Women's Ritual Dance with Laura Shannon
in German
15 - 28 October 2025
From £1220 / about 1460 Euros plus 3420 MAD payable locally Includes a 3 night tour
Book soon to get good prices on tickets
“The whole ambience at La Maison Anglaise is magical – from the beautifully decorated rooms, the lovely surrounding gardens, the delicious meals prepared with such care and the delightful efficient team all made for a memorable and happy seven days… and the added options of the cultural tours meant we all learnt a little more about the extraordinary and fascinating country that is Morocco.” Jane Stanley 2024
This brochure provides you with lots of information about the venue, the bedrooms, the activities, how we design your holiday to meet your needs, your tutor, the likely itinerary and what is included in the cost. Please read on to the end!
The Venue Well known for magical meaningful holidays, excellent food and exceptional staff, this award-winning set up relocated in 2020 to a stunning sustainably-run eco-lodge with a chlorine-free pool and permaculture gardens. Located on the south side of the ancient town walls of Taroudant, which enjoys the best winter climate in Morocco. Enjoy an exceptional menu of local healthy food.
“It’s just brilliant. I love it – the whole vibe in the well-designed garden, the buildings, and the sustainable aspect of it all. The staff are incredible, all caring, kind, diligent and willing to do whatever it takes to make your stay perfect. The food is truly delicious, fantastic for vegetarians and meat-eaters too, as well as offering tea/coffee at any time by helping yourself. Relaxed, with the smell of the beautifully planted garden at night, and a well-stocked library so I can read all day long by the pool. Heaven!” Jane Duncan Rogers January 2024
Bedrooms The comfortable, beautifully appointed rooms are cleverly designed to be cool in summer and warm in winter. All have en–suite bathrooms, their own terrace and garden and can sleep two or more. A limited number are allocated for single occupancy. More details of rooms here
Heartful Holistic Holidays which offer a wide choice of authentic activities run by amazingly knowledgeable English-speaking guides. Explore the fascinating culture and landscapes, use our library, our small spa, swim or simply laze in the sun.
Optional Activities include cookery, walks, visits to local families and charitable projects, wildlife, massage, shopping and several other choices. Little visited by tourists, the local souks offer an exotic traditional atmosphere. Read more
Located within 30 minutes’ drive of the contrasting mountain landscapes of the majestic High Atlas and the extraordinary Anti-Atlas (beyond which lies the Sahara). We are also only an hour’s drive from the Atlantic coast.
Feel safe and cared for thanks to the care of loving, experienced English-speaking staff, good medical facilities, excellent WiFi, safe drinking water and being on the edge of a small, relaxed and friendly town with few tourists.
“La Maison Anglaise is really beautiful, impeccably kept and nurtured by you and your delightful Moroccan team there. All of the staff, without exception were wonderful – helpful, courteous and so very happy all the time. They looked after our every need, and nothing was too much trouble for them. The gardens are a real delight, the pool is gorgeous, and the meals were all delicious. The trips out and other activities that the staff took us on were a treat, and we all felt very safe with your careful drivers and guides”. L Turner, May 2023
Why choose a Circle Dance holiday with us?
We have been organising group holidays since 1998. Our venue has a variety of lovely spaces for dancing including the tiled circle in the gardens, the spacious 64 sq metre activity room and a very large tiled roof terrace, lovely at sunset and sunrise. Read more about our Circle Dance Holidays here
“I have organised, attended and facilitated many group events in a myriad of locations around the world over the last forty years…I found the ideal setting. It is small enough to maintain intimacy whilst having the spaciousness to accommodate privacy. The bespoke planning and vision which created this venue, inspired by Jane’s deep knowledge of the needs and requirements of small group holidays and workshops is evident in the care paid to every detail.” Tutor Katy van Haeften
What people say about dancing with Laura:
Monika M’s review of Laura’s event with us in March 2023 “I would highly recommend this place to anyone I can… I cannot thank you enough for being inspired to create this place and choosing the perfect people to help you run it. Our group repeatedly said how wonderful everything was and that your staff felt more like family than staff. They were ALL very hardworking, helpful, cheerful and accommodating and made our stay so much richer. Laura’s course was beyond my wildest expectations and I look forward to more with her in the future. I took the opportunity to do everything offered for excursions etc and I was blown away by each and every thing I partook in. I will never forget the people and places we encountered on this trip. I feel richer for having been on this trip on all fronts”
Your Tutor
Photo of your tutor, Laura Shannon
Read more about Laura here.
To Book or Express an Interest: Limited places available. Request a place at www.cecu.co.uk/book We will then send you the payment schedule (split into instalments with £150 initial deposit).
Book early to get good flight prices, but please do NOT book flights until we give the go-ahead!
More Information For FAQs go to www.cecu.co.uk/faqs
Contact us: www.cecu.co.uk/contact or visit www.holidays-with-heart.co.uk
We will also send detailed pre-visit information after you book.
About the course:
Laura writes: “This unique holiday features traditional women’s ritual dances from the Balkans & Armenia, plus Berber women’s dance, live Moroccan music, many cultural activities and a three-night stay in the stunningly beautiful Anti-Atlas Mountains. This holiday is intended for women who have danced with me before, but do contact me if you have not yet danced with me but feel drawn to join us.
Our tour includes authentic cultural experiences such as visits to the hammam and souk, excursions to villages to observe traditional crafts such as embroidery, pottery, basketry, soap making & bread baking, walks and dancing in places of natural beauty. In our free time we can soak up the sun, explore alone, relax, or enjoy cooking lessons, massage, swimming and other activities.
My approach to traditional dance brings a spiritual focus and aims to illuminate ancient symbols encoded in the dance steps, such as the sun, spiral, zigzag, Tree of Life and the hidden Goddess. In Morocco these symbols are everywhere: in henna patterns, embroideries, carpets, and the ancient culture of the Berber people, as well as in the dances. These gifts from the ancestors communicate valuable messages and connect us to the great cycle of life.”
For questions about the course content, please contact laura@laurashannon.net
PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME
There will be daily tutored sessions and possibly spontaneously at inspiring places.
Each day you may choose one of the optional activities on offer below. Anything listed as “optional” means it is payable locally and not included in the price. Please see our price list for costs.
PROVISIONAL ITINERARY
(13 nights)
10 nights at La Maison Anglaise Garden Ecolodge; 4 day/3 night tour to Anti-Atlas Mountains.
Please note, programme is subject to change in case of weather or other circumstances
Days 1-7 at La Maison Anglaise Ecolodge
Day 1– Arrival, lunch, 4 pm welcome meeting, dance, dinner
Day 2 – Excursion to palmerie, picnic lunch, dinner, dance
Day 3– Visit to hammam, lunch, caleche ride, dinner, dance
Day 4 – Souk, Sufi band, dinner, dance
Day 5 – Time for rest, no excursion planned
Day 6 – Morning Dancing at La Maison Anglaise, lunch, dinner, dance
Day 7 – Time for rest, no excursion planned
Day 8 Anti-Atlas adventure begins; 1 night at Kasbah Tizourgane with Ahwash band in evening
Day 9 Anti Atlas Tafraoute adventure continues with 2 nights at Chez Amaliya in Tafroute
Day 10 Anti Atlas Tafraoute adventure continues
Day 11 Visit to Maison Traditionelle, picnic lunch, return to Taroudant, dinner, dance
Day 12 Hammam (optional), Souk (optional), lunch (optional); henna tattoos (optional); Arabic/Berber dance lesson, Berber band, dinner, dance
Day 13 10am Claudio Bravo Palace for lunch and dance; cookery lesson(optional); henna tattoos (optional); dinner; dance & completion
Day 14 Departure day! Goodbye and safe journey!
Summary
Cost: £1220 / about 1460 Euros per person in shared twin/double room.
Plus 3420 MAD payable locally (about 340 Euros/£280)
Includes:
- Airport transfers from/to Agadir at one designated time
- Accommodation in en suite twin or double bedroom; single occupancy on request
- Substantial breakfasts and vegetarian evening meals (meat or fish at extra cost)
- Lunches every day except the last full day
- Tutored workshops (a total of about 18 hours)
- Tour of the town by horse-drawn taxi, visit to a hammam, outing to Tiout Oasis, visit to Claudio Bravo Palace & Museum with lunch and a traditional band
- Activities listed on the itinerary below except those that are listed as optional
Excludes:
Flights (often under £90 return if booked early)
Single occupancy supplement £25 per night
Optional activities
Travel insurance (required)
Tips
Meat or fish supplement (20 – 40 MAD (about £1.60-£3.20)
Tourist Taxes 41 MAD (approx £3.20) per person per night)
Payable in Morocco:
Best Wellbeing Retreat 2024: Health & Wellbeing Awards
Best Holistic Ecolodge in Morocco 2023
Tripadvisor: Number 1 in the Taroudant Region
Voted Top 10 in the World: Lonely Planet Eco Stays 2014 & VegeNews Vegetarian Holidays 2005
Responsible Tourism Trophy: Community Project Work 2009