Once a sufficient dowry had been amassed, they found no difficulty in finding a suitable marriage partner among their own people and raising a family. After Algeria's independence, however, their good fortune was not to last as demands for their talents were once again limited to performances at weddings and festivals for a mainly local clientele. Today there are fewer young women entering into the profession, and although their costumes are still traditional, they have changed to a certain extent. The silk brocades, golden diadems and festoons of coins are rarely seen. Now layers of diaphanous dresses are worn, sometimes covered with a palla, and their turbans and headscarves are usually made of synthetic materials.
Some dancers completely cover the face with a transparent veil, while others wear no veil at all.
Dancers who also sing command a higher fee and their careers may continue to an advanced age. Many performances begin with a procession led by the musicians. When they arrive at the stage area, the dancers and musicians sit together on a platform while the soloists and groups take their turns. The men of the tribe also perform, their repertoire including a rifle dance. In Chellala, tribes gather to set up their tents at the times of festivals and holidays.