Don't expect to see can-can dancers or the Snow Shoe Shufflers kicking up their heels to deliver a show at the Canada Winter Games.

Marj Eschak, president of the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Festival Society, said Monday the society is disappointed Games organizers turned down its bid for the can-can dancers and Shufflers to appear as part of the Games' cultural line-up.

'That's unfortunate,' she said in an interview, adding that the Gold Rush (and themed-events around it like the Rendezvous dancers) are part of what makes the Yukon so unique.

She stressed, however, that Rendezvous continues to whole-heartedly support the Games, with many Rendezvous volunteers taking the time to also help out with the Games.

The performance was turned down because there was so much interest that came in, she said.

With the Games set to start on Feb. 23, Rendezvous moved its annual festival up to Feb. 16-18 from its usual time on the last weekend in February.

It also combined forces with the Frostbite Music Festival, normally held in February, so both could host their respective events.

The festivities for Rendezvous are also being moved from their usual Main Street location to Shipyards Park to make it easier on city crews who are set to provide assistance for both the Games and Rendezvous.

The can-can dancers spent much of the summer coming up with a new routine and getting new costumes ready for the Games' ceremonies, with some members arranging time off work to do so, she said.

'We really had hoped to be part of it,' Eschak said, though she noted the dancers will be part of the City of Whitehorse events hosted through the two weeks of the Games.

Rendezvous personnel are not alone though in not being chosen to perform as part of the Games.

'We knew right off the bat we had limitations,' Laurel Parry, vice-president of culture and ceremonies for the Games, said in an interview Monday.

The committee overseeing the cultural festival and opening and closing ceremonies was faced with the challenges of coming up with a presentation for an audience of both Yukoners and visitors here for the event as well as ensuring there was a pan-northern approach to the cultural showcase.

As an example, Parry noted the visual arts demonstration was limited to 15.

'You could name 100,' she said.

Although she didn't have the figures at her fingertips, when the call went out last fall for performers at the Games, the response from groups and individuals was 'really tremendous,' she said.

It then became a process of having to come up with an arrangement with thought given to the audience and the objectives.

In addition to the Yukon performers, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut are also set to send performers to showcase the pan-northern approach to the Games along with some artists across the country for the national event.

'It's more of a curating than a competition,' Parry said of choosing the performers. Many who were qualified weren't able to be put on the schedule, which has yet to be announced, she noted.

Many organizations just recently received word they won't be part of the formal Games festivities.

Parry pointed out she's heard of a number of groups organizing their own cultural events during the Games.

While there will be a 'lively festival' during the national event, it won't be able include everyone's favourite Yukon performers, she noted.

The line-up for cultural performers at the Games hasn't been released.