Cultural reclamation, identity, and ceremony: With Dr. Blessyl Buan

Dr. Blessyl Buan has utilized her extensive experience as a chiropractor, to inform her work as a dancer and choreographer. By drawing on her knowledge of anatomy and movement, she is able to create dance works that are both physically and emotionally impactful. In her current dance research and creation, “Rara: Reweaving Diasporic Futures”, she explores themes of cultural reclamation, identity, and ceremony through the interplay of natural materials and movement. Her art is inspired by Philippine Indigenous traditions and the concept of Kapwa; seeing oneself in the other, land and the cosmos. 

Buan holds an Honours Bachelor degree in Kinesiology from McMaster University (2001) and a Doctor of Chiropractic from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College(2005). She is a multigenerational, interdisciplinary artist with over four decades of dance performance experience. She initiated BIPOC Dance Health to dismantle health inequities for BIPOC dancers. Buan has also consulted  and contributed to various publications and media outlets. She is also a mom of 4 and  the founder of buankissed, a sustainable, handmade jewelry line that champions culture and empowers community. Her collective body of work serves to heal her spirit and influence future generations navigating the journey of living beyond repression. 

Follow Dr. Blessyl Buan on Instagram HERE!