ATLAS WORKSHOPS

Documentary film | MAR 2017 | 38' | English/Berber

The Atlas-Workshops of Agdz, Morocco: A model region for the scientific-cultural dialogue

The model region of Agdz - a town located in the South Moroccan region of Souss-Massa-Draa - was a main historical crossroad for the caravan routes from Marrakesh to Timbuktu and an important meeting point of different cultures. This is documented by the impressive loam (adobe) architecture and the 3,000 year old Ahwash ritual of the Berber tribes. Agdz is seen as a natural laboratory, where Moroccan and German scientist, artist and students work together on questions related to sustainable rural development and cultural identity. Against the background of rural exodus, ageing society, loss of cultural heritage, and inefficient use of natural resources, the region is facing tremendous challenges.

Dance is inherently a socially organized process of shared and embodied experiences. It is practice! One learns to dance through its practice. Implicit and explicit knowledge merge in the embodied practice of dance and music and is based on cultural traditions and practices. It holds information about a culture and the people belonging to it.

 werkstaetten-agdz.web.th-koeln.de

Director                                                Michael Maurissens

with the participation of                  MBarek Ait El Caid, Absamad Balahcen, Mohamed Balahcen,

                                                               Francesco d'Amelio, Norbert Dennig, Mihyun Ko,

                                                               Holger Mertin, Seyedeh Taraneh Mousavi, Boubker Marrouk,

                                                               Frida Michels, Nezha Rhondali, Vera Sander, Yannik Tiemann

Editing                                                 Michael Maurissens

Funded by                                           German Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Auswaertiges Amt)/

                                                               German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

Partners                                               University Moulay Ismail, Meknes

                                                               University Ibn Zohr, Agadir

                                                               ITT/Technology Arts Sciences TH Koeln

                                                               University for Music and Dance Cologne