By paNOW Staff

Jigging contest a Winter Festival staple

Feb 20, 2017 | 11:00 AM

Dancers from around the region came together at the E.A. Rawlinson Centre yesterday afternoon to kick up their heels in a traditional jigging contest.

Trina Joseph, vice-president of indoor events for the Prince Albert Winter Festival, said the jigging contest has been a part of the festival for as long as she remembers.

“The jigging contest has been on for years and years,” Joseph said. “We have categories from tiny tots up into the seniors.”

Joseph said because the jig is shared by many cultures, the competition brings together First Nations, Métis, Irish and Celtic competitors.

Hilliard Merasty, 75, showed the crowd that jigging is not reserved for the young and took home third place in the senior category.

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“I grew up this way in Little Red River,” Merasty said. “My dad used to dance. My uncle, too.”

Merasty said when he learned how to jig the hardest part was the mental aspect and memorizing the steps.

“I used to watch and watch and watch and visualize a certain step,” Merasty said. “I would dance and practice and practice until I got it perfect in my mind.”

For beginners, Merasty said it can be helpful to use the backs of two chairs to support their weight while learning or practicing a new step.

As the oldest competitor, Merasty said he was pleased with his third-place finish.

“There was once or twice there I won first,” Merasty said. “There was one time I had 32 steps. Now if I have a dozen that’s lots.”

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