Thunderbird American Indian Dancers Pow Wow and Dance Concert
Directed by Louis Mofsie, Produced by Theater for the New City & Thunderbird American Indian Dancers
Johnson Theater, Theater for the New City 155 First Avenue, New York, NY 10003
January 30, 2026 – February 8, 2026
How often do we ever watch live performances realizing we are watching a significant historical moment unfold? Very few moments in theater allow for such majesty to reveal itself before our very eyes. The Thunderbird American Indian Dancers does just that by showcasing Indigenous sovereignty and continuity through dance. From the moment we enter the theater, in the corner are the Heyna Second Son Singers, playing drums and belting powerfully in their native tongue as we make our way to our seats. Already, the tone is set: we are here to strengthen our spirits in unity with the force of the drums.
We are introduced to the stage at Theater for the New City by the legendary Louis Mofsie, director and emcee, of the Hopi and Winnebago tribes. He proudly exclaims that they have had their annual Pow-Wow and Dance Concert for fifty years, since 1976. Diving further into how this collaboration came to be, it turns out that Theater for the New City’s co-founder and artistic director, Crystal Field, once directed a play called The Only Good Indian, during which her research led her to live on a Hopi reservation for three weeks.
Nothing could possibly bring about greater pride, awe, and amazement than watching ceremonial dances passed down from generation to generation. For once, I can honestly say no review will ever do justice to the magnificence of these dances. It should almost be a requirement for people to have exposure to and experience the very fabric that constitutes Indigenous people. For a mere ninety minutes, you are in a trance. The sound of the drum pulsates through the air, while the medley of brilliant colors, beads, and feathers of their strikingly beautiful garments wave as if whispering secrets about the legends of the different tribes.
The Deer Dance featured is rooted in the ceremonial traditions of the Yaqui tribes of Southern Arizona. The dance honors the deer’s spirit and its significance to Indigenous life and ritual. One particular performer, Carlos Ponce, paid tribute to Renee Good and Alex Pretti by wearing bold signage on his garment. You could not help but think how every step he made carried heavier impact in his wish to mourn and also celebrate the bravery of the fallen. During the Deer Dance, he gracefully paces around the stage, adorned with a taxidermied deer head worn like a crown to portray the hunt between man and animal. The entire time, we are rooting for the innocent deer, all while knowing his final fate. The dance movements are billowy and elegant in how he sways the audience with such cool finesse.
Raconteur Matoaka Eagle of the Tewa, Apache, and Chickahominy graces the stage as someone you would normally find near and dear to you, an old friend with wisdom to fill your ears and a fire to warm your heart. Smiling from ear to ear, she gives us the option of choosing which story she will tell, and the audience erupts into choosing the story of how time came to be. She encourages the audience to sing along with her words, and I unabashedly found myself excitedly being the only person to remember a particular set of lyrics when she hand-gestured for the audience to sing without her help. The crowd laughed at my enthusiasm, but you could sense Matoaka was touched by the attempt to share in her language and pride.
You could hear audience reactions and enthusiasm throughout; it is the very essence of live theater. It brings me great joy, pleasure, and honor that I was able to attend and, with deep gratitude, write about my experience. Louis Mofsie is someone who will always be remembered for tendering the spirits of his fellow Indigenous tribespeople into something tangible for audiences to experience for themselves. Very few men lead with such honor and passion, embodying the spirit of continuity and legacy as he does. All box office proceeds will benefit college scholarship funds for Native American students. Soar with the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers as they take center stage to remind us all that the unity of spirit is what resonates through our hearts.
Review by Bianca Lopez.
Published by Theatre Beyond Broadway on February 17th, 2026. All rights reserved.
