Performing in a Choir, a Powerful Tool to Transform Societies

Documenting 21C proposes a presentation titled “Performing in a Choir, a Powerful tool to Transform Societies,” the goal of which is to reflect on the following question: How does singing in a choir, and more widely the practice of music and art, be a powerful instrument in transforming individuals, communities and society?

During this presentation, the presenters will show some short extracts from their documentary titled “A Choir that Saves Lives“ based in Toliara, the south of Madagascar. The choir has 150 young girls living in extreme poverty, endeavoring to transform their lives and their community through choral singing. The practice of community music is changing the lives not only of the girls, but also the life of a group of prisoners.

The directors of the movie will share their experience of having lived for two months in proximity to this unique choir and also to the choir created in the Toliara prison.

Why Documenting 21C ?

All the members of the Documenting 21C team share the conviction that access to artistic practice as a fundamental human right of expression is an essential tool to transforming society.

The team members have been participating in or organizing numerous artistic or educational projects and have come to the realization that throughout the world, many people are carrying out extraordinary artistic or educational projects trying to build spaces of expression where they have disappeared and projects that bring a more lateral, participative and collaborative vision.

Those exemplary projects in conflict areas, sites of extreme poverty, privation of liberty, hospitals, etc. give joy, hope, dignity and sometimes even contribute to saving lives. Unfortunately these initiatives are often unknown or not well-valued and their leaders have only limited ressources and not enough knowledge to disseminate their work.

Filled with these convictions and strengthened by these acknowledgments, Documenting 21C was created to illuminate these types of projects and to help those who lead them, and to inspire 21st century actors to engage in the powerful practice of community music to transform lives.

How does Documenting 21C acts ?

Through its international network, which is still developing, Documenting 21C is seeking to locate and select exemplary projects. Then they go on site to meet, film and give voice to the actors and to the beneficiaries of those initiatives.

http://documenting21c.com/?lang=en#video_choeur_sauve