Ahidous Dance

Ahidous is the collective dance of the Middle Atlas Amazigh, and the shape of it is a closed or open circle in which men and women stand together shoulder to shoulder, pressed close, moving as one body with small steps and a shoulder and torso motion that builds slowly and accelerates. Bendir frame drums set the pulse, tuned by warming the skin at a fire. The sung part is the substance: a poet improvises a line, the line is taken up by the group, and another poet answers it - so the dance is a public exchange of composed verse, often on love, honour, weather, migration or satire of somebody present, and reputations are made on it. Timing and unison are valued over display; nobody solos. It is registered as part of Morocco's intangible heritage and is performed at weddings, moussems and at the Marrakech popular arts festival.

What you actually see

• A mixed close circle - men and women shoulder to shoulder moving as one.
• Improvised verse - poets exchanging composed lines that the group takes up.
• Bendir drums - frame drums warmed at a fire to tune them.
• Unison over display - collective timing valued and no solo performance.

When to go

Summer for festivals and weddings. An evening.

Honest expectations

The best performances are at private celebrations rather than staged shows. The poetry is in Tamazight and its point is largely lost without the language. Festival versions are shortened. Photographing participants needs asking.

Nearby

Khenifra, Azrou and the Middle Atlas villages are the tradition's heartland.