Extracts from DVD "Rythms of Human adventure"
Artistic Director and Teacher : Michael Bougon ; DVD Director : Cyril Auribault pour Artis-StudioProducer : Musique & Handicap 78
TERANGA : project and goals
TERANGA in Senegal means: “The land of welcome, sharing and
hospitality.” TERANGA is a show that gathers mentally
handicapped musicians - most of them having Downs Syndrome
- with professional musicians. They began performing in
2000.
The goals for this project are :
Integrate
to society the handicapped musicians
performing with professionals
To
become a band standard for the handicapped people
and their environment. It is a band where the handicapped
person can feel good with, identify with.
Inspire
vocations
and thanks to the therapeutic effects (better
concentration, better psychomotricity…) and suggest to
devellop this kind of project in appropriate
establishments.
Production and diffusion of TERANGA's DVD
The vision of the performances is to share the generosity
of the group and its groove. The point of the documentary
made by Artis-Studio is to show the work and the process of
creating the music that the musicians go through. It is
based on rhythm sensations, which are created in
collaboration with the professional musicians. The
documentary also shows that the concerts have helped to
contribute, stimulate and liberate the energy of the
handicapped musicians, permitting them to express
themselves individually while also contributing to the
group.
The
diffusion of Teranga's show troughout the DVD and the
concerts aim to change the way people look at the
handicapped people, and to raise social cultural partners
awerness about the integration of the handicapped people in
existing structures.
TERANGA : the show
TERANGAs’ music and instruments have a base in many different cultures and styles. Percussions, songs and dances, for example the music from Senegal, which are performed in this traditional way, but also more modern ones, like reggae or latin-jazz are experienced as well. The percussions and solos on djembes by the handicapped musicians make your head spin! The entire show will surround you with energy and emotion, but will also draw you in and hold you there with a festive spirit.
TERANGA et "les gars de Maule"
There are seven handicapped musicians, also called “les Gars de Maule”, who work in the ESAT of Maule, a specialized long term work program. They also live there and practice music once a week in a workshop conducted by 2 professional animators sent by the association “Musique & Handicap 78”. When performing their concerts, 4 to 5 professional musicians accompany them.
“Les gars de Maule” have been playing music for almost 20 years and can now be considered accomplished musicians. Music is not only their passion, it is a way of living, a reason for living even, bringing them acclaim and acknowledgement, especially through the concerts.
TERANGA : performing
TERANGA had their first concert in 2000 at the Palais des Congrès of Paris, for the 40th anniversary of the UNAPEI (“National Committee of Friends and Parents of Handicapped Children”). Since then, they have played at The Cabaret Sauvage in Paris (Festival sponsored by the Mairie of Paris), at the Trocadéro (“Handicap days of UNAPEI”), at the Ministery of Justice and at Champs de Mars (“Defistival”).
The Association "Musique & Handicap 78"
TERANGA was created by the Association “Musique &
Handicap 78”,
whose primary aim is to promote music to handicapped
persons since 1984. Musique & Handicap 78 has opened 40
workshops in Versailles and surrounding areas in several
social and medical institutions. The concerts are produced
by adults of these groups and contribute to the recognition
of the artistic abilities of the handicapped people, and
also their personal development and integration into
society. TERANGA concerts show the value of the
Associations credo: “Bring music to everyone’s
level”.
TERANGA partners
TERANGA, a mixture of personal creativity and group spirit, is supported with donations and sponsorships from the FONDATION de FRANCE, “Les arts et les Autres” Foundation, AIR FRANCE Foundation, the Yvelines General Council, Bois Mesnuls APEI, and the city of Trappes, the Paris Jazz Band.
