Louis Riel Day Celebration

We are thrilled to announce that V'ni Dansi will once again be returning for the 19th annual Louis Riel Day celebration! Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 16, at 7 PM at the Annex Theatre. Join us for an event filled with dance, culture, and fun for the whole family.

This year's celebration will feature a performance of our contemporary production, La Mitchin di Mitchif, which explores Métis cultural heritage and fosters a living relationship with the land and Mother Earth. The second part of the evening will showcase our Louis Riel Métis Dancers performing traditional jigging and the Red River Jig Special, together with the North American Fiddlers' Hall of Fame member, Patti Kusturok.

Prepare for a night of music, dance, and jigging as we celebrate the history of the great Métis leader of the Red River Resistance!

V’ni Dansi is a Vancouver-based traditional Métis and contemporary dance company dedicated to sharing the dances, stories and culture of the Métis. Led by Artistic Director Yvonne Chartrand, the company is dedicated to preservation and innovation.

Dancers perform Métis dance under the name- the Louis Riel Métis Dancers, and contemporary works as V'ni Dansi.

V’ni Dansi holds the distinction of being the only company in Canada to teach and perform both Métis and contemporary dance. Meaning “Come and Dance” in Mitchif, V’ni Dansi is thrilled to share the Métis people’s joyful culture with audiences of all nations.

Our work manifests in three creative themes: traditional Métis jigging, contemporary Métis jigging, and Indigenous contemporary dance. The jigging component of our work is performed under the name - the Louis Riel Métis Dancers. Contemporary works are created for Yvonne Chartrand under the name V'ni Dansi.

Traditional Métis jigging preserves the historical dances of generations ago; such dances include: The Red River Jig (up to 100 steps), Drops of Brandy, Reel of Eight, Duck Dance, Rabbit Dance, The Métis Square Dance and Reels with calls (usually 8 people).

Contemporary Métis jigging modernizes traditional forms yet still pays homage to the cultural roots of each dance.

Inspiration for Indigenous contemporary dance works is sourced from the ancestral memory of the body and the stories, history and culture of the Métis people.