Spotlight #1:
Ziya Azazi
Sunday May 31. Bab Makina 20h30
1st part: The Whirling Dervishes of
Konya (Turkey)
From Eternity to Modernity
2nd part: Ziya Azazi (Turkey)
Icons: Contemporary Dervish Dance
The Kabbalah
Tree of Life
"It would
be hard to think of a more
appropriate symbol for the Fes
Festival", says our Kabbalah expert,
Draco Draconis.
"The Tree
of Life is found in every major
mythology. It is one of the few
universal symbols of humankind. That
is certainly a valid reason for its
use as a symbol by the Festival - as
well as its embodiment in the Batha
Museum's Barbary oak, under which
discussions and concerts take place.
Ziya Azazi
was born in 1969 in Antakya, Turkey.
In 1986, he moved to Istanbul where
he graduated as a mining engineer.
in the years 1989 - 1992 he taught
himself gymnastics. between 1990 and
1994 he was engaged in the "state
theatre of Istanbul" and made there
his first choreographic works.
In 1994, he
moved to Vienna where he continued
his work in contemporary dance and
gymnastics.
In 1999 he
won the dance scholarship of the
summer dance week (danceweb),
including an honourable mention from
the European jury as "the most
outstanding dancer of the year for
Austria". he received this prize
after performing his full evening
solo "unterwegs tabula rasa".
Since 1999
he is studying the traditional dance
of the sufis (dervish whirlers) and
is choreographing his own
interpretations of this dance as
seen in his solos "work in progress
I & II", "dervish in progress"
and "`azab".
Ziya Azazi
has performed in many European
countries in addition to Brazil,
Colombia, Egypt, Korea, Thailand,
Tunis, Turkey, the USA and Venezuela
Ziya Azazi
promises to be one of the Festival
highlights. The last couple of years
has seen some creative programming
that offers a fusion of styles and
cultural diversity. We have
previously seen the blending of
gospel and Qawwali, and also the
Byzantine choir from Athens and the
Al Kindi Ensemble from Damascus.
With the programming of the whirling
dervishes and Ziya Azazi we have a
fusion of the old and the modern, of
the traditional and the
contemporary. The first part of the
evening will be the traditional
Whirling Dervishes.With a worldwide
reputation, the Whirling Dervishes
of Konya have been blessed to live
in the city where the great Sufi
tradition was born in the 13th
century. These musicians, singers
and dancers (Semazens) have for
about twenty years now represented
one of the most interesting aspects
of the mystical culture of Turkey.
The Sema - the whirling dance - and
the Zikr - the hymns sung by the
sacred choir - are connected to each
other, a spiritual ambience that
leads the Dervish enter a mystical
universe
Program
Day
1: May 29: Casablanca / Rabat
Upon our arrival at Casablanca Mohammed VI
around 7:00 am local time and after
formalities, we will find Casablanca Travel
and Tours professional hosts waiting to
greet escort us for a brief visit to the gem
city of Casablanca: "now the largest port of
the Maghreb, busier even than Marseille. the
city on which it was modeled by the French."
Our visit will include the ancient central
market, the Habous district, the fabulous
Royal Palace, Mohamed V square, a
residential area of Anfa and the unequalled
Hassan II Mosque on the ocean. We'll dine on
fresh seafood for lunch at the Corniche in
An Diab on the coast. After lunch we will
depart to the capital city of Rabat. There
our visit begins in the Medina with the
Kasbah of the Oudayas continues to the
venerated Mohamed V Mausoleum, the Hassan
Tower Mosque, and the ramparts, and walls of
the Mechouar surrounding the Royal Palace.
Dinner and overnight at your scheduled
hotel. Festival Opening ceremony
Day 2: May 30: Volubilis / Meknes / Fes
Travel to Fez via Volubilis, the Roman
capital of Northwestern Africa. Walk through
the narrow streets of Moulay Idris: this
venerated 8th century citadel is considered
to be the first Islamic for the first Arab
dynasty and the structure of Sufism to the
Moroccan society. Founded in the 8th century
by Moulay Idris the grand son of Prophet
Mohamed. Continue exploring the region on to
Fez with sightseeing of the ramparts, the
gates, and the Borjes (Moorish Forts).
Dinner and over night at the Hotel.
Day 3:May 31 : Fes After breakfast, full-day
tour of the city of Fes, The Holy City of
Fes is a jewel of Spanish-Arabic
civilization. Fes does not reveal its
secrets easily. Secretive, shadowy, they
need to be discovered little by little, with
reverence. Only in this way can the
splendors of Medrsa architecture be fully
appreciated. Only in this way will the call
of the medina tempt you. Bustling with
artisans and merchants, its captivating
sounds, fragrances and colors mesmerize the
visitor with a constant swirl of activity.
The city of Moulay Idriss 1st, sanctuary of
human and moral sciences.
The great À Karaouiyne University bas for
eleven centuries been a religions and
intellectual center whose influence bas
spread far beyond the Kingdom's boundaries.
In 789, a pick-axe of silver and gold -"fas"
in Arabic - was presented to Idriss 1st to
use in tracing the outlines of the city.
Hence the name of the city, which lies at
the far eastern end of the plain of Saïss,
bordered to the south by the hills outlying
the Atlas Mountains. Cradle of religions,
cultural and artistic traditions, Fes, the
double city, is the kingdom's spiritual
capital. The Andalusia mosque, dating from
the 9th century, and further embellished by
successive rulers, is accessed through a
mighty door of sculpted cedar. An imposing
minaret decorated with green faiences crowns
the Rsif Mosque. The Medersas around the
Karaouiyne Mosque, former lodging houses for
students coming from outside the city,
attest the importance of its thousand years
of history. In the Medina, a labyrinth of
sloping, winding alleyways are crammed full
of stalls and workshops. This is the famed
Kissaria -the commercial center. A multitude
of locally produced goods are on sale in
this incredible maze-cotton fabric, silk,
brocade work, slippers, and many more.
The craftsmen of the El Attarine souks offer
the visitor a non-stop spectacle. For
hundreds of years such work bas been
regulated by traditional guilds, ensuring
that its quality is worthy of the city. Each
district has its own specialty : cobalt blue
enameled pottery, carpets, wrought iron ...
one looks on as the dyer stirs his yarns,
steeped in their multitude of colors, as the
tanner tramples his skins under an open sky
-skins that the leather-worker will
eventually adorn with fine gilt for
book-binding . Leaving the souks through the
Boujeloud gate with its decoration of green
and blue faiences, the riches contained in
the wonderful Museum of Moroccan Art await
one Optional lunch at the Medina and
shopping in the afternoon. Dinner at the
hotel.
Day 4: June 1: Fes / Moulay Yacoub/ FesMorning
at leisure, and special requests, afternoon
festival activities
Day 5: June 2: Fes
Morning optional excursion to the venerated
hot springs of Moulay Yacob - known for
their healing powers - located in a small,
charming Berber village at the foothills of
the Rif mountains (admittance to the Spa is
optional). Return to Fez for afternoon
concert
Day 6:
June 3: Fes
Morning visit to the Andalusia part of the
Medina to discover the history of the
Settler Moors who came from Spain in the
13th century. Evening:
Day 7: TJune 4: Fes / Volubilis / Fes
Morning excursion to Volubilis for the
Festival concert, after lunch we will visit
the Roman ruins of Volubilis -- ancient
capital of Mauritania Tingitana dating back
to 300 BC. Then the site of Moulay Idris
Zerhoun, the first Islamic city in Morocco
and home of many Sufi orders. A small city
hidden in the hinterland surrounded with
centuries-old olive groves that have
supplied the country with the best olives
oil since the Punic time.
Day 8: June
5 Fes
Day at leisure and special requests,
Afternoon and evening events, Dinner and
over night at the hotel.
Day 9:
June 6: Fes / Sefrou / Bhalil / Fes Optional excursion to the ancient Jewish
city of Sefrou, this city predates Fez for a
thousand years. It has played a large role
in antiquity as the last stop of sub-Saharan
caravans transporting goods for the European
markets then the visit to Rabbis Mausoleums
and synagogues will also highlight this
journey to antiquity. On our way back to Fez
we will stop to visit the ancient Christian
village of Bhalil Evening: Closing ceremony
of the Festival.
Day 10:
June 7: Fes / Casablanca
Morning lecture, Afternoon festival at dar
Batha. after dinner, festival events at Bab
Makina.
Day 11: Monday:
June 8 Casablanca / Airport (Fes Program
ends in Casablanca)
After breakfast, transfer to Casablanca
airport for an early flight to Casablanca/
JFK
Program
Continuous to Marrakech
Day 10:
June 7: Fes / Khenifra / Marrakech
Morning departure to Marrakech via Azrou and
Khenifra across the Middle Atlas Mountains.
Visit Berber villages and wards, scenic
views and classical markets. Lunch in
Khenifra. Dinner and accommodation at the
Hotel in Marrakech.
Day 11: June 8 :Marrakech
Our guide and driver will help you explore
the marvels of Marrakech. Historic visit of
Marrakech will include the Menara, a
magnificent pool surrounded by flower beds,
reflecting the image of a beautiful Moorish
construction built in 1866 for the
dignitaries to enjoy glorious sunsets with
the snow capped Atlas mountains provide an
ethereal backdrop. The pool is also a unique
and functional irrigation system that
belongs to an ancient architecture adapted
by life in the desert. The tour will cover
several impressive sights: The Koutoubia
Minaret (the twin tower of la Giralda in
Sevilla, Spain), the Saadian tombs
demonstrating Moorish architecture in its
perfection. The tombs, consisting of
splendid mausoleums built in the sixteenth
century, were walled for some time, not to
be discovered until 1917.
Day 14:
June 9: Marrakech / airport
After an early breakfast, transfer to the
airport, end of services.
Other sites include:
The museum of Dar Si Said with the best
display of Berber arts and crafts from all
over the country. The remains of the Badii
Palace, a historical monument chosen to host
the Annual National Festival of Popular Art,
beginning the second Friday in June. The
Bahia Palace, the apogee of Moorish splendor
situated in the heart of the Mellah (Jewish
quarter) still hosts dignitaries today.
Lunch at the hotel then a walk through of
the colorful souks of Marrakech in the
afternoon. Conclude the day with a sunset
drink overlooking the exciting Jamaa El Fna
Square.
Day 12: ,
June 10: Marrakech : Marrakech program ends
in Marrakech
Early morning transfer to Marrakech Airport,
connect to New York (JFK) with a memorable
trip of a life time.
Program
Continuous to Essaouira and Casablanca
Day 12:
June 11: Marrakech/ Essaouira :
Departure to Essaouira (Mogador), a part
from the immediate impact of sea air and the
friendly animation of the town, the
predominant images of Essaouira are of the
Atlantic - of the rugged coast and offshore
islands, the vast expense of empty sands
trailing back along the promontory to the
south, and the almost gothic scenery of the
eighteen century fortifications. Lunch at
Chalet de la Mer. Dinner and overnight at
the Hotel.
Day 13: June
12: Essaouira / Casablanca:
After breakfast departure to Casablanca via
El Jadida / stop at El Oualidia. Relay and
seafood lunch.
Departure along the Coastal to El Jadida
visit of the citadel. Vestige of the
Portuguese occupation
during the 11th century. Continuation to
Casablanca. Dinner and overnight at the
Hotel.
Day 14:
June 13: Casablanca / Airport:
Morning departure to Mohammed V Airport
***
What is included
in all packages
Ground
Transportation
Land transportation as indicated in the
program in deluxe motor coach.
Baggage handling.
Meals In
4 **** breakfast, lunch & dinner).
In 5*****(breakfast & lunch or dinner).
In deluxe 5 **** (breakfast only).
Guides:
Local guide and monuments fees
Other services: All
applicable taxes
Our full assistance
Cost per person
based on double occupancy in Fes
Accommodations in 4 ****star hotel: $1895.00
Fes: Minzah Zalagh ****
Single Supplement: $345.00
Accommodations in 5**** star deluxe
hotel:$2,295.00
Fes: Zalagh Park Palace *****
Single Supplement: $455.00
Accommodations in 5 star deluxe hotel:
$3,395.00
Fes: Palais Jamai *****
Single Supplement $690.00
Upgrade for Business Class ticket: $1,790.00
Cost per person
based on double occupancy in Fes and
Marrakech
Accommodations in 4
****star hotel: $2,385.00
Fes: Minzah Zalagh ****
Marrakech: Tikida Garden hotel
Single Supplement: $495.00
Accommodations in 5**** star deluxe
hotel:$2,895.00
Fes: Zalagh Park Palace *****
Marrakech: Mirage hotel
Single Supplement: $855.00
Accommodations in 5 star deluxe hotel:
$3,235.00
Fes: Palais Jamai *****
La Mamounia hotel
Single Supplement $920.00
Upgrade for Business Class ticket: $1,790.00
Cost per person
based on double occupancy in Fes, Marrakech,
Essaouira and Casablanca
• Accommodations in 4 ****star hotel:
$2910.00
Single Supplement in 4 ****star hotel:
$495.00
Fes: Minzah Zalagh ****
Marrakech: Tikida garden ****
Hotel Mogador****
Idou Anfa hotel****
Accommodations in 5**** * star hotel :
$3,395.00
Single Supplement in 5***** star hotel:
$855.00
Fes: Zalagh Park Palace *****
Marrakech: Mirage hotel*****
Essaouira: Sofitel hotel*****
Casablanca: Hyatt Regency hotel*****
•
Accommodations in 5 star deluxe hotel:
$4,435.00
Single Supplement in 5 star deluxe hotel:
$1110.00
Fes: Palais Jamai *****
La Mamounia hotel*****
Essaouira: Sofitel hotel*****
Casablanca: royal Mansour*****
With us, you
will fall in love with Morocco
