Artist Statement:

Stories of indigenous womanhood of survival through dance and movement.

Bio:

Ria Thundercloud is from the Ho-Chunk Nation and Sandia Pueblo. Ria has always held strong ties to her kinship in both the southwest and north, practicing both styles of traditional dance. She started training in classical dance at the age of 13 then went professional at the age of 16, where she has traveled as a cultural ambassador and professional dancer internationally. Ria is a 2019 graduate from Institute of American Indian Arts in Indigenous Liberal Studies and holistic yoga teacher from Healing Lotus Center. Ria’s art is influenced by the woman who came before her, reclaiming stories of matriarchs that highlight the resilience and knowledge of indigenous women.