Louis Riel Day Celebration November 22, 2009

Compaigni V’ni Dansi invites you to celebrate the life of Louis Riel, a true Canadian folk hero.

Following last year’s sold-out event, The Louis Riel Day Celebration will be held November 22, 2009 at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Vancouver. In addition to honouring Louis Riel – who inspired the rebirth of the Métis nation – the Festival is a chance to celebrate the vitality of contemporary Métis culture across Canada.

Now in our fourth year, this promises to be the biggest and best Celebration yet, featuring Winston Wuttunee, one of Canada’s premiere aboriginal performers who, will also host the evening; award winning singer-songwriter Ry Moran; traditional storyteller Tom McCallum; rising star Madeleine McCallum who will perform traditional dance and Jules Chartrand, Métis historian from St Laurent who will provide the opening prayer.

The Louis Riel Métis Dancers will once again provide the energy and heart to the Celebration with their traditional Métis jigging with square dance calling by Jim Twain and live fiddle accompaniment by Wuttunee. This year, the dancers will perform Daughters of the Country, a humorous contemporary dance piece about young Métis women on the Canadian frontier.

Yvonne Chartrand from Compaigni V’ni Dansi said: “We are so excited that the annual Louis Riel Day Celebration has become a fixture on the Vancouver calendar and now so many people look forward to it. The event celebrates not just the history of the Métis people but also the contributions we make culturally to the country as a whole. It is a Celebration for everyone in Vancouver, a reflection of our unique cultural heritage: a blending of French, Scottish, Irish, English, Scandinavian and First Nations. Join us for our biggest and best Celebration yet.”

Compaigni V’ni Dansi is the only company in Canada dedicated to teaching and performing traditional and contemporary Métis dance, creating a unique form of expression. The company shares Métis stories and culture with Aboriginal and mainstream audiences with a special interest in passing our dances on to today’s youth. Our mission is to create a repertoire of work that reflects Métis culture. We also seek out contemporary dance and artistic collaborations that bring new light and understanding to these traditions.

Official Website: http://www.vnidansi.ca