Published: 2022
Author: Ria Thundercloud | Illustrator: Kalila J. Fuller
Genre: Picture Book Memoir / Biography
Audience: Grades Pre-K–5
Number of Stars: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Goodreads Link: Finding My Dance
Publisher’s Summary
In her debut picture book, professional Indigenous dancer Ria Thundercloud tells the true story of her path to dance and how it helped her take pride in her Native American heritage.
At four years old, Ria Thundercloud was brought into the powwow circle, ready to dance in the special jingle dress her mother made for her. As she grew up, she danced with her brothers all over Indian country. Then Ria learned more styles–tap, jazz, ballet–but still loved the expressiveness of Indigenous dance. And despite feeling different as one of the only Native American kids in her school, she always knew she could turn to dance to cheer herself up.
Follow along as Ria shares her dance journey–from dreaming of her future to performing as a professional–accompanied by striking illustrations that depict it while bringing her graceful movements to life.
Review
Finding My Dance by Ria Thundercloud is a powerful and inspiring picture book memoir about identity, culture, and following your passion.
The story follows Ria from the time she is a young child dancing in a powwow circle. As she grows, she explores many styles of dance—like ballet, jazz, and modern—but always feels most connected to her Indigenous dance traditions. Even though she sometimes feels different or left out at school, dance helps her express herself and stay proud of who she is. Eventually, she becomes a professional dancer who shares her culture with the world.
This book is a meaningful, uplifting read that encourages readers to celebrate their identity. It highlights how embracing your culture can give you confidence and strength, even when you face challenges like shyness or feeling like an outsider. The artwork is colorful and full of movement, helping readers “feel” the rhythm and grace of the dance on every page.
🪶 Indigenous Dance and the Jingle Dress
The “Jingle Dress” is central to Ria’s story and holds deep cultural significance.
- The Jingle Dress: The dress is decorated with metal cones, traditionally made from snuff tin lids. These cones create a unique, rhythmic sound—a “jingle”—as the dancer moves.
- The Dance: Often referred to as a “healing dance,” the Jingle Dress dance is a powerful tradition in many Indigenous communities. In the book, it serves as a visual and auditory symbol of Ria’s connection to her ancestors and her community.
🎒 Classroom & Curricular Connections
This book is an excellent resource for discussing culture, self-expression, and perseverance. Here are the discussion questions used by the reviewer:
- Identity & Belonging: What does Ria learn about herself by the end of the book? What does it mean to “be yourself”? How can you do that at school?
- Culture & Symbolism: Why is her jingle dress important to her? Why is it important to be proud of your culture or identity?
- Courage & Resilience: How does Ria show courage in the story? How can you support someone who feels different or left out?
- The Author’s Message: What message do you think the author wants readers to learn?
Classroom Implementation Ideas
- Art & Movement: Because the illustrations are so vibrant and full of movement, have students try to draw what they think “joy” or “pride” looks like in motion, inspired by the book’s art style.
- Cultural Celebration: Use this book as an anchor for a unit on personal heritage. Ask students: What is a tradition from your family or culture that makes you feel proud?
- Empathy Building: Discuss the feeling of being “different” at school and brainstorm actionable ways to be more inclusive of classmates who might feel like outsiders.
