TORONTO GIRL CHRONICLES

Natalli Reznik loves to dance – that’s easy to see when you are watching her take on a hip hop routine or a breath-taking ballroom number. And although her ambition to master each routine is what drives her, it is her ability to adapt to each genre what has made her a sought-after dancer. So how did this Toronto Girl make it into the big stage? I had the chance to chat with Natalli about her love of dance, what has made her successful and of course, working with Janet Jackson.


Why did you become a dancer?

In my teenage years, I had a hard time finding my voice and dance was a means of expression for me. Every time I danced, it felt right. I felt like I could express myself better in movement than I did verbally, like people would understand me better when I danced. Now I do it because even though I enjoy being on stage, it is the process of getting there that excites me the most. The rehearsals and learning a new routine are more intense than being on stage. Sometimes, after endless hours of rehearsal, I get on stage and think “this is it?”, but I always want to do it again.



Dancing is both physically and mentally demanding, how do you keep yourself going?

I love "the chase" – the whole process of learning the choreography and getting it on point. I feel like I haven’t danced that much, I want to keep on going! I want to keep learning about dance. When I do different styles I try to really understand the cultural background of the dance. When I started dancing salsa I studied the culture, where it’s from, why it is danced the way it’s danced. It’s the same with hip hop and all the other genres that I’ve learnt. I just love going from one genre to the next. One day I will be feeling salsa and then the next I’ll want to dance hip-hop. I just listen to my heart, that’s what keeps me dancing.

What are the skills that have contributed to your success?


Stubbornness, my ability to hustle, and always thinking that I am a beginner. If you go in [to rehearsal or class] with hunger to learn, whatever it is, you have a better chance of actually learning. If you think you know already you’re in trouble because there is always something to learn.

How did living in Toronto contribute to your career? (Natalli currently resides in LA)

Toronto is a great place for dreaming, it is also a great place for training. There’s some great talent in Toronto.

Sarah Stevenson is truly a Fashion Artist. She creates her own hand crafted prints with a meticulous attention to detail and sustainability. All her textiles are produced locally and her dyes are eco-friendly.



On Thursday afternoon I attended her “Tea Party” Spring 2011 presentation. The simple and clean silhouettes left me yearning for those careless spring days were you can throw on a dress and be ready to go. I can also see this some of the pieces in this collection transitioning well into fall. The dresses are dresses that you buy and love forever.

Photos are courtesy of the Toronto Sun

WHAT TO EAT IN CHICAGO

My bf coolly said "Don't worry, I read that in Chicago there are restaurants in every corner." Half an hour of walking around, finding nothing, hope was running low and I was getting cranky (not cute, trust me).  Lucky for him, we found Heaven on Seven, a restaurant offering the best is cajun cuisine.



I had the Jambalaya and everything was okay with the world again.


On the opposite end of the spectrum: Y Bar. An upscale martini bar that is, pardon the cliche, a place to see and be seen. Nonetheless, it is fun and glamours, because lets face it, there's nothing wrong with being treated like a VIP. I felt like I was at one of those parties featured in The Hills. They even had scantaly-clad go go dancers on mini stages.

MILLENIUM PARK AND CENTRAL LOOP

The one thing that I truly loved about Chicago was their open art spaces. The art itself was very contemporary with an industrial feel, ranging from the Chicago Picasso by Pablo Picasso (duh!) to the random gigantic eyeball  The Eye: Chicago  by Toni Tassel. Of course, let’s not forget about the infamous Cloud Gate by Anish Kappor (found at the AT&T plaza at millennium park). More commonly known as “the bean,” a stainless steel sculpture that reflects the Chicago skyline and entertains tourist and locals alike, who photograph their reflections.





THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO


The Art institute of Chicago, outside of Paris, boasts one of the best collections of Impressionist and Post Impressionist works. If you adore Degas’ ballerinas and love rebellious Van Gogh, you must devote a couple of hours to this place. There's also a big section on American Art and a new site-specific installation by Jitish Kallat titled Public Notice 3 on the stairway going to the second floor.




If art spaces are the soul of the city, then Chicago has a lot of soul and you will be inspired at every corner you turn!

Tomorrow: What to Eat & Where to Party (I go off the beaten path)

I think it’s essential to get the feel of a city and where things are before you set out to really explore it. I can’t think of a better way of getting to know a city than by bicycle. Why bike? It’s faster than walking and more intimate than a Decker bus, and the tour guides will tell you funny stories along the way. For example, did you know what Chicago is know as the Windy City no because of the wind but because its politicians are full of "Hot Air". Ha ha ha.

That and the guides are always really good looking ...

OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH



I remember sitting in a group of four girls discussing everyday life, when someone started to talk about her aunt's diagnose of breast cancer. She went on to say "One out of four women are diagnosed with Breast Cancer, do you know what this means?" she asked, "one of us will get breast cancer." Then there was silence.  According to the Canadian Cancer Society the correct statistic is one in nine women.

So who gets breast cancer? Everyone.  Breast cancer is the most common cancer among young adults. Although there are more cases where Caucasian women are affected, African-American and minority women have higher fatality rates because of the lack of early detection.  In the end, more than ethnicity or age, lifestyle choices are what comes to play when reducing your risk of cancer.

Self-examining is crucial! Here's a how-to diagram.


The good news it that survival rates are increasing thanks to early detection and regular screenings. So go ahead, touch your boobies daily (although monthly is recommended, but there's no harm in getting familiar).