A first song backed by her friends
The sound of clattering plates, scraping chairs, and the hum of conversations fills the room. The hall is still echoing with the post-show buzz. Sitting at the table with Marie and her daughter Alma, I just take in the happy chaos around us, surrounded by kids' laughter. As we settle in, I look at Alma: at just six years old, it takes a whole lot of courage to step onto a stage and sing in front of a full room.
No fuss over a change of tune
The journey to the stage is all about small adjustments. Originally, Alma had a very specific idea in mind: she wanted to perform the song Briller, the official French version of the global hit Golden by the virtual group Huntrix. In the end, it was to the upbeat notes of Supercalifragilistic (Mary Poppins)—a suggestion from her singing teacher, Sandrina—that she took her first steps as a singer tonight.
At 6 years old, Alma already understands the realities of the stage. No fuss: if she put her favorite song aside, it was simply because it had too much movement.
"The song has too much energy, and it tires me out a little faster," she confies with disarming clarity.
Adjusting the plan so the fun stays intact, without the song turning into a physical chore—that’s pretty much our philosophy. Alma took her time; she apprivoised the notes. Her conclusion is as simple as it gets: "In the end, I liked it."
From the living room to the stage: learning to handle the jitters
Chatting around the table, we try to retrace the past few months. Alma has been practicing singing at our school since the start of the school year, about seven months ago, but she actually started singing way before that, just for fun, at home.
The real excitement started the night before, at home, when her mom reminded her about the next day's upcoming performance. The result? A burst of pure energy right in the living room. Alma laughs as she shares the story:
"I jumped for joy, and I moved my feet like this, and I fell down."
Yet once backstage, the excitement gave way to a much more intimidating feeling. Alma isn't a complete novice; this was her third or fourth time performing in front of everyone. Except those other times, she was there to dance. Singing for an audience is a whole different ball game, and she describes the moment she had to step out very simply:
"I was scared. I actually felt a little embarrassed to sing at first, but then I got used to it."
Friends as a safety net
In that tipping point when the jitters set in, Alma could count on some real backup. I ask her what it feels like to be surrounded like that, because she had several friends who came out to the hall to cheer her on. Among them was her friend Camila.
"I was scared, but my friend Camila was there to give me positive vibes."
Camila is sitting right there, amidst the chatter. Seeing this pack of friends rally behind her is the real engine. It’s exactly this kind of simple connection that turns the stress of rehearsals into a great time.
When I ask Camila what she thought of the show, her enthusiasm spills out all at once, completely unfiltered:
"Super, super good, even more, awesome, ultra a lot a lot, and ultra beautifully well."
Once she got past that initial shyness, pure satisfaction took over. Alma sums up how she feels now in her own words:
"I feel happy because I knew I could do it, and I really liked it."
Looking ahead to June 21st
Our chat winds down as the sound of clattering dishes continues to pace the end of the evening. I explain that I’m going to put together an article for our website and that I took two or three photos of her while she was singing. I ask if she’s okay with us publishing one, and she agrees very simply.
The Supercalifragilistic adventure doesn't stop there, though. The date is already marked on the calendar: on June 21st, for Apolline Fest, Alma will head back on stage. The jitters will probably be there, and the venue will be bigger, but she’s got the hang of it now. Alma knows what it feels like to sing in front of people, and she’s going back for more with a smile.
