center of knowledge and culture as a result of the presence of its people from diverse ethnic backgrounds throughout the centuries.
With riveting contemporary dance and a poetic interlacing of diverse traditional musi- cal cultures with contemporary artistry, the performance highlights the role that women have played historically in this unique city.
Vision of Artistic Director and Producer Kamal Oudrhiri, with contemporary dance choreographed by Achinta S. McDaniel of the blue13 dance company, Fez: Queen of Cities will entice you to rediscover the beauty, art and culture of this unique spiritual city.
Performers include master percussionist Ali Alaoui and the Moultaqa Salam Ensemble, Fattah Abbou of AZA Band, MoMo Loudiyi and LoudOasis, and special guests including A.J. Racy, Raphael Skouri, Abderrahim Amrani of the Fez Sufi Brotherhood of the Hamadcha, and two Moroccan Divas, renowned singer Rashida Tallal, with songs from the Hassani tradition from the south of Morocco and Sanaa Marahati with poetic Malhoun music. The performance features dancers from the Venice, CA-based blue13 dance company including blue13 principals Kory Keith as The City of Fez; Arun Mathai as The People of Fez; Marisa Cleghorn as Kenza; D. Valentine as Idriss and Erin Dwyer as Fatima; and ensemble dancers Tammie Johnston, TJ Cruz, Kyrra Richards, Kelly Allen, Christopher Fox, Joelle Cosentino and Jade Haviland.
Fez: Queen of Cities is presented by The Moroccan American Cultural Center of Los Angeles (MACCLA), with the endorsement of the United Nations (UN) in Geneva and United National Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, in association with Gustav E. von Grunebaum Center for Near Eastern Studies (CNES) at UCLA and the Association For 1200 Years of the Foundation of the City of Fez.