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Artists have been recruited according to their professional talents, their human quality and their commitment to the Martin Luther King’s message and philosophy.

The struggle for freedom and equality led by Martin Luther King is at the core of the project. He committed with success and without any violence against a system that used to set aside a great part of the population because of racial judgement.

Dr. King’s message entails a universal dimension since he focussed on human dimension, as much as his spiritual father Gandhi did in his own struggle. Precisely because this message goes far beyond the American boarders the French organization Le Cercle des Artistes and the artistic director Abdel Soufi made this choice of paying a tribute to the man that deeply contribute to world history fifty years ago with the most world-known public speech “I have a dream”

Please watch here the TEASER (if not working above)

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The very unique scenery entails dance, music, theater and movies

MUSIC : More than 10 original Gospel songs will be performed

MOVIE : Extracts from the historic signature as part of the décor

DANCE : A very smooth support will be carried out by our choregraph Gerladine Amstrong (see below "TEAM")

THEATER: extracts from the original public speeches will be played in French

To see elements of settings and scenery, please see French version of the Kisskissbankbank campaign.

By a technical mechanism both mirors and pieces of tulles will be moved in order to create an athmosphere of dream and also in order to bring the spectators on stage and make them become actor of this historic moment. This will underline the atemporal dimension of Dr. King's message.

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A performance at the headquarters of Peace, Culture and Education

The Premiere will take place at Unesco Headquarters which highlights this universal dimension.

The show is not only a reunion of artists giving their best talents to perform all together. It is also a great project that gathers citizens and brings citizens of tomorrow closer to MLK’s message.

Therefore young people who come from less privileged areas will be invited to attend the Premiere at Unesco so that they can hear as well this message of hope and peace. It is important to us to facilitate the access of this show since this is a population who is very often far away from the Parisian cultural events. It can be because of direct economic reasons (not enough money to pay an entrance fee) or because of indirect economic reasons (information about such events does not reach everyone because of limited access to the means of information or because of difficulties to get them).

Also there will be workshops with these children before the show with teachers and the musical director in order to bring them closer to Gospel spirit and to prepare them mentally for this wonderful experience at Unesco.

If it is widely recognized that culture is made by everyone since it is deeply anchored in the human being and it is shaped by human experiences, but places of cultural performance still remain often too far away from a great part of the population.

Culture is made by everyone and should be performed for everyone – that’s our belief.

Besides, MLK told us he made a dream. Who else better than children are able to understand this word? Who else better than children make dream about their future? Who else need to have heard messages of hope before entering the adult life and facing its challenges?

This is with this spirit that Unesco gave its authorization to welcome the Premiere.

Isn’t it the best symbol possible for such a representation to be welcome at the headquarters of an institution which promote Culture, Education and Peace at an international level?

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Gerladine Amstrong, choreograph : she was born in the archipelago of Grenade, studied in London withMatt Mattox, before creating her own company jazz art. She met many famous French artists (Line Renaud, Dalida, Shela) and decided to create the company Armstrong Jazz Ballet. 2009, for the Black Project, she worked with Rick Odums and National Dance Center.

Bassey Ebong, choir director: today he is musical director for the City of Paris. With Nigerian background Bassey found his inspiration for Gospel very early. He started his career as choir director in 1997 with a group of 35 singers. He was a tenor in the famous Opera Porgy and Bess in Lyon. Since 2008 Bassey has been directing “Hope Gospel Singers, “Maison pour Tous” and worked for Coline Serreau’s choir.

Jean-Claude Bonnifait, actor : Jean-Claude joined Francis Huster’s class at the “Cours Florent” – many very famous French actors were educated there and it is seen as one of the high-level education system for actors and actresses. He then began a wonderful career playing a very large repertoire. Also he has been seen many times on TV and cinema.

Annie Milon : dancer, actor and TV presenter, Annie played for TV films and plays.

There will be also three musicians, seven singers and seven dancers. Also a very special choir of 20 singers will join the experience at Unesco.

Our artists come from mainland France, overseas French departments and territories, as well as from Western Africa.

They all gather for ONE voice, a voice coming from the United-States fifty years ago, a voice that highlight a UNIVERSAL message delivered by DR. KING, a message of SOLIDARITY, BROTHERHOOD and SISTERHOOD.

Martin Luther King, opéra gospel

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