This determination was palpable Wednesday evening, coming from the children whose enthusiasm was contagious as well as from the adults behind the Irréductibles project.
Giant feats and big smilesThe show put on by students in their fourth year opened with a fencing demonstration. The basic movements, which were executed in a synchronized and graceful manner, were followed by face to face combats.
Next, the little acrobats took to the stage. The youths reproduced boats, battles and the angry sea as part of the pirates theme. Spectacular juggling acts, summersaults, pirouettes, followed, with acrobatic hoops, ropes and trapeze demonstrations. The show was topped off by an amazing human pyramid.
After a short interlude, Mathieu and Jolain, both professional circus trainers, performed a stunning routine that confirmed that the talent was contagious from the trainers to their students.
For Mathieu, however, the circus is not just about performance. “The circus can take many different forms. It’s not just for big troupes or for big athletes. For children, it’s a way to have fun, to learn how to work as a team and to bond…”
Interviewed before the show, fourth graders Alexa, Anda, Christina and Nicolas were proud and excited. “We like it a lot,” the four said in unison. Were they nervous about getting on the stage? “Of course!” said Nicolas. “To calm down, we take deep breaths,” explained Alexa. For Christina’s mother, who came to watch the show, the Irréductibles project has a very positive impact. “It opens up the children’s minds and it helps them find themselves,” she said. The audience was full of parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, as well as teachers and even school commissioner Jocelyne Cyr.
The Irréductibles are not just circus and fencing workshops. There is also a reading circle, a woodworking workshop, and hip hop classes available. These activities are available at a small cost that covers the teams’ shirts, allowing them to display their colours.
“We wanted a project that brought people together and reached the youths in all kinds of spheres,” said Benoit Tassé, the physical education teacher who, with help from his colleagues, started the project. With the school located in a rather disadvantaged area, Irréductibles offers children a constructive way to occupy their free time. “It makes them more participative and creates a connection to the school that goes beyond classes and homework… And, of course, it’s a lot of fun for the kids,” said Tassé.
The project has been running for three years and Tassé says that is thanks to the community. “The parents collaborate a lot. And none of this would be possible without the support of the principal, Mrs. Duval, the teachers, Annie Benoit, librarian Gabriella Gendreau, Stephanie Eid from police Station 10 and la Corbeille,” said Tassé. Contributions from Quebec en forme also make the project financially viable.
While this type of program will always be fragile, Tassé is optimistic about the Irréductibles’ future. “Collaboration with Quebec en forme should last, and the principal wants to develop the project,” Tassé said.
The positive reaction of about 200 children gives them the will to continue. “The magic that I see in their eyes tonight is my reward, it’s my light,” the teacher said.
