INUVIK - Little Christopher White couldn't have cared less whether his kindergarten colleagues had their fill of drum dancing for the day.

After all, their Friday lesson inside the Sir Alexander Mackenzie School staff room was just minutes from drawing to a close. Yet when instructor Vanessa Kasook asked if they wanted to perform one more dance, Christopher lost all composure screaming, "Yes!" as he stood directly in front of her, careful to mimic every movement as best as his little body could.

A group of 14 kindergarten students move to the beat of drummers Sarah Tingmiak and Scott Kasook with help from their instructor Vanessa Kasook on Friday afternoon at Sir Alexander Mackenzie School. Front row, from left, Jenna Guy, Chloe Dalton and Myja Semmler. Second row, from left, Hannah Gordon-Rogers, Ashley Healey and Emilia Rinas. Third row, from left, Brooklyn Heidl-Day and Marie Carpenter. Fourth row, from left, Aidan Doornbos, Christopher White and Cody Wainman. Back row, from left, Lucas Prud'homme, Henry Firth and Nathan Dayman. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photos

The 13 other tiny dancers showed similar gusto, dipping and weaving along to the drumming of Sarah Tingmiak and Scott Kasook. It's no wonder Vanessa loves working with the youngest members of Sir Alexander Mackenzie School.

"I have to say the kindergarten students are my favourite because most of them enjoy it so much and they pick it up pretty quick. They're so cute," she said with a laugh.

Vanessa, who's a member of the Inuvik Drummers and Dancers, along with her uncle Scott and Sarah visit the elementary school three times a week to teach kids in every grade level some of the fundamentals of drum dancing.

Vanessa is quick to point out that Christopher is a natural dancer with rhythm aplenty. And he matches his raw physical ability with his enthusiasm.

"He loves it. He's into it. He wants to do it. He's willing to learn," she said.

Christopher has difficulty explaining exactly why he loves to dance, but he did say, "the sound of the drum makes me excited."

There's a story behind every dance, said Vanessa. For example, Christopher likes the polar bear dance, where he and his friends mimic the animal. Some kindergarten students have also learned the goose dance, where at the end of the routine they make a sound like a goose.

Christopher's classmate Brooklyn Heidl-Day, who Vanessa also said is a great dancer, loves the whale tail dance, where, among other things, they mimic waves caused by a whale swimming as well as the act of cutting its tale. Brooklyn said her favourite moment of the dance comes when she rubs her belly, expressing how great the tail tastes.

Vanessa said kids are given the opportunity to freestyle dance, too. It's about having fun as much as it is carrying on an important tradition, she said.

"It makes me happy keeping our tradition alive," said Vanessa. "I love seeing them happy and watching them dancing and learning."