Bee Pallomina
Dance artist & therapist
What the Nominator shared: Bee Pallomina’s art beautifully weaves intricate details and heartfelt stories, celebrating cultural heritage and modern expression in a way that feels deeply personal and captivating.
In their own words: I listed a bunch of stuff I am doing this month because it feels connected to Asian Heritage and somehow I feel the values are embedded in the projects themselves. I am truly delighted to be included in this feature!
I would love to let folks know about a few projects I am involved with in May: One is working with Blessyl Buan as an outside eye on her solo RARA: Reweaving Diasporic Futures. Her work in progress showing is on Saturday, June 22nd from 11am-12pm at The Clark Centre for The Arts in Scarborough. Blessyl is a treasure and this work is a true act of bravery.
I am also taking part in a somatic research group that I initiated with fellow Filipin@/x artists Blessyl, Jaisa Sulit, Andrea Mapili, Robin Lacambra and Jen Maramba. We have been meeting seasonally since last fall. Our work is currently research-based but I hope that it will create ground for future projects and collaborations.
Additionally, I am facilitating some classes for older movers (45+) through Moonhorse Dance Theatre on May 22nd and 29th from 2-4pm at the Eastminster United Church. I will be leading some classes in Open Source Forms, which is a dance form that works through imagery, hands-on work and improvisation.
Finally, I am also a therapist-in-training studying Expressive Arts at the CREATE Institute. I am starting to see folks one-on-one as a student therapist. Thank you to Angie and everyone at Canasian. What a great initiative - I look forward to learning about all the artists featured throughout this month. I feel called to honour the many amazing artists from the Philippine diaspora and the mixed Asian folks for whom belonging in these kinds of spaces may feel complex. Happy Asian Heritage Month to all!
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.
