Louis Riel Day Celebration

Thank you to everyone who attended the 18th Annual Louis Riel Day Celebration! The event was an absolute success and we feel incredibly lucky to be nearing our 20 year anniversary. It would not have been possible without all of your support.

We’d also like to thank our sponsors:

• Canada Council for the Arts
• Government of Canada
• British Columbia Arts Council
• Province of BC
• City of Vancouver

Thank you for promoting Métis dance and culture! We look forward to seeing you at our next Louis Riel Day Celebration on Saturday, November 16, 2024.

We're very proud to announce that V'ni Dansi will once again be returning for the 18th annual Louis Riel Day celebration! Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 11 at 7 p.m. at the Annex Theatre. Join us for an event filled with dance, culture and fun for the whole family.

We are very fortunate to have the the honour of welcoming Métis fiddler Mark Morisseau and musician Debbie Houle as our guest artists for the night! Be sure to come down and help us in celebrating 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.