Matthew Morales
Emerging dancer, performer, stepping into more leadership roles and teaching roles.
What the Nominator shared: Matthew is the director, creative director, and choreographer for multiple Toronto-based recording artists, teaches youth in Indigenous communities through "Outside Looking In", and teaches weekly at Studio North Toronto and Dancelife X.
Photo by @alanka_k and @juliettechan_In their own words: I take immense pride in being a Toronto-based Asian artist. Toronto's style is so authentic and distinct, which I credit to how well this city preserves its cultures. On top of this, the Asian values of community and work ethic inform so much of how I see myself and others create and collaborate. The fusion of Asian cultural values with the unapologetic vulnerability of Toronto artists creates such a strong force that I see present in so many of our city's artists. It's genuinely a joy to create with and be a part of this community.
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.
