ARTIST BIO

Louis Mofsie, whose father is Hopi from Arizona, and mother, Winnebago from Nebraska was born in Brooklyn, New York. He is the Director and founding member of the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers, a New York based multi-ethnic dance troupe, who already celebrated their 30 year anniversary. Louie with the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers have performed in elementary schools, high schools and colleges all over New York, and several states outside the New York area. Two performances have been collaborations with organizations like Long Island Traditions, Inc. to promote Native American culture into Long Island schools and the Westchester Philharmonic to perform in the Westchester County elementary schools in Stamford, Connecticut and throughout New Jersey. Louie has also performed in several countries like Israel, Japan, and Canada.

Besides performing Louie has also choreographed dance. He was Choreographer of "Operation Sidewinder" with the Lincoln Center Repertory Company, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" with the Mercer Arts Center, "Three Masked Dances" with La Mama Etc., and "The Only Good Indian" with the Theater for the New City.

Chorographical Credits:

Operation Sidewinders, Lincoln Center Repertory, Co. NY
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Mercer Arts Center, NY
Three Masked Dances, LaMama Etc., NY
The Only Good Indian, Theater for the New City, NY

Lecture And Dance Apppearances (partial):

Museum of Natural History, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum, Columbia University, New School for Social Research, New York University, City College, Newark Art Museum, Wesleyan University, National Museum of the American Indian, Colgate University, Montclair Art Museum, Southampton College, Philadelphia Art Museum, Walker Art Center, Louisville Art Museum, Queens College, Cincinnati Art Museum, Las Vegas Cultural Center

Awards:

New York City Indian of the Year 1984
Calumet Award, American Indian Community House 1986
Ethnic New Yorker Award 1987
Award of Honor, Human Resources Center 1989
N.Y.C. Leadership Award, Law Dept. & Mayors Office 1991
Leadership Award, Theater of the New City 1993
People’s Hall of Fame, City Lore, NYC 1995
Ethnic Dance Award, Hostos Center for the Arts 1996

Biographical Listings:

"AMERICAN INDIAN DANCERS" - Joann Snodgrass, National Museum of the American Indian, NY
"INDIANS TODAY" - Marion Gridley Indian Council Fire Pub., Chicago, ILL
"DANCE ANNUAL" - John Mills
"ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN" - Bernard Klein, Klein & Co., NY
"REFERENCE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN" - Todd Publisher, NY

Administrative Credits:

Director - Thunderbird American Indian Dancers
Chairman of the Board - American Indian Community House

Past Presidencies:

Indian League of the Americas
International Council
McBurney YMCA
Folk Festival Council of New York