Fort Simpson (Apr 26/04) - The day after their first public performance, a few eager dancers approached their teacher in public and asked, "Can we do it again tomorrow?"

"It changes people," said instructor Suza Tsetso of a live performance.

"It's amazing the pride they take in themselves after their first performance."

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.

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

Mondays and Thursdays after school, Tsetso teaches the children a number of traditional Dene and Metis dances, including drum dancing.

"They love the Red River jig and the heel/toe," she said.

"The music makes them laugh."

The troupe formed in late February and made their debut before an appreciative audience at the Fort Simpson Community hall in March.

Wearing crisp new red and white uniforms, eight dancers moved nimbly around the dance floor.

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

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

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

"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."

After a short Easter break, the Deh Cho dancers are back practising twice a week and plan to perform at the Open Sky Festival in July.

-- with files from Jennifer Geens