Ayana Okuko
Dancer and creative artist
What the Nominator shared: Her dance practice centers on the body-mind connection, using movement to foster a profound appreciation for life.
Photo by Richie Lubaton, Kode Red (led by Jac Valiquette)In their own words: My involvement with the Asian dance community in Toronto has been truly enriching and an experience I deeply cherish. Upon moving from Japan, I was uncertain of what to anticipate, yet I was consistently met with warmth and acceptance. The community provided a space where I felt safe and proud to embrace my cultural heritage and identity. As an artist, I believe in the transformative power of movement to express emotions and cultivate a deeper appreciation for life and all its intricacies. My wish for the Asian Diaspora dance community is that it continues thriving, creating spaces where voices from diverse backgrounds are heard and celebrated and where artists feel empowered to share their stories authentically.
CanAsian Dance is situated in Tkaronto, a Mohawk word meaning “the place in the water where the trees are standing.” It is the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples, and it continues to be the home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
This land is under the Dish with One Spoon covenant, an agreement between the Anishinaabeg and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. This land is a dish to be shared and cared for and we all share one spoon; the spoon is to be used to take only what is needed and to leave enough for others, thus ensuring a viable and abundant future. We recognize the enduring resilience of Indigenous peoples and we acknowledge that we are accountable to these relationships and these agreements.
We carry these values of responsibility in sharing and caring in abundance with consideration of not only ourselves but of our communities that we share together.
