After a roll of drums and the sound of a trumpet, a stentorian voice announced the presence of Queen Marie-Louise of Haiti and Her Suite. The crowd, bewildered, attended the arrival of the prestigious procession descending the stairs of the Palace to the central stage. Applauses crackled repeatedly to salute these historical figures, particularly the Queen, played by Ranya Dérose. They were all beautifully dressed in period costumes created by fashion designer Madeline Ledan, who also dressed Emeline, musicians, singers... Suddenly, drum roll and conch sound: the silence was complete in the audience with the appearance of King Henry Christophe, in the person of the poet-writer Jean Claude Chéry, who majestically walked down the stairs of the Palace to the podium, with a proud, royal, stately look. It was a key moment when King Henry the 1^st made a galvanizing speech and decreed "Year 2009, Year free of AIDS, for all the years to come”. The audience was at first dumbfounded, stupefied, not knowing if it was a dream or the real physical return of the King, and then pulled itself together to respond to the words and the presence of King Henry with applauses and endless cries of joy.

Emeline Michel came back on stage, accompanied by the sublime trio of singers to interpret with emotion “Shane", song composed with Hansy Peters that the assistance had the opportunity to rediscover. Meanwhile, four dancers lit the huge candle on center stage and it was the transmission of light to all the candles that had been distributed to the public. Very intense and strong moment of communion and sharing which lasted a few good minutes, while the assistance was singing the refrain of this beautiful song of praise, hope and solidarity. The show closed with a “Rara”, dance of celebration and joy in the presence of the King's Court... Despite the announcement of the end of the evening, minus all the programmed official speeches, the audience remained standing, on the site, hoping for an extension of this unforgettable spectacle.

It is very unfortunate that all this energy had not been invested in a single event in which Haiti would have been the sole beneficiary.

Thanks to the Organizing Committee who had the idea of producing this event in the Sans Souci Palace, as if to conjure the specter of AIDS, despite all the difficulties in all aspects of such an achievement, as well as all precarious conditions prevailing on this place of rare beauty.

Congratulations to Yole Dérose Productions which in a few hours, through the magic of artistic creation, in the idyllic setting of this historic site, has rebuilt the bridge to our past, hoping that in this new era of change, this link will help us make a leap towards a better future, based on the gigantic vision of our ancestors.

What if Artists, Creators, Uncommitted did not exist? ...