Members of the Alliance Française de la Côte de Saphir (Alliance Francaise of the Sapphire Coast) celebrated their 30 year anniversary with a dinner and very French-flavoured cabaret on Saturday evening.
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The day, July 14, also happened to be Bastille Day, an important celebration of in France which marks the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, and the unity of the French people at the Fête de la Fédération on 14 July 1790.
Secretary and MC for the evening Michael Warren welcomed everyone to the dinner and mentioned France’s motto of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, a legacy of the Age of Enlightenment, and which first appeared during the French Revolution.
Almost 100 members and guests dressed to impress in black tie attire or in costume for the event at Oaklands and everyone sang the French national anthem, La Marseillaise before dinner.
During the evening the audience was transported to the Belle Epoque, a time of peace, prosperity and artistic innovation, with the music of Offenbach, Strauss, Satie and Bizet and songs by Cole Porter, Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel, with the help of concert singer Eliane Morel who was accompanied by Paul Dion on piano.