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INUVIK - A wide toothy smile and a joyous invitation from visiting African performer Jean Pierre Makosso was all it took to get the community hall audience off their feet and dancing along on Friday.

Jean Pierre Makosso flashes a familiar smile during his Friday evening performance. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

And in doing so, swaying arms and bodies side to side, some proved more natural than others, especially when it came to "the itch" dance, simulating frantic but rhythmic scratching up and down the body.

But that didn't matter, it was about having fun.

A refreshingly original and diverse artist, the Congo-born entertainer arrived in Inuvik to spread his seemingly boundless joy and energy to the young and old.

He thrilled students at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school with a performance just hours before his Friday evening public show.

Weaving witty tribal stories into songs, the gifted storyteller peppered his shows with generous and fascinating traditional instrument performances. He included samplings with a percussion instrument called the balafon, African drums and the kora, a guitar-like instrument.

Speaking of his ancestors, the internationally renowned bilingual performer said: "Those who are gone are never gone away. They are in the river that flows, they are in the wind that blows, they are in the trees that whistle, they are in the air that whispers."

His visit was sponsored the Association des francophones du Delta du Mackenzie and Northern Arts and Cultural Centre.

Richard Letorneau, the association's president, attended both the school and public performances and did a little dancing himself. He said he was amazed by how easily Makosso was able to connect with the crowd.

"It was awesome," he said. "He had the kids up and playing. Just that alone is a major achievement. He can do that with the adults as well. We're really happy."

Bob Mumford took in the show and was also thrilled with Makosso's performance. In fact, at one point he went on stage to play the drum after being invited by the visiting artist.

"I loved the way he combined the story and the way he gets the audience involved," said Mumford.

Makosso, currently a resident Gibsons B.C., admitted there was a natural element of spontaneity to his performance.

"We (the audience and I) just connected," he said. "It was a lot of fun. The spirit was there. It comes from them. When you connect with the audience it's natural, the spontaneity comes because everyone is connected."

Marie Coderre, association co-ordinator, also attended both of Makosso's performances and she couldn't help but lavish praise.

"I'm not surprised that he did a really good job," she said. "He has a really interesting background and he shared with us his story. He's a musician, a storyteller and a dancer. He's just a wonderful artist."