When she was four-years-old, Ria was invited to become part of the powwow circle, where Indigenous culture is honoured through song and dance. She would wear a beautiful, orange jingle dress. sewn by her mother. Ria's mother explained that the dress was a healing dress, that dancing in it would pass on blessings. When Ria was about to enter the powwow to dance she was nervous but her youngest brother encouraged her to "dance hard". Ria did just that and she was welcomed into the powwow circle.
After that Ria and her older brothers would travel to powwows all over Indian country, staying with friends and family. They travelled from state to state offering Ria the chance to see Mother Earth in all her glory. Meanwhile, Ria's love for dance was growing. When she was thirteen, Ria began dancing the fast fancy shawl, an athletic dance that mimics the butterfly.
She also began taking other forms of dance including modern, ballet and contemporary. Ria began doing competitive dance, winning International Dance Challenge Champion with her solo, at Nationals in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sometimes Ria found classical dance challenging as it was much different from Indigenous dancing. But dance also gave Ria a means of coping with the every day stresses she encountered.
When she finished high school, Ria became a professional dancer and travelled the world to perform. But she always loved to return home to dance too. As an adult, Ria was given a gift of a beautiful set of eagle wings that had been plucked, dried and dressed. Ria's people believe that eagle feathers carry their prayers to their ancestors. Ria began performing an eagle dance with her new wings, making her feel beautiful and strong.
Another gift Ria received was the beautiful daughter, Yelihwaha.wihta which means "She Brings Good Energy". Unlike when she was younger and wouldn't correct people when they mispoke her name, Ria corrects those who say her daughter's name wrong. Her culture and her language still exist and are honoured. Ria's daughter is by her side as she dances her way through this life as a beautiful, thunder woman.
Discussion
It's great to see young Indigenous performers and artists being brought to life in the picture book format, making their stories accessible to young readers. In Finding My Dance, Ria Thundercloud chronicles her journey from a young girl beginning to perform as an Indigenous dancer to being a professional dancer. This picture book is unique in that her story is told in Ria's voice. Along the way, Ria faced her own challenges.
Rita is the daughter of Roger Thundercloud and Jessica Bearskin. She has a seven-year-old daughter, Cyra Thundercloud. Ria faced her own challenges growing up, experiencing some racism in school for being Indigenous.
But her resiliency and persistence has paid off. Ria continues to perform at powwows while also focusing on contemporary, ballet and hip hop dance. Ria is a graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts, a college located on the ancestral lands of the Pueblo nations in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
But her resiliency and persistence has paid off. Ria continues to perform at powwows while also focusing on contemporary, ballet and hip hop dance. Ria is a graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts, a college located on the ancestral lands of the Pueblo nations in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
What would have added considerably to this picture book memoir is the inclusion of photographs of Ria growing up and of her dancing in her regalia. Picture books are used not just by young readers but often by older readers as an intro to a topic or a person of interest. Likewise a simple map showing the relative territories of the Ho-Chunk Nation and Sandia Pueblo would also have been helpful. An Author's Note sharing some information on Ria's cultural heritage would also have been appropriate.
Nevertheless, Finding My Dance is a unique book highlighting Ria Thundercloud's efforts to be a voice and a role model for a new generation of young Indigenous women as they reclaim their heritage.
Nevertheless, Finding My Dance is a unique book highlighting Ria Thundercloud's efforts to be a voice and a role model for a new generation of young Indigenous women as they reclaim their heritage.
For some information on Ria's heritage the links below may be helpful:
Book Details:
Finding My Dance by Ria Thundercloud
New York: Penguin Workshop 2022
Finding My Dance by Ria Thundercloud
New York: Penguin Workshop 2022
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