Three beloved local organizations—Carriage Barn Arts Center, New Canaan CARES and the New Canaan YMCA—have teamed up to bring the community a free family program next month.
“Woof Woof the Shadow Pup” will be held at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9 at the Carriage Barn (register here, space is limited).
The program includes a shadow dance with professional dancers from the children’s theater production of “Woof Woof” that’s designed to help children express their thoughts and feelings more easily to an imaginary character. “Children will experience projection art and an interactive story time, participate in immersive shadow dance, and dig into hands-on prop-making,” promotional materials say.
We put questions to the heads of the three organizations presenting the program.
Here’s our exchange.
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Shadow Dance Story Time with Woof Woof the Shadow Pup
New Canaanite: “Woof Woof the Shadow Pup” is a unique experience. Give our readers an overview of what they can expect at this free family program.
Hilary Wittmann: The Woof Woof events combine the magic of shadow theater, dance and inspiring creative play to illuminate the importance of understanding and acknowledging the emotional life of young children. The concept was created by Becca Moore, an accomplished dancer/choreographer and her mother-in-law Nancy Close, a professor at the Yale Child Study Center. The imaginary world of shadows can simultaneously excite and calm children and help them open up about experiences they may otherwise have a difficult time sharing.
Shadow Dance Story Time with Woof Woof the Shadow Pup
Tell us how the Carriage Barn became involved in this collaboration with New Canaan CARES and the YMCA.
Hilary Wittmann: The creators of the Woof Woof production are based here in Connecticut and we’ve wanted to bring them to the Carriage Barn and New Canaan community for a few years. After reaching out to New Canaan CARES and the YMCA for marketing support, both enthusiastically supported the idea and enabled us to present the program together for free to all families.
What are you hearing from the community that makes “Woof Woof the Shadow Pup” a good fit for New Canaan kids and families?
Colleen Prostor: New Canaan CARES provides quality, responsive programs to the youth, parents, and overall New Canaan community, all free of charge. When the Carriage Barn approached us to partner on this program, we were so thrilled to join them as this program continues the conversation we started at our Fall Community Program in October with Dr. Aliza Pressman. Her book, ‘The 5 Principles of Parenting,’ talked about how important developing the parent-child relationship is and this Woof Woof program allows parents and children to have the opportunity to participate together and strengthen their relationship and connection.
Shadow Dance Story Time with Woof Woof the Shadow Pup
How does this “Shadow Dance Story Time” help meet your organization’s mission?
Margaret Riley: The Y’s mission is to enrich all people in spirit, mind, and body, and we do this by bringing our community together through programs and services that are dedicated to supporting both physical and mental health. We are proud to be partnering with the Carriage Barn and New Canaan CARES to provide an opportunity for families to explore and learn skills to support their children’s emotional and mental well-being.
What else would you like to tell our readers about the Feb. 9 programs?
Hilary Wittmann: Each show is about one hour and geared to children ages 3-7 and their families. Tickets are required and are limited (first-come, first-served).