Today, we introduce Marjorie Morin-Lapointe, the discreet conductor behind the magic of the Dynastie Gala. For nine years, she has meticulously orchestrated every detail, ensuring everything runs smoothly on the big day. Her humility and discretion contrast with the magnitude of her essential role.
Discover the person who, away from the spotlight, makes the Dynastie Gala shine.
Passion, loyalty, and respect.
First of all, I've always been passionate about event production; since I was 15, I've been organizing events! When I started the Dynastie Gala adventure in 2016, I had big visions. I already knew the event would be a success. Why? Because the Black community is full of talent, and a platform like the Dynastie Gala was simply necessary!
What I love most is clearly the creative part, developing content with the artistic direction team! But also, the organizational side, working with the scenography and technical teams. Especially since I have an amazing team :)
In ten years, it's been over a hundred artists, including musicians and dancers! Honestly, several have left a mark on me: Zach Zoya, Joseph Sarenhes, Jennifer-Lee Dupuy. One artist who truly amazes me is Alexandre Paquette, who has been the Musical Director of the Gala for two years. Creating musical arrangements for all the performances, wow, I find his work incredible! Sometimes, you also come across people with such beautiful energy, like Sajaa, who will perform this year!
Clearly, I thought the 2024 edition was the most impressive, with over 200 LED panels on stage and specific staging for each performance. It was very impressive! We had performances with more than ten artists per number! We mixed hip-hop with classical music and opera for the opening number. It was a real challenge that we successfully met! But I think the ninth edition will also be of very high caliber!
What I love most is clearly the creative aspect of performances and scenography. The most challenging part is negotiating agreements with all the artists and suppliers. It's over 80 people or companies to follow up with. But it's part of the job!
Well, that's quite a question! The biggest challenge I had to overcome was clearly the 2024 edition. On the day of the Gala, both the main hard drive and the backup failed. The hard drive contained all the event's video visuals, nominations, winners, tributes, performance visuals, and more. Without it, there's no Gala. Six hours before the Gala started, I had to reprogram the entire event and recreate several video visuals (I also do video editing). Seriously, adrenaline helped me work so quickly because if you asked me to do it again today, I don't think I could! The good news is that we pulled through lol!
Regarding performances, it's truly a team effort; the decision is made collectively! We receive proposals, try to discover new talents, and approach established artists. Then, we ensure that the styles are varied and that we represent different communities! Once our initial idea is established, I reach out to the artists to check their availability. All this usually starts a good eight months before the Gala. It's a long process but very enjoyable!
Organizing an event like the Dynastie Gala is prepared throughout the year leading up to the Gala. It's a lot of work and many uncertainties, but I do it because I've believed in it since day one. In more challenging times, I spend time with my loved ones and take walks in nature. I completely disconnected from the fast-paced lifestyle!
In ten years, the Dynastie Gala would become the Dynastie Fest (festival), with three or four other versions around the world. A gathering place where, for example, artists from Quebec would be invited to Ghana, and vice versa! In short, a grand celebration of talents on a massive stage! And if it were up to me, I'd add a culinary aspect :)
