Our Mission

V’ni Dansi - Artistic Mandate:

a) To create a repertoire of dance works that reflect Métis culture in contemporary dance forms;

b) To teach, promote, and present traditional Métis and contemporary dance to youth and adults

c) To establish a training program to create professional quality dancers to join the company;

d) To create contemporary dance works in collaboration with artists of various disciplines of the four directions who are open to explore shared visions and themes;

e) To teach and to perform locally, provincially, nationally and internationally;

f) To explore and promote indigenous and other traditional dance forms which are at the root of Métis dance;

g) To facilitate workshops and opportunities for learning of traditional dance forms, which will culturally empower youth in smaller communities.

About V'NI DANSI

Our work manifests in three creative themes: traditional Métis jigging, contemporary Métis jigging, and contemporary dance.

Traditional Métis jigging preserves the historical dances of generations ago. These dances are traditionally done with a still upper body and feet do not come higher than the ankle bone. These traditions stem from a spiritual practice that is rooted to Mother Earth both literally and figuratively and they embody the elegance of the European historical dance influence.

Contemporary Métis jigging modernizes traditional forms yet still pays homage to the cultural roots of each dance. This newer form includes square dances and reels. These styles are performed with rigorous full-body movement and square dance outfits. These forms are prevalent at most Métis festivals.

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