Fort Simpson (Mar 19/04) - Wearing crisp new red and white uniforms, eight Deh Cho dancers moved nimbly around the dance floor at the community hall on March 10.

It was their first public performance but when they were done, the spectators lavished them with applause.

Dancer Golia Cazon, 6, admitted that she felt "shy" about demonstrating her fancy footwork.

On the other hand, Trish Isaiah, 11, said the performance simply made her feel "happy."

Suza Tsetso taught the dancers all they know in only a few lessons.

"At first they were hesitant because they didn't really feel they had it in them," Tsetso said of the recital. "But I just kept talking to them, motivating them and giving them some really good feedback about the improvements they'd made."

Not only is Tsetso the dance instructor, she designed and made most of the group's uniforms. Although she enlisted help from a few relatives and friends, being ready in time for the show was a hairy ordeal.

"I didn't get the last dress done until 7:30 p.m. As soon as it was finished I put it in the bag and I took off over there so we were ready by 8 o'clock," Tsetso said.

The Open Sky Society proposed the traditional dance classes for adults and children. Those who showed up were largely in the younger age range, so Tsetso decided to organize them as a dance troupe, something she had attempted to do years ago.

She plans to teach them a number of traditional Dene and Metis dances, including drum dancing.

Tsesto's teachers included Eliza and Harry Lawrence, of Hay River, various elders and her mother -- and now she passes those lessons on to others.

She said she could use some help from other volunteers, as she hopes to take the dancers on tour in the months to come.

The day after the recital, Tsetso said a few of the eager dancers approached her in public and asked, "Can we do it again tomorrow?"

Cazon said she got involved in jigging, "Because it is fun and I wanted to learn."