We recently connected with River Thompson and have shared our conversation below.

River, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

A solo I choreographed called “Space for Possibility” in 2024. It was a reflection on my time in New York City up until that point, and working on it allowed me to center myself when things were chaotic. It was also the first piece of mine I performed in NYC at a showcase I co-produce called GROWorks. Both of these projects coming together was a deeply validating experience. It can be easy to get lost in the day-to-day grind so having a moment to appreciate your hard work and see the results was incredibly meaningful.

River, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a dancer and choreographer based in New York City. Theatre was my introduction to the artistic world and started me down a path that ultimately led to dance. Being able to tell stories and connect with an audience through movement is exhilarating and a challenge – which I love. Another thing I love about dance, there is always something new to learn. Whether it is about the art form or yourself, the possibility to grow is ever present. Growing as a person and artist, avoiding stagnation, and consistently challenging myself are core values of mine. The world of dance has provided me with the environment to do so and for that I am forever grateful.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

The journey as a creative is one filled with immense risk and I think a lot of people do not understand the pursuit of something which appears to have little stability. From my experience, stability is attainable no matter what you do, but what it looks like might be different for everyone. Accepting the plan might change and being okay with that is key because being a creative is, for me at least, a necessity. Dance completes my life and makes me feel whole. When I’ve gone through periods of time without dancing, even just a couple weeks, I notice a difference. For me to feel centered, myself, able to tackle the challenges that come my way, dance has to be in my routine. This feeling of completeness as well as everything else dance gives me makes all the risk associated worth it.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Being open to different kinds of art is key. I think a lot of people struggle to support what they don’t understand. It is in those moments of confusion where the viewer is challenged to think outside of themselves. The beautiful thing about artistic creation is it is informed by who the artist is and what they have been through. Encountering art which originates from something completely different than oneself leads to a growth in empathy and understanding. That is of course if the viewer is willing. The unwillingness to engage with anything that is not immediately understandable permeates our culture right now. In order for there to be a thriving creative ecosystem, society needs to embrace the concept of “other” and know our differences are what bring us together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://riverjthompson.com
• Instagram: @riverjthompson

Image Credits

Hannah Mayfield, Kevin Schuster