Stories from St Laurent March 31, 2009

Experience Stories from St. Laurent

Manipogos to mud-bogging – one woman's quest for Métis truth.

Compaigni V’ni Dansi announces the world premiere of Stories from St. Laurent, created by Yvonne Chartrand in collaboration with Marie Clements. The production will open April 1st at the Firehall Arts Centre.

Stories from St. Laurent is an exploration of the rich culture of the Métis people through the language of dance. It connects contemporary, personal experiences with the history of the Métis and their kinship to life, love and land. Incorporating movement and text with video and soundscape, Stories from St. Laurent is a journey of survival above and below the surface of identity which features characters such as Good Life Man, Wren Woman, Sioux Woman and the infamous Manipogo. In creating the piece, Chartrand draws on extensive research she conducted with Métis elders about their past and present experiences. These materials will also be incorporated into the video projections being created by Tim Matheson.

Stories from St. Laurent is created by Yvonne Chartrand (performer/choreographer); Marie Clements (director); Tim Matheson (video artist); Sandy Scofield (sound/composition); Jeff Harrison (lighting designer); Allyson McGrane (producer) and Chris May (production manager).

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/