Louis Mercier
About the Artist
L’habitant Voyageur Louis Mercier is an ambassador of traditional French Canadian music, having offered over 3000 performances across Canada since 1984. Louis comes from Maniwaki, Qc. a town 100 miles north of Ottawa. Louis’ family passed their traditions down to him throughout his childhood, providing his foundation of square dance, traditional percussion and music, toe dancing, playing the bones, wash boards, spoons and the comb. His passion for his culture led to more study of these life-long folkloric traditions, as well as becoming a teacher of High school mathematics. What motivates Louis is to tell us about our past, how it is alive in the present and how it will mark our future.
The young people inspire me a lot and the older people inspire me just as much.
Artist's Programs
Curriculum Links
Respond to oral French text; describe the communities of early settles in Upper Canada and identify factors that helped them shape their settlements; demonstrate an awareness of the characteristics of musical forms and traditions of diverse times, places and communities; rhythms and structure of traditional music and dance.
Artistic Disciplines
Dance, Literary Arts, Music
Diversity
Francophone, Men+
Age
All ages, Children ages 5 - 11, Children ages 12 - 18, Seniors, Junior Kindergarten, Senior Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12
Language Proficiency
English, French
Louis Mercier in action
