El Morocco Dancers' Nights
with
Yosifah Rose and Al 'Azifoon
El Morocco Restaurant
2203 Morello Avenue (at Taylor Boulevard)
Pleasant Hill, California
(925) 671-0132
ADVANCE RESERVATIONS REQUIRED!
Arrive before 6:30 p.m. for best seating because many shows are standing room only!
Dancers' Nights are the FIRST SUNDAY of every month!
Upcoming Schedule of Dancers' Nights:
| January 2012 | ~ | Sorry, no Dancers' Night in January. Happy New Year!! | ||||
| First Sunday, February 5, 2012 | ~ | featuring Jaleena, Troupe Desert Heat, and Friends! | with LIVE MUSIC by Al ‘Azifoon with guest star musicians Mark Bell and Ling Shien of Helm!! | |||
| First Sunday, March 4, 2012 | ~ | Awesome double feature show this month! | Featuring instructor Ma*Shuqa Mira Murjan of Los Gatos and instructor TerriAnne Gutierrez of Santa Rosa and Friends! | with LIVE MUSIC by Al ‘Azifoon with guest star drummer Susu Pampanin! | ||
| First Sunday, April 1, 2012 | ~ | featuring Sharifa and Friends | with LIVE MUSIC by Al ‘Azifoon! | |||
| First Sunday, May 6, 2012 | ~ | featuring Zyphire, instructor/director of Sister Sirens Troupe of Sirens In Sanity Studio and Friends | with LIVE MUSIC by Al ‘Azifoon | and special guest star drummer Mary Ellen Donald ! | ||
| First Sunday, June 3. 2012 | ~ | featuring instructor Sahar and Friends! | with LIVE MUSIC by Al ‘Azifoon! | |||
| First Sunday, July 1, 2012 | ~ | featuring Sahara and Friends! | with LIVE MUSIC by Al ‘Azifoon! | |||
| First Sunday,August 5, 2012 | ~ | featuring Siren's Reunion: Sirens In Sanity, Grateful Siren and Red Siren Productions! | with LIVE MUSIC by Al ‘Azifoon | |||
| First Sunday, September 2, 2012 | ~ | co-featuring Delphine Scott and Sandhya Goddess Life Bellydance of Hercules and Friends! | with LIVE MUSIC by Al ‘Azifoon! | |||
| First Sunday, October 7, 2012 | ~ | featuring Kitiera and Friends! | LIVE MUSIC by Al ‘Azifoon! | |||
| First Sunday, November 4, 2012 | ~ | featuring Theresea Jade and Jewels of the Baladi and Friends! | with LIVE MUSIC by Al ‘Azifoon! | |||
| First Sunday, December 2, 2012 | ~ | featuring Livi and Friends! | with LIVE MUSIC by Al ‘Azifoon! |
Contact Yosifah Rose to sign up to dance as a guest dancer in ANY upcoming show. Every month I reserve a few slots for guest dancers, but please contact me at least one month before the show in which you would like to dance! (925) 586-5939
Yosifah was interviewed by Scott Belding of ARTBEAT Video Magazine in March 2010 in a feature about her band Al 'Azifoon and their performances at El Morocco Restaurant Dancers' Night. The Raqs Sharqi artist Khalilah who regularly performs at El Morocco Restaurant was also interviewed by Scott for this feature. Click here to watch Yosifah and Khalilah's interviews on ARTBEAT Video Magazine on YouTube!
Learn more about the band and listen to Al ‘Azifoon’s music at www.alazifoon.com/songlist.htm
Frequently Asked Questions about Dancers' Nights:
What is El Morocco's Dancers' Night?
El Morocco Dancers’ Nights are an inclusive, welcoming, and supportive evenings in celebration of the beauty and joy of live Middle Eastern music and dance. Dancers' Nights showcases instructors, experienced professionals, up-and-coming student belly dancers, as well as beginning students of ALL styles of
Middle Eastern Dance.
Contact Yosifah Rose to perform in an upcoming Dancers' Night show!
| E-Mail: | easternstrings@att.net |
| Yosifah's Phone: | (925) 586-5939 |
| Yosifah's Web Site: | www.yosifah.com |
| Al 'Azifoon's Web Site: | www.alazifoon.com |
| El Morocco's Web Site: | www.elmorocco.net |
| El Morocco Reservations: | (925) 671-0132 |
Due to time limitations, NO dancer walk-ins
the night of the show.
Attention Instructors: if you would like to be featured in a
Dancer's Night Show, please contact Yosifah!
NOTE: In an Instructor-themed Dancer's Night, most dancer slots are reserved for an instructor and her students.
How long are dancer's LIVE MUSIC sets?
| Soloists | - MAXIMUM 10 minutes |
| >Duets/Troupes | - MAXIMUM 15 minutes |
| Featured Instructor | - MAXIMUM 15 minutes |
Is there a limit to how often a dancer can be scheduled for Dancer's Night?
An instructor, dancer, or troupe may only be the "featured" performer only once per calendar year. However, there is NO limit to the number of times that a performer may sign up as a guest dancer. Performers may sign up as a guest dancer for any Dancers' Nights show as long as there are still guest dancer slots available. Additionally, instructors may contact management El Morocco at (925) 671-0132 to schedule a Student Night Hafla independent of Dancer's Night.
Are there any costuming restrictions?
Management at El Morocco requires that all dancers wear performance costumes appropriate for viewing by family audiences with small children. Furthermore, Management requests that dancers NOT to sit in the audience in their costumes! Dancers must wear a coverup or caftan over their costume until it is their turn to perform.
Will dancers be required to buy something to eat at the restaurant?
Dancers and all guests at Dancer's Night may order a meal from the Full Dinner Menu or the Ala Carte Menu (minimum food order $15 per dancer, plus tax, plus 15% gratuity). Of course, dancers may eat AFTER they dance!
Will dancers be required to make advance reservations?
Dancers MUST make advance RESERVATIONS for themselves and their guests with El Morocco at (925) 671-0132 at least 7 days before the show! If you will be late, call to confirm your reservation!
Many Dancer’s Nights shows are standing room only, so call early to guarantee yourself and your party a table! Also, if people at a table desire separate checks (bills), please advise the waiter upon ordering!
What are the music requirements?
Most of the dancer slots are for live music by Al 'Azifoon. If a performer or troupe signs up to perform to recorded music, unless they are performing at special holiday show, MIDDLE EASTERN music is preferred.
The performer is asked to record their complete performance music on a single CD or tape. We cannot switch between multiple tracks or multiple CDs during your set! This invariably leads to unnecessary confusion and error!
Are props okay?
Use of props is encouraged! Regular wax candles are fine, but NO oil/fuel flames or liquid candles due to fire hazard. Also, cane/stick dancers, please be careful not to accidentally assault a passing waiter or customer!
How will the dancers be announced?
If the the featured instructor wishes, he/she may introduce his/her students and guest dancers. Otherwise an Al 'Azifoon bandmember will adlib simple friendly introductions such as: "Please welcome our next fabulous dancer......."
What time should dancers arrive?
Arrive by 6:20 p.m. The show begins about 6:30 p.m. The dressing room is small, so dancers should arrive in their stage makeup.
Are there ever nights with LIVE MUSIC at Dancer’s Night?
Yes! Yosifah’s band Al ‘Azifoon features live music for almost ALL El Morocco Dancers' Night Shows! See the schedule above for dates.
Please note that any live music performances must have advance approval of by the owner of El Morocco.
No walk-on musicians are allowed to play at Dancers' Nights at El Morocco Restaurant.
What songs does Al ‘Azifoon play for LIVE MUSIC Dancer’s Nights?
Al 'Azifoon plays Raqs Sharqi and Arabic classical songs with Arabic vocals, oud, qanun, and percussion. Visit their website for their current song list and for MP3 samples of many of their songs at Al ‘Azifoon Song List
| ~ |
Akhod Habibi Ala Dela ‘Ona Alf Leyla Wa Leyla Ana Fi Intizarak Andah Aliek Aziza Batwannes Beek Bint A'Shalabiya El Helwa Dee Fakkarouni Gamil, Gamal Ghanili Shway, Shway Habibi Ya Nour Al 'Ayn Hebbina Lamma Badda (Samai, 10/8) Layla (Khalegi) Laylet Hob |
~ | Muhobbet (often called "Ah Ya Zein") Nassam Alayn El-Hawa Qadduka el-Mayyas Raqs Leyla Samra Ya Samra Skaba (Baladi OR Saidi) Taht El Shibbak Tamr Henna Tfarrag Al Halawa Turko Morro Ya Habibi Ya Eini Ya Shadil al Han (Masmoudi Kebir) Zay El Hawa Zeina |
All current song and MP3 sound files are available at Al 'Azifoon's website.
In addition performing dancers may request that Al 'Azifoon add an instrumental taqasim and/or a drum solo to his/her set.
FEATURED INSTRUCTOR's Frequently Asked Questions about Dancers' Nights:
| Are you a featured Instructor for an El Morocco Dancers' Night show? If so, below are some answers to frequently asked questions by featured instructors. Please email Yosifah if you have any additional questions that are not addressed below.: 1. Exactly how many dancer slots are available to a Featured Instructor's students and guest dancers in an El Morocco Dancers' Night show? A featured instructor, her students, and her guest dancers may have up to 14 live music dancer slots and approximately TWO CD dancers slots (total of 15-minutes of CD music). CD dancers may perform either at the beginning of the show at 6:30 p.m. or at about 7:45 p.m. during the band's break. 2. What time does dancing begin at an El Morocco Dancers' Night show? 6:30 PM 3. What time should dancers arrive? All dancers and guests should arrive by 6:15 pm. All dancers and guests should make Advance Table reservations at El Morocco Restaurant 925-671-0132 at least 7 days before the Dancers' Night show. 4. What time do Dancers' Nights shows usually end? El Morocco Dancers' Nights show with live music usually end at about 9:15 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. 5. How do dancers choose the live music for their performance? Dancers performing to live music for an El Morocco Dancers' Night show should select ONE song from the Al 'Azifoon's songlist at http://www.alazifoon.com/songlist.htm If a dancer chooses one of the shorter songs (approximately 3 to 4-minute song), he/she can also have either a taqasim and/or drum solo. However, please keep in mind that only a maximum of 7 dancers may have drum solos per El Morocco Dancers' Night show to avoid "audience drum solo overload." ;-) 6. Does the featured Instructor or Yosifah collect and coordinate the performer song choices? What is the deadline for music selections? Usually, Yosifah collects and coordinates the dancer song selections. Therefore, all performers need to email their song selection requests to Yosifah at easternstrings@att.net. However, if the featured instructor prefers, she may instead coordinate all of her own student and guest dancer music selections. In any case, dancers must keep in mind that song selections are chosen on a "first come, first taken basis," so performers should choose their song selection as early as possible. The deadline for performers to make their song request is one week before the show (7 days before the performance). 7. What is a typical timetable for El Morocco Dancers' Night performer lineups? The times listed below are approximates to give dancers a general idea of what time they will be performing. El Morocco Dancers' Night Performer Lineup 6:20 p.m. Musician Sound Check Live music set 1: 1. 6:30 p.m. 2. 6:40 p.m. 3. 6:50 p.m. 4. 7:00 p.m. 5. 7:10 p.m. 6. 7:20 p.m. 7. 7:30 p.m. El Morocco Housedancer set: song + sword taqasim + drum solo + regular audience/birthday participation Band Break (During band's break, TWO acts may perform to CD music for a total of 15-minutes of CD music) Live music set 2 8. 8:00 p.m. 9. 8:10 p.m. 10. 8:20 p.m. 11. 8:30 p.m. 12. 8:40 p.m. 13. 8:50 p.m. 14. 9:00 p.m. 15. 9:10 p.m. 16. End-of-show OPEN FLOOR DANCE |
Contact Information:
| E-Mail: | easternstrings@att.net |
| Yosifah's Phone: | (925) 586-5939 |
| Yosifah's Web Site: | www.yosifah.com |
| Al 'Azifoon's Web Site: | www.alazifoon.com |
| El Morocco's Web Site: | www.elmorocco.net |
| El Morocco Restaurant's Phone: | (925) 671-0132 |