If you go down to the woods today, choreographer Hélène Blackburn’s first show for young audiences, is geared toward children aged 6 to 12 and their families. It is composed of a suite of six choreographic tableaus on children’s fears: fear of the night, fear of growing up, fear of difference, fear for the pleasure of being afraid, imaginary fear, warranted fear... all of it aimed at taming fear, learning how to own it and finding possible solutions to the conflicts it inevitably engenders.

A WORD FROM THE CHOREAGRAPHER
“ I believe that children are perceptive beings naturally endowed with an openness of spirit. That being the case, it seems to me that it is possible to create a work that is simple and powerful, expressive and understandable, without necessarily resorting to a narrative form or conventional dramatic theme. Faced with the challenge of coming up with a show for younger audiences, I was able to draw on the resources inherent in my creative process and to approach the research with the same integrity and rigour that I brought to bear on my previous work. I believe that dance possesses a dual ability: it can be carried out by dispensing with everything that does not directly concern its execution and, at the same time, it can continue to suggest representation thanks to the evocative power of the body alone. Whether it is geared toward a child or an adult, dance can become an open invitation to the viewer, through imagination - a hothouse of meaning and sign recognition - to fill in the empty spaces. ”

CAS PUBLIC produced a learning guide for teachers who wish to use the themes of choreographic creation and fear for educational purposes. On request, the 40-minute show can be preceded and followed by an interactive activity lasting ten minutes. There is an French version of If you go down to the woods today, entitled Nous n’irons plus au bois.
CAS PUBLIC captured the prestigious prize awarded by the Office franco-québécois pour la jeunesse-RIDEAU 2001 in the creator category for If you go down to the woods today.

IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE WOODS TODAY
This work is dedicated to my daughter Jeanne-Camille,
for it is largely inspired by her fears and favourite things.
Hélène Blackburn, choreographer

IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE WOODS TODAY is a co-production of the Agora de la danse with the special collaboration of the Maison de la culture Mercier in Montreal.