Performances

Stories of Canada School Presentations

Other Services

Miscellaneous

Les Bûcherons would like to thank the Alberta Foundation for the Arts for its support.

Introduction

Having impacted over a million Canadian Children over 25 years, Les Bûcherons offer accelerated learning with lively presentations that showcase their love and appreciation for Canadian History, French Canadian Culture and the environment.

Since their inception, Les Bûcherons have performed thousands of live shows and engaging workshops across Canada. In 2005, they launched their new series of School Shows called Stories of Canada. Students experience the adventures of Jacques Cartier and the King of France in their first feature presentation, Explorateurs & Voyageurs, which covers chapters of Canadian history dating back to 1534. Through music, stories, dance and audience participation, they journey across the Atlantic to New France and experience a birch bark canoe trip into the Canadian wilderness to trade furs with a native elder.

Stories of Canada is very effective in accelerating learning. This powerful bilingual presentation uses the emotions triggered by incredible music, effective props and audience participation to stimulate memory and learning.

Stories of Canada takes chapters of Canadian History and animates key events and people into experiential education. Les Bûcherons believes that by understanding where we come from, we can better understand who we are and how to navigate our future.

There are several shows that we regularly perform and they are very well received. We have included a list of them below. For more information or to book Les Bûcherons, please contact us.

The best way to experience Les Bûcherons to see us live. However, we have the next best thing on our media page: a collection of songs and videos that showcase the talents of Les Bûcherons.

Our shows are very popular and we have received a lot of letters from event organizers and audience members. If you would like to read what they have to say, please visit our testimonials page.

Stories of Canada School Presentations

Explorateurs & Voyageurs

Meet Jacques Cartier and the King of France. Journey across the Atlantic to New France. Experience a birch bark canoe trip into the wilderness and fur trade with a native Elder.

For more information, please see our promotional poster.

Workshops

Workshops are offered in conjunction with the Explorateurs & Voyageurs show.

We offer a variety of workshops to schools and teachers. They are:

The Great Canadian Square Dance
Mon 'ti Bonhomme Line Dance Workshop with Jigging
V'la l'bon vent Spoons Workshop
Bonhomme, Bonhomme Dancing Man Workshop

Each workshop lasts approximately 45 to 60 minutes in length.

The Great Canadian Square Dance

Teachers and students come together with intermingling patterns, rhythmic movements and cooperating attitudes to the powerful recorded music of Canadian fiddlers and accordion players. Face the challenges and let yourself make all the necessary mistakes in order to accelerate your learning and experience a cultural phenomenon which will stand the test of time. Following the workshop is a discussion regarding attitudes, teamwork, leadership and coachability.

Syllabus:

Bow to your partners
Circle left, circle right
Do si do, swing left, swing right
Grand Chain
Forward and back
Alemande left
Heads and sides forward and back
Star family
Promenade
Figure 8
Dip and Dive
Open the circle and end

Debrief Issues:

Team work
Attitude
Comfort Zone
Learning from mistakes
Social circles

Mon 'ti Bonhomme Line Dance Workshop with Jigging

This workshop teaches basic jigging steps and will help develop coordination and agility. Learn and appreciate traditional, French-Canadian step-dancing.

V'la l'bon vent Spoons Workshop

A truly musical workshop: learn how to use the wooden spoons - handcrafted by an Edmonton-area artisan - and various rhythms. Participants may optionally purchase a set of spoons.

Bonhomme, Bonhomme Dancing Man Workshop

Learn to assemble a traditional, French-Canadian, wooden dancing man. Once assembled, learn how to use the dancing man as a percussive instrument. Participants may optionally purchase a dancing man kit.

Artist in Residency

The Artists in Residency Program is a dynamic educational and self-discovery experience. It includes a vibrant and motivational concert by the artists and workshops every day, including jigging, square dancing, singing, songwriting, storytelling, percussion, dancing men, master of ceremonies and spoons. It ends with the students performing their work and showing their unique talents in a final concert for the community.

Rendez-Vous is our One-Day Residency Program and it's been receiving rave reviews. For more information, please see our Rendez-Vous page.

In addition to Rendez-Vous, we have several other recommendation and options for residencies. Please see our brochure for more information.

Organizations may be eligible for a grant from The Alberta Foundation for the Arts. Please visit their website to download a grant application form.

Day at the Lake

Experience everything Les Bûcherons has to offer in a natural setting as a field trip to Cooking Lake, located 20 minutes east of Sherwood Park. Read about a recent visit from Queen Elizabeth High students and what they had to say about this unique program.

Community Shows

Song of the Axe

This is a 45-minute performance of traditional and original songs, stories and dances based on the rich folklore of yesteryears. This is a celebration of French-Canadian culture involving two energetic lumberjacks who draw their audiences in with a contagious joie de vivre.

Les Bûcherons also offers a 90-minute version of the show, with even more songs, stories, and dancing.

Maple Sugar

A traditional winter activity that's sure to delight young and old alike! A taste of Maple Sugar on snow, accompanied by some entertainment and traditional music. This activity is available only from November through April.

Other Services

Festival Performance

With a sound and far-reaching repertoire of beautiful and energetic time-honoured French-Canadian and Canadian folk songs, extensive use of traditional and unusual instruments, such as the saw, jaw harp, bones, banjo, mandolin, button accordion, and dressed in historic, French-Canadian attire, Les Bûcherons are a wonderful addition to any festival.

Miscellaneous

We can perform at any variety of functions, from conventions, company picnics, banquet dinners, family reunions to parades. We have valuable experience in playing both in and out of doors as well as in all kinds of weather. Looking for lively, high-energy, fun entertainment? Please consider us for your next event.

Rendez-Vous

Rendez-Vous is the ultimate experience in traditional French Canadian culture.

The artists lead students in a one day workshop suitable for their grade level. Learning and team work are emphasized in a memorable experience that culminates in the students performing in an assembly/show.