If you’ve ever wanted to learn to jig, now’s your chance.
Last Wednesday marked the start of jigging lessons in St. Laurent, taught by 18-year-old Eva Kerbrat. Kerbrat started jigging when she was just four years old, and after showing promising talent from the beginning, the dancer was recruited by the Asham Stompers just one year later.
Since she was five, Kerbrat has travelled across Canada, performing around 100 shows a year with the group. Now that she’s an adult, the jigger wants to share her love for the dance with others, so she’s offering lessons.
Jigging is a traditional dance invented by the Red River Metis in the 1900s. Accompanying a fiddle tune, the Red River Jig was first performed by those involved in the fur trade during gatherings. The dance involves four men and four women who face each other six feet apart, standing on their toes. It starts with a single shuffle with the right and then the left foot, and for every third shuffle, the foot raises backward to miss the music beat.
Having grown up in St. Laurent and begun her jigging journey there, Kerbrat wanted to return to where it all started. Her mom, Angelica Kerbrat, said jigging feeds Eva’s soul, and they hope it will feed the souls of others, too.
“When you see them in person it’s amazing,” said Angelica. “It really feeds the spirit. We all have to find that passion and something that feeds our own spirit.”
Eva likes everything about the Red River Jig: the fiddle music, the quick footwork and the partnerships on stage. She describes the dance as “uplifting” and “high vibrational”.
Though her jigging classes started last week, Eva will continue to accept registrations as long as they come in. Those starting later can work out a payment plant with Eva upon their start. Right now, there are two classes running until June 17 — a class for children 15 and under and one for adults 16 and up. Eva will start by teaching the fundamentals of the Red River Jig, slowly progressing the students to be able to perform a real square dance.
“It’s a lot of fun,” she said. “And it’s a great workout too. It really gets your cardiovascular going and really challenges you.”
The classes for those 15 and under will be every Wednesday at 3:45 p.m. and the classes for adults will happen right after at 5 p.m. This fall, Eva will be moving her classes to Stonewall so she can service a larger number of people.
“As soon as you hear the music you want to hop, you want to move your feet,” said Angelica.
For more information on the jigging classes or to get in contact with the Kerbrats, phone 204-861-2114.
