Judy Luo
Emerging dancer, performer, stepping into more leadership roles and teaching roles.
What the Nominator shared: Judy Luo is a brightly shining emerging artist, whose primary role is that of dancer/performer, though she is stepping into more leadership and teaching roles. Judy has worked internationally, notably with Rambert Dance, in addition to many projects here in Toronto and Montreal. Judy’s exceptional curiosity, inquisitiveness, and thoughtfulness - paired with her athletic physicality - contribute to her artistry and the unique gifts she brings to creation, stage, and community.
I believe Judy deserves to be recognized for the immense success she has achieved in her few short years since graduating from TMU. Her story - to me - is one that immigrants (and children of immigrants) resonate deeply with: how to navigate honouring familial hopes and dreams and legacy, with one’s personal calling and gifts. The lifelong balance of collectivism + individualism. In the face of personal and professional challenges, Judy has continued to drive forward with resilience and compassion, digging deep for grace and allowing the challenges of her experience to layer into her artistry and developing voice. She is a role model for so many upcoming artists, leading with a maturity and integrity that is well beyond her years.
Photo by @belgbelgicaIn their own words: I love people, patterns, puzzles and play.
Dance to me is a gift of grace in both its definitions: simple elegance, and free unmerited favour from God. My life as a dance artist has been grace partnered with grit. From scuffing up sneakers alongside dear friends in Canada, UK, Sweden and Germany, to jete-ing in black pointe shoes as the dance double in the feature film "Dancing Through the Shadow of Mao," I marvel at the range of opportunities and diversity of this life. I get to contribute, I get to experience, I get to live beyond my ancestor's wildest dreams!
My wish for this community goes towards our dormant seeds of stories: the ones that are scattered and/or deeply buried, waiting to be watered and nurtured in their right season. Resembling the journeys of our families close and far, may they grow in breadth, height, depth, and carry on the deep sense of connectivity to those who come in contact with them.
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.
