Blessyl Buan
Contemporary dancer, choreographer, visual artist & mother
What the Nominator shared: Her recent contemporary dance work explores Philippine Indigenous traditions, "Kapwa" (interconnectedness), and cultural identity. Her short dance film, “Rara: Reweaving Diasporic Stories” (2022), was featured in Danceworks Summer Reel 2023. She is an Ontario Arts Council grant recipient and is developing a solo work. She is shifting from clinical practice to focus on art creation and developing a conditioning/choreographic method for dancers.
I've nominated Blessyl because of her commitment to elevating our community's cultural identity in multifaceted ways. I am inspired by Blessyl's advocacy for Philippine Indigenous weavers, connecting fabric to movement, and diaspora to homeland. Her dedication to weaving together movement, visual art, and chiropractic care should be highlighted for all the possible ways one can be a dance artist.
In their own words: Blessyl Buan, a contemporary dancer, choreographer, visual artist and mother crafts colourful interdisciplinary works echoing rhythm, movement, and land-based spirituality. With a Kinesiology degree (2001) and a Chiropractic doctorate (2005), her academic background provides a deep understanding of the human body. This foundation, combined with over two decades of professional dance experience, enhances her artistry with a heightened kinesthetic intelligence.
Transitioning from clinical practice in 2021, prompted by health considerations, was a natural evolution toward a new expressive form. Her process delves into Philippine Indigenous traditions, exploring joy, interconnectedness and cultural identity. Her short film "Rara: Reweaving Diasporic Stories" (2022) was featured in Danceworks Summer Reel 2023. A recipient of Ontario Arts Council grant, Blessyl is developing a solo dance project for 2024. Additionally, she will lead "Weaving Futures" at the Toronto Arts Council's Artist in the Library Program, introducing pre-colonial Philippine script “Baybayin”, weaving, and dance. She will also host her first solo exhibition, "Kapwa Kaleidoscope" at The Clark Centre for the Arts, where she is an artist-in-residence.
By merging land-based practices with the alchemy of dance and visual arts, she invites the diaspora to create a vibrant tapestry that transcends physicality. Here, tradition, innovation, and self-expression converge, forging a new narrative of boundless creativity and collective awakening.
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.
