Contemporary Dance Takes Center Stage in Casablanca and Rabat

Celebrating African Contemporary Dance in Morocco

From October 7 to 11, Casablanca will host the 12th edition of the Contemporary Choreographic Encounters (Rencontres Chorégraphiques de Casablanca), followed by the "Escale Rbatia" in Rabat from October 12 to 14. This festival, organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, has established itself over the past twelve years as a pivotal event in the landscape of contemporary dance, not only in Africa but also in the Arab world.

This year, the festival shines a spotlight on African talent, bringing together choreographers, dancers, and companies from across the continent to collaborate and create. Attendees can look forward to approximately twenty performances featuring artists from Burkina Faso, Mali, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Morocco, as well as Lebanon, Syria, France, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland. This diversity promises a rich array of perspectives and artistic expressions that reflect the complexities of our modern world.

A Platform for Emerging and Established Artists

In addition to the performances, the festival will host the Arab Dance Platform, a network designed to connect emerging and established choreographers with international festivals and institutions. This initiative fosters artistic exchange and encourages the mobility of artists beyond geographical and political boundaries.

True to its mission of democratizing dance, the festival will feature an inclusive dance ball in collaboration with the National Choreographic Center of Nantes, inviting everyone to participate without barriers. Alongside the performances, there will be residences, workshops, masterclasses, and training sessions aimed at supporting Moroccan dancers and guest artists. Professional meetings will also take place, bringing together directors, programmers, and networks to collaboratively address issues of mobility, production, and distribution.

Driven by the Compagnie Col'Jam, the festival adheres to a fundamental belief: contemporary dance is not the property of any one individual; it should be accessible to all. This principle has guided the event since its inception, making the Rencontres Chorégraphiques de Casablanca a unique gathering in Morocco.

The festival receives support from various esteemed organizations, including the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, the French Institute of Morocco, INSMAC, Al Mada Foundation, Villa des Arts in Casablanca, Instituto Cervantes, Pro Helvetia, the Spanish and Italian Embassies in Morocco, the Italian Cultural Institute, the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), L'Moutalâte Space, the Goethe-Institut, the American Arts Center Casablanca, Tabea Martin, Art First, and Act'Pr.

As reported by maroc-hebdo.com.