March 25 at Tacos Bar in Lausanne
On Tuesday, March 25, at Tacos Bar in Lausanne, the dim lighting mingled with the spicy scent of tacos. In a corner of the room, two young silhouettes were waiting to go on stage, and my heart was pounding almost as hard as theirs: tonight, I was about to watch, for the first time, a duet by two of our students. Malia and Manytiane had been preparing for weeks with their teacher, Sandrina, and it wasn’t their first time on stage. Just before their turn, I watched them near the bar and could feel the stage fright and apprehension they were carrying.
Their teacher Sandrina stood beside them, smiling, offering a final word of encouragement. Nearby, a few parents, just as jittery, exchanged nervous looks. When the moment came, Sandrina called them up, announcing their names. The two girls stepped forward to warm applause. From their hesitant steps, you might have thought they were intimidated. The music began, and the first notes gradually quieted the din of the bar. One voice wavered for a moment, then the other joined in on the chorus in harmony. Their voices grew steadier, while a supportive hush settled over the audience, where parents and regulars alike held their breath.
Midway through the song, I felt a shift on stage. The two singers exchanged a knowing look and, for an instant, it seemed all their nerves lifted. A smile appeared on their faces as their once-trembling voices blended into a harmonious melody. Down in front, Sandrina wore a proud, moved smile. When the last note faded, a brief silence was followed by thunderous applause. The faces of the two young performers lit up as they realized what they had accomplished. They beamed, eyes shining.
Backstage, the two friends were thrilled to have sung on stage, yet they still cast a critical eye on their performance. Sandrina was waiting and greeted them with a “Bravo!” Demanding of themselves, they still weren’t entirely satisfied. Sandrina told me that in the next class, the three of them did an exercise to highlight what had gone well and, to the girls’ pleasant surprise, there was a lot to celebrate. In every session, Sandrina encouraged them and emphasized their progress. That groundwork helped them step onto the stage knowing they weren’t alone.
That night, stage fright turned into a personal triumph, and I was moved to witness it live. The evening reminded me how, with kindness, art can bring out the best in everyone. And the best part: as they were leaving, our two singers were already talking about getting back on stage in May, their eyes sparkling with excitement and confidence.
Natacha – writer on the Apolline team