Experience

Compaigni V'ni Dansi is currently looking for a permanent, full-time Associate Administrative

Director. The successful candidate will work closely with the Administrative Director of the

organization, thereby learning to support Compaigni V'ni Dansi in its many areas of work. After up to

six months of working closely with the Administrative Director, Compaigni V'ni Dansi artists, and the

society board, the Associate Administrative Director will take over daily management of the society.

Compaigni V'ni Dansi

Compaigni V’ni Dansi is a Vancouver-based dance group that fuses traditional Métis dance with

contemporary arts. Formed in 2000 by Yvonne Chartrand, the group has been dedicated to preservation

and innovation, successfully sharing the culture and history of the Métis with both Aboriginal and

mainstream audiences since its inception. The company’s work has been hosted at numerous venues

around the Lower Mainland, and is regularly featured at the Annual Louis Riel Day and Talking Stick

Festivals. Today, Compaigni V’ni Dansi holds the distinction of being the only company in Canada to

teach and perform both Métis and contemporary dance.

Responsibilities:

• Developing an understanding of how the society carries out responsibilities towards the community, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal;

• Developing a broad working knowledge of society management by participating in boar development, strategic planning, and artistic visioning for the organization;

• Taking part in practical aspects of running the society, from planning annual programming to overseeing the execution of individual projects;

• Attending board meetings and regular meetings between the Administrative Director and the Artistic Director;

• Working with the Administrative Director and the Artistic Director to balance artistic vision with financial realities; and

• Acting as a liaison between the Artistic Director, management staff, and company artists.

Qualifications:

• Excellent communication skills (both written and oral);

• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to multitask and work in time sensitive environments;

• Management experience in the performing arts sector;

• Sense of leadership and team-working skills;

• Experience with budgeting, marketing and producing of events.

Applications will be accepted until Friday, September 28, 2012.

Please, send resume and cover letter to jobs@vnidansi.ca

Or by mail to:

Compaigni V'ni Dansi Society

#406 – 857 Beatty Street.

Vancouver, BC V6B 2M6

Dear Friends,

Compaigni V'ni Dansi is excited to invite you to watch a wonderful program of traditional Metis dance. "The Fort Langley Project" is a collaboration between members of the Louis Riel Metis Dancers and young performers from the Langley area. Throughout the month of July, we have been teaching five young dancers contemporary dance, theatre, Metis jigs, reels and square dances.

We are now ready to perform for you!

Performances will take place at 11:30 and at 1:15 pm in the Fort Langley Historic Site on the following dates:

Week 1: July 26-28
Week 2: August 2-6
Week 3: August 10-14

Once you purchase admission to the historic site, the performances are free for all visitors.

Join us for an afternoon over the next three weeks and get a taste of true Metis culture.

Bring friends and relatives -- it's fun for the whole family.

FORT LANGLEY INFORMATION & ADDRESS

General Website URL

http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/bc/langley/index.aspx

Instructions on how to get there (including Tranlink information)

http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/bc/langley/visit/visit1.aspx

Map of the historic site

http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/bc/langley/visit/visit6.aspx

Fort Langley Summer Hours

9 am to 6 pm

Compaigni V’ni Dansi is seeking individuals interested in learning Métis traditional dance and being part of a summer performance. The performance will include traditional Métis dance as well as contemporary dance, and theatre. Experience is not necessary, however all applicants need to be available for the entire project and be in good physical shape. After all, jigging is Métis aerobics!

Compaigni V’ni Dansi is unique in being the only Canadian company to teach and perform traditional Métis and contemporary dance. Yvonne Chartrand created the company to share Métis stories and culture with Aboriginal and mainstream audiences.

Project Infomation:
The project will run from Monday July 4th, 2011 to Sunday August 14th, 2011
Rehearsals: July 4th-22nd, 2011 in Fort Langley, Monday- Friday
Rehearsal Times: 10am- 4pm
Performances: July 25th- 28th, August 2nd-6th & 10th-14th
Performance Times: To be determined. (Will be during daytime hours)
Applicants chosen to participate in the program will be paid an honorarium of $250 per week.

Compaigni V’ni Dansi sees this as an opportunity to initiate an ongoing Métis Dance Group with the Fort Langley community. We hope that the participants for this summer project will be the core of the ongoing group.

Applicant requirements:
Age range: All ages are welcome to apply

Commitment to the entire project is required.

How to apply:
• Complete the attached application form
• Provide a letter outlining why you wish to participate in The Artist and Community Collaboration
• Provide one photo of yourself.

Applications must be received by June 8, 2011. Please submit the application page and supporting documents to:

Artist and Community Collaboration Project
C/o Left Right Minds Initiatives
406-857 Beatty Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 2M6

For more information contact:
Yvonne Chartrand @ 604 842 3833
Email: Yvonne@vnidansi.ca

P.S If you are not able to commit to the entire project, perhaps you could be involved in the summer community workshops in Langley. Times to be announced.
 

What:  Fifth Annual Louis Riel Day Celebration, a Festival of Métis Culture
When:  Taking place over two days: Saturday, November 13 & Sunday, November 14
Where:  The Cultch (1895 Venables) on November 13 and the WISE Hall (1882 Adanac Street) on November 14
How: Tickets are $15.00 for each event or $25.00 for both. Special family and friends deal: buy four tickets and get one free, Tickets available for purchase in advance from www.vnidansi.ca
Who: Compaigni V’ni Dansi, For more information: www.vnidansi.ca or call 604.873.6373

Compaigni V’ni Dansi invites Vancouver to celebrate the life of Louis Riel, the Canadian folk hero, with the fifth annual Louis Riel Day Celebration, a festival of Métis Dance, Music and Culture.

Taking place over two days, this year’s Festival will also feature a special Métis dinner and dance on Sunday 14 November at the WISE Hall to which everyone is invited.

In addition to honouring Louis Riel, the Festival is a chance to celebrate the vitality of contemporary Métis culture both locally and across Canada. Festivities begin on November 13 at the Cultch with an exciting line up of contemporary and traditional Métis artists. The evening will be hosted by Winston Wuttunee, one of Canada’s premiere aboriginal performers with special guests Métis fiddle master John Arcand accompanied on guitar by his wife Vicki Arcand. Other performers include acclaimed poet and writer Greg Scofield and rising traditional dance star Madeleine McCallum. Jules Chartrand, Métis historian from St Laurent will provide the opening prayer. Led by master jigger Yvonne Chartrand, the Louis Riel Métis Dancers will once again provide energy and heart with their traditional Métis jigging.

The next night, the Celebration takes over the WISE Hall with a communal dinner and dance including live music by our special guests John and Vicki Arcand .Delicious, traditional Metis fare will be served along with performances and a chance for the whole community to join in to dance and celebrate.

In addition, during the day on November 13, John Arcand will offer special fiddle workshops. For more information on this rare opportunity to work with a fiddle master please contact Compaigni V'ni Dansi directly.

Yvonne Chartrand from Compaigni V’ni Dansi said about this year’s Celebration: “I can’t believe we’re already at five years. We are so excited that this year, in addition to our exciting line up of performers on Saturday night, we are also going to have communal dinner and dance on Sunday. This event at the WISE Hall will be a true celebration of our community and one that we want to invite the whole city to. It is a Celebration for everyone as well as being a reflection of the unique cultural heritage of the Métis: a blending of French, Scottish, Irish, English, Scandinavian and First Nations.”

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.