Elvina Raharja
Indonesian dance artist, model, fashionista, content creator and a wonderful human beyond their artistic endeavours.
What the Nominator shared: Elvina challenges that status quo and societal beauty standards with her powerful and beautiful messages/content on body positivity, fashion, dance and more — especially through the lens of the Asian/Indonesian diaspora.
I believe Elvina deserves a spotlight and her message deserves to be spread on a larger scale
In their own words: My identity and experiences as an Indonesian immigrant will always be intertwined in my artistic practices. I am forever grateful for my community for helping me find my voice as an artist and allowing me to be authentically myself. I’m always inspired by my mentors, colleagues, and my chosen family; I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. For the community, I hope for more equitable representations in the industry, fair wage and practices, and support at large. I wish for my fellow artists to extend grace to themselves and to give themselves space to play, fail, succeed, and just “be.”
Photo by Rachel ReidCanAsian 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.
