October 25, 2006 -

“Even though this show is called CHUT!! (“Shh!!”), you get the feeling that Alice and her wonders aren’t far away. Sweet dreams.”
– Hélène Langevin

The interjection “chut” (in English, “shh”) demands silence. Silence inclines to slumber. Slumber inclines to dreaming. Dreaming inclines to a performance . . . CHUT!!, it’s about to start!

To launch its 2006–07 Série pour l’enfance (Family Series), the National Arts Centre (NAC) French Theatre is pleased to present CHUT!!, a dance/theatre piece by acclaimed choreographer Hélène Langevin, with performances in the NAC Studio November 4 and 5, 2006.

The magical universe of dreams is the perfect setting for making impossible things possible, and dance the most natural thing in the world. Choreographer Hélène Langevin and her company Bouge de là (whose lively and colourful Comme les cinq doigts de la main was presented at the NAC in May 2005) have chosen this approach to introduce young audiences to the art of movement, the beauty of choreography, the excitement of dance—in short, to a world of imagination and poetry.

To conjure up the land of dreams, Hélène Langevin enlisted the help of her colleague Marcelle Hudon who specializes in shadow play. “The shadows are like Alice’s White Rabbit,” explains Hélène. “They hold the key to an imaginary place. Julie—our Alice—travels back and forth between her own three-dimensional world and the two-dimensional land of dreams.”

Combining irresistibly light-hearted choreography and shadow play with original music by Bernard Falaise and dazzling costumes designed by Louis Hudon, Hélène Langevin and her artistic team have crafted a delightful passage into the strange and beguiling world of dreams, with all their poetic mystery.

“The result is a complete success. . . . Hélène Langevin knows exactly how to go about enchanting her audience. Highly dynamic and well-paced, her show explodes with colour and creativity. . . . An intelligent, well-crafted show to enjoy with or without a young companion.”
– Fabienne Cabado, Voir

“The clever use of shadow play increases the effect of wonder and amazement tenfold. . . . The performers’ charisma and their skills as dancers/ actors/ chameleons/ shadow magicians are a big part of the show’s appeal for young audiences.”
– Frédérique Doyon, Le Devoir

CHUT!!

Julie, a little girl with long braids and a mischievous smile, is asleep on her feet . . . Quick, off to bed! But as soon as she closes her eyes she finds herself in an exotic land inhabited by the most peculiar characters: a majestic snail, lithe and shimmering nymphs, a lady with four arms, and a weird-looking ostrich, not to mention an array of improbable mechanical toys.

Choreography by Hélène Langevin
With Nathalie Blanchet, Julie Marcil, Alexandre Parenteau and Julie Siméon
Assistant choreographer and rehearsal mistress: Sophie Michaud
Dramaturgical support: Martin Faucher / Shadow play: Marcelle Hudon
Music: Bernard Falaise / Costumes: Louis Hudon / Lighting: Yan Lee Chan
Sets: Olivier Landreville / A Bouge de là (Montreal) production

Saturday, November 4, 2006 at 13:30
and Sunday, November 5, 2006 at 13:30 & 15:30
National Arts Centre / Studio
53 Elgin Street, Ottawa, ON
Show running time: 60 minutes, no intermission
Recommended for ages 5 to 10

Tickets $12 (children and adults)
On sale at the NAC Box Office (no service charges), through Ticketmaster (at all Ticketmaster outlets or by ‘phone, 613-755-1111) or online at www.nac-cna.ca.

About choreographer Hélène Langevin

From the very start of her career, choreographer Hélène Langevin has created works of great expressive power. She trained in contemporary dance at the Université du Québec à Montréal and taught children’s creative dance for 25 years. A strong believer in a theatrical, multidisciplinary approach, she is drawn to projects that combine video, acrobatics, shadowplay and dance. In 1988 she joined forces with Ginette Ferland, Rolline Laporte and Guylaine Savoie to found the explosive Brouhaha Danse, for which she created her first work for young audiences: Roche, Papier, Ciseaux (1996). In 2000 she founded her own company, Bouge de là, where her credits include La Tribu Hurluberlu, Comme les cinq doigts de la main, and CHUT!! Bouge de là is one of the few professional dance companies in Quebec and Canada that specialize in creating and producing work for young audiences.

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For more information, please contact:
Guy Warin, Communications & Media Relations Officer
French Theatre – Canada’s National Arts Centre
(613) 947-7000 or 1 866 850-2787, ext. 759
gwarin@nac-cna.ca