Thirza Defoe (Giizhiigoquay),a talented performer from the Ojibwe and Oneida tribes of Wisconsin, has been captivating audiences worldwide with her extraordinary sacred hoop dancing skills since the age of eight. With a passion for acting, she has ventured to Los Angeles, exploring the city's vibrant performing arts scene.
Thirza's impressive repertoire includes performances at the 2002 Grammy Awards held at the iconic Kodak Theatre and the 2002 Native American Music Awards (NAMMYS),where she shared the stage with renowned Native American recording artists, Brule. Her many years of experience as a skilled hoop and eagle dancer have earned her recognition within the Native American community and globally.
In 1992, Thirza danced in the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games in Barcelona, and in 1999, she celebrated the Millennium in Egypt with the Call for Peace Drum and Dance Company. Her work has been featured in the National Geographic World Magazine (August 1998) and has been hailed as Wisconsin's Best Kept Secret by News from Indian Country: The Independent Native Journal.
Thirza's connection to her Ojibwe heritage is deeply rooted in the traditional storytelling and language passed down to her by her Ojibwe grandmother. She shares her culture and its history through performances and presentations to students in elementary schools, high schools, and colleges throughout the United States.
With a strong background in music, theater, and dance, Thirza's acting credits include starring roles in People of the Forest (PBS educational documentary),Helena in Midsummer Night's Dream, and most recently, Sacajawea in Stone Heart at the Autry Native Voices. Her other credits include One Tribe Many Nations, a children's book that highlights her work.
When not performing, Thirza enjoys pursuing her other interests, such as photography, playing guitar, writing, snowboarding, and mentoring young Native playwrights with the Mentor Artists Performers Project (MAPP) and the Autry National Center.
Thirza graduated from the California Institute of the Arts in May 2004, earning her B.F.A. in Theatre. Later that year, she was awarded the First Americans in the Arts Scholarship for students pursuing careers in acting and the Indigenous Heritage Festival award in the category of Performing Arts. This prestigious award recognizes artists who have made a significant positive impact on indigenous people and issues worldwide. Thirza is an artist-in-residence with the L.A.-based theatre company, Theatre Fo Fo, and travels the country providing educational presentations and performances for audiences in various communities.
