Charity concert and show: “Once upon a time… the musical”

This charity concert, featuring the finest songs from musicals, is being organised in aid of the D.A.M.E Les Coteaux Fleuris charity (Dispositif d'Accompagnement Médico-Éducatif) in Dives-sur-Mer. The organisation specialises in supporting children and teenagers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), in partnership with the Normandy Autism Resource Centre. Every ticket sold contributes directly to their work.

Once upon a time, there was a slightly crazy dream: a student who wanted, just once, to take to the stage. Twenty-eight years later, that dream has blossomed into dozens of shows, a family of artists and thousands of audience members. The concert retraces this adventure like a fairy tale, from era to era, through the greatest hits of her repertoire.
A master of ceremonies weaves the thread of this true story, sung live and accompanied by musicians on stage. Each scene depicts an era, an encounter, a dream, and reveals all that music does best: bringing people together, inspiring dreams, conveying meaning and giving.

The show is produced by “Notre Désir De Partager”, a French charity that stages charitable and socially conscious performances to raise funds for humanitarian organisations. It features 20 regular performers, comprising volunteers and semi-professionals. In total, around fifty people are involved in the show, all of whom are volunteers.


A MUSICAL JOURNEY IN SUPPORT OF A GREAT CAUSE: AUTISM
Around 700,000 people are affected by autism in France. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication, behaviour and social interactions. Every person with autism is different, with varying support needs.
Recent research has identified specific characteristics in the way the brain functions in people with autism, particularly in the areas involved in communication, emotions and sensory perception. These advances pave the way for more accurate and earlier diagnosis. They also make it possible to implement everyday adjustments to minimise sensory overload or support learning.

A child’s words:
“I’d like to sing in front of an audience and explain what autism is, because people don’t understand it at all – it’s not an illness…”. Axelle, aged 8

The expert’s view:
“We are now absolutely certain of one thing: that music – carefully selected, properly applied and used in the right conditions – is undoubtedly a therapeutic tool that should be utilised straight away. Music can improve outcomes for people with autism in terms of social interaction, learning and performance.” Professor of Paediatric Neurology