Well, she complimented my dancing in a workshop, at a time when I was, and am, really struggling with keeping on. She has a way of making you feel like you matter, which is some neat trick for a lady who knows thousands of people!

Also--she reminded me, just through her dancing, that the biggest reason to keep on is because this dance is about expressing joy. The rests--the politics, the disappointments, the aging knees (smile)--pffft. God bless her.

three cheers for Morocco!
I love her, i wish i could just sit and listen to her for a week straight (longer if my butt could take it) she has so knowlege, i love the stories i love the history, her style of teaching, the whole package. when i first started dancing i figured a dance a few years then i'd probably get to an age when i'd have to stop that was before i me her, now i know as long as i'm physically capable that age does not matter!
She is honest, open and warm, i met her when i was going through a personal struggle, i'll never forget her putting her arm around me and telling me to believe in myself and my dance.

I owe Rocky everything I know and love about dance and Middle Eastern music, plus much more. I really have profound admiration for her. To me she's a true feminist role model....she knew wanted she wanted to do in life, she set about doing it, and she succeeded brilliantly. She's so deservedly confident and charismatic, and we need more women like this in all spheres (such as politics!) She's a great teacher with a light touch. She has the best zills, exquisitely beautiful hands, breathtakingly modulated shimmies & quivers, perfect posture, and a smile like golden sunshine. She's not only brilliant and the leader in her field, and completely tireless, courageous, very funny, wise, and beautiful, she also manages to be both honest and kind (and how few manage to combine these qualities?) to the many who seek to learn from her, both near and far. Of all the paths she could have taken and succeeded at in life, she chose this one, which could not have been easy when she started both performing here and traveling on her own to the Middle East in the 1960s! Just think...not only were there no guided tours, but there were no computers, no ATMs, no calling cards or cell phones, no Frommer's travel guidebooks....and more than anything, she wants to share what she knows with all of us. Another thing I love about her is that she's so smart and so knowledgeable but also very open-minded--she loves pop music and shaabi, appreciates well-executed fusion, and encourages emotional expression in dance onstage or in class. How has Rocky affected me? Very difficult to sum up. Dance makes me so happy and excited--it's something I look forward to constantly and love to work on. Since I became an adult and a mother, I didn't think I would find anything new to love just for myself, certainly not on this scale. I had not the faintest inkling or clue that any of this was possible before I met her, and I most certainly never dreamed I would ever perform any kind of dance in any venue whatsoever before I met her. My world is so much bigger, better, and more beautiful because of Morocco, and I think it must be true for all who know her. I love you Rocky!

Meeting her and watching her dance in her New York Studio was one of the high points of my bellydance career. AT the time I was something of a newbie. Coming from a fundamentalist Christian, south Georgia background I had one of the most wonderful conversations with her. She made me feel like it was OK to be Obessed with Middle Eastern dance and most importantly, She made me feel like I could be a dancer too. Watching her dance and taking her class I truly began to understand all the subtle, natural stylistic differences that give Middle Eastern dance it's unique character. Rocky makes it look easy! Something only the best dancers can do!

Well I have never met our Aunty Rocky in person but her posts on the MED list opened up my mind so much and broadened my perceptions of this dance, made me understand what was real and what was fantasy (and that it was ok to like both, appropriately labelled), drove home points about safe dance too.

I love her no-nonsense yet loving approach to e-communication. I feel she has been a major influence in helping me to understand concepts and realities of this dance and am so grateful that she takes the time to reach out to internet forums and share her knowledge and experience when we all know she is so very, very busy.

It would be a dream come true to attend her weeklong in New York but in the meantime I am pinching myself because she is actually coming to little ol' Perth next year!!!!

She made me a better teacher and choreographer. And she did that in one day of a week long. Purty cool.