THE FIRST FILIPINA MS. CHATELAINE IN 80 YEAR HISTORY!

My Mom had stacks of Chatelaine Magazines growing up, so when Danya Cohen at the mag said she wanted to feature me as April 2013’s Ms. Chatelaine, I was tickled pink!  I came back home to Toronto from New York four years ago hoping that my home country would know about me as much as the rest of the world does and now here we are…  Chatelaine is the top selling women’s magazine in Canada with half a million monthly subscribers.

I am honored and also pleased to know that I am the FIRST FILIPINA MS. CHATELAINE in the 80-year history of the magazine.

Thank you to Roberto Caruso photographer and Erik his assistant,  editor Alex Laws and writer Danya Cohen for putting this fabulous 2-page article together.  WOW!

Jacket by NorBlackNorWhite
Bra by Michi New York
Leggings from Leah McFly
Sneakers Limited Edition Basquiat Reeboks
Necklace by Little Burgundy

 

SHOUTS OUT TO MY PARENTS MR. AND MRS. REYES MY SISTER ANGELA – MY BOO BIG NORM AND MY PARTNER IN CRIME JOJO DANCER ❤

The Jump Off 2.0

Jojo Dancer Zolina and I are very pleased to announce the coming of our second battle The Jump Off 2.0!  This one will be even more hype on account of BUDDHA STRETCH and TYRONE ‘THE BONE’ PROCTOR judging House and Waacking respectively.  So far, Montreal and New York and other cities in Canada have signed up.  It’s gonna be FIERCE!

 

MAJOR THANKS TO JADE JAGER CLARK FROM UDO CANADIAN STREET DANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS WHO GAVE US THE SPACE AND TIME FOR OUR BATTLE AT THE METRO TORONTO CONVENTION CENTRE!

 

Here are more details:

FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE:

http://www.facebook.com/events/382542181837483/?ref=ts&fref=ts

The Jump Off Battle can easily be named one of the most talked-about dance battles in Toronto, bringing the highest acclaimed international judges and top dancers from around the world in the styles of Hip Hop, House Dance and Waacking.On June 24, 2012, Jojo Dancer and Fly Lady Di hosted Toronto’s first Jump Off Battle where dancers from all over the world went head-to-head to compete in some legendary battles. Due to the high calibre of Toronto’s dance talent, word of the event attracted dancers from surrounding cities, and even the world, as far as Asia and Europe.The Jump Off is teaming up with UDO’s Canadian Street Dance Championships on March 23, 2013 to bring House Dance and Waacking to a bigger, broader spectrum. A pioneer of Waacking, TYRONE PROCTOR (Soul Train, International House of Waacking) and the legendary Hip Hop Choreographer BUDDHA STRETCH (MOP TOPS / Elite Force) will judge their respective categories with special guest BRIAN ‘FOOTWORK’ GREEN, as the elite Waackers and House Dancers of Toronto and surrounding cities will compete for the grand prize of $200 in CASH!

Have a look at what went down last year at The Jump Off!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5C_L4C3mpM&sns=em

Jump Off Recap by Axel Villamil of RLStudios

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCeaYoTG8gE&sns=em

Waacking Battle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvP6uYZ9If4&sns=em

House Battle

Hosted by Lenny Len
Music by DJ Dirty Dale

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW! http://www.udostreetdancecanada.com/home/registration/

***EARLY BIRD SPECIAL***
Deadline: Friday January 18th, 2013.

$20 Per Category ($25 after)

Registration Deadline: Thursday February 28th, 2013.

ALL SPECTATORS $10!

You can also soon register at participating Toronto dance studios (coming soon)…

FOLLOW OUR TWEETS @JumpOffBattle!

PROCEEDS FROM THE JUMP OFF BATTLE WILL BE DONATED TO ART STARTS! www.artstarts.net

Past Jump Off Results:

6/24/12 @ The Barn
Judges – Caleaf Sellers (Dance Fusion NYC, Mop Tops, Elite Force) HIP HOP & HOUSE
Jojo Dancer Zolina (House of La Douche, OTI, Waacouture, VAN) WAACKING

House Finals
Effex (MTL) vs Samo (NYC) (winner)

Waacking Finals
Emily Law (TOR) vs Essence (MTL, NYC) (winner)

Hip Hop Finals
Ladonna (MTL) vs Tasha Powell (TOR) (winner)

My House Freestyle Video!

A lot of peeps have been asking me to post vids so here is the first of several:

Jojo x Di x Diva K inside December ’12 TORONTO LIFE Magazine!

Thank you to Claire at Toronto Arts Council for having us perform at the Toronto Mayor’s Ball for the Arts (10.15.12)!  Look at us pictured next to the diva of glam herself Ms. Jeanne Beker (Fashion Television).

This is truly an honor to be in this magazine, it’s like the equivalent of The New Yorker.

Yay Jojo (youtube.com/kineticphilosopher) and Diva K (Kevin Fraser)!!!!

DANCE CLASSES!

I’ve been getting a lot of people asking me when my classes are, here they are in a nutshell!

 

For DANCE CLASSES see below:

Fly Lady Di ADVANCED

MONDAYS 6:30 – 7:30pm
OIP Dance Centre
190 Richmond St. East at Jarvis
$13

House Dance Foundation

THURSDAYS 7:30 – 8:30pm
Street Dance Academy
160 Spadina @ Queen West
$13

Intermediate House Dance

SUNDAYS 12 – 1pm
City Dance Corps
489 Queen St. West
$15.25

Di x Shirls win first ever House battle on #NMLBattlez on MuchMusic

Yesterday was a big day for UrGirlShirls and I as we won the first ever House Dance battle on #NMLBattlez on MuchMusic’s New Music Live!  Thank you so much to Janet Castillo and Lenny Len who continue to encourage me to put myself out there to inspire through House Dance, as well as the incomparable Producer Romeo Candido (who also directed and wrote Prison Dancer) and Jojo Dancer – my favorite kuya who continues to push me and inspire me towards greatness.

Shirley – you are also an inspiration – thanks for being a good student and working as hard as you did for this battle.  We make a great team.  Dancer/Artists for LIFE!  Ma-Gic.

Tafiya and BJ, you guys gave us a run for our prize – it’s beautiful and spiritual to watch you both dance.
Above are some photos that were taken by various people – Shirley’s uber supportive bro Mugabi “Bboy Metaflex” snapped lots of shots of us and posted them – thank you!  We also caught Phoebe Dykstra in the bathroom woohoo (she luved us) and…  Just how many Pinoys can you fit on the MuchMusic stage?!  *thanks Romeo*  The guest judge was Keisha Chante – I appreciated your honesty booboo.

 

HERE IS OUR PROFILE VIDEO ON NEWMUSICLIVE.CA!  http://www.newmusiclive.ca/nml-battlez-house-dancers-meet-ladies-first/

Di!

DANCE CURRENT FEATURES Fly Lady Di

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO BRITTANY AT DANCE CURRENT FOR THESE AMAZING FEATURES!  It has been a dream since childhood to be recognized for my dancing in a dance magazine – especially one from my home country!

I am both proud and grateful!
-Di

HARBOURFRONT CENTRE x Fly Lady Di!

Harbourfront Centre is GOING GLOBAL this year with the help of people like FLY LADY DI!  See below for these FREE dance events.  TELL ALL THE YOUNG DANCERS YOU KNOW ABOUT THE LAST ONE!  Much love to Diana Webley ❤

http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/summer/festivals.cfm?id=4090

FREE HOUSE DANCE AND HIP HOP WORKSHOP WITH FLY LADY DI!

House and hip hop dance emerged and became popular in the early 1990s by a dance crew called The Mop Tops out of New York City. Fly Lady Di had the privilege of training with them intensively while she lived in New York and wishes to preserve these dances by teaching them worldwide. The styles could be described as funky, energetic, soulful and rhythmic – as their influences are Latin dance, African dance and American musical theatre (tap and jazz). In this workshop, students will get a chance to learn a bit of history behind the movements, brush up on dance vocabulary and discover a new aesthetic behind popular dance styles. You’ll also get to bust a move (or two) as well. Undeniably fun, intense and enlightening. 

 

Prices

Everyone: FREE

Saturday, June 30, 2012

4:00PM – 5:00PM

Lakeside Terrace

York Quay Centre, 235 Queens Quay West

View Map

 

 

YAY!

http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/summer/festivals.cfm?id=4089

THE JUMP OFF JUNIOR COMPETITION!

Dancers who were not able to compete in The Jump Off at The Barn due to age restrictions will get a chance to compete at Harbourfront Centre’s Canada Day: Going Global festival! Those versed in waacking, house and hip hop dance will get a chance to compete for a cash prize in front of their proud parents, friends and onlookers alike. A great opportunity to expose their raw talent and freestyling abilities and competitive flair in dance. You never know who could be watching!

JoJo Dancer Zolina and Fly Lady Di will be judging the junior battle.

Prices

Everyone: FREE

Saturday, June 30, 2012

2:00PM – 3:00PM

235 Queens Quay West

View Map

THE JUMP OFF!

THIS SUNDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

http://youtu.be/ZSco-XT3k70 

 

JOJO Dancer Production and Fly Lady DiPresents:The Jump Off Dance Battle (1on1)
…
HIP HOP | HOUSE | WAACKINGWhen – June 24th 2012
Time – 5-11pm
Venue – Barn 418 Church Street
Music by DJ Sumation
Hosted by David Forteau

Judges

Caleaf Sellers – Dance Fusion/MOP TOP New York

Jojo Dancer – Over The Influence(VC)/Disco Love
Child(TO)/House of La Douche(VC)
/Dance Fusion(NYC)/House of
Xtravaganza(NYC)

(If you wanna enter the Battle, please let us know here on the FB event page and we will sign you up in the category you want to enter in.)

HOUSE:

Raoul Wilke (Moon Runners Crew) TO
Emily Law TO
Mariano Dance TO
Tristan Kyle Martell TO
Ma’ayan Jasovich TO
Benjamin Christensen TO
Natasha Powell TO
Metaflex TO
Erich Ddimplz Jack MTL
Effect (Mix’d Mafia) MTL
Afternoon (Mix’d Mafia) MTL
Anansi TO
Marvelous Marv MTL
Sara TO
Aenigma (Deadly Venoms Crew) MTL
Dez MTL
Kevin Docteur Mephisto PAR
A Klass TO
GUCCI TO
Chuckles KTN
Nicow MTL
Lady C CAL
Knox TO
Vanessa Kimmons TO
Tomo JP
Axelle MTL
Goldy 24K MTL

HIP HOP:

Raoul Wilke Moon Runners TO
Mariano Dance TO
Tristan Kyle Martell TO
Daniel Keith Morrison (Moon Runners Crew) TO
Natasha Powell TO
Ms. Smiley JPN
Effect (Mix’d Mafia) MTL
Afternoon (Mix’d Mafia) MTL
Emilio (Mix’d Mafia) MTL
Snapp (Moon Runners Crew) TO
Sara TO
Ladonna (Mix’d Mafia) MTL
Sebber TO
A Klass TO
Amylom
Lady C CAL
Cocaine Biceps TO
Suga TO
Vanessa Kimmons TO
Essence MTL
Bowtox
Asako JP
Daichi JP
Chuckles
Anastasia (Region 65) TO

WAACKING:

Emily Law TO
Erich Ddimplz Jack MTL
Emilio(Mix’d Mafia) MTL
Cherry (IHOW) MTL
Sugar Queen MTL
Ralph Escamillian TO
Sebber TO
D Serious Fierceness MTL
Essence MTL
Colours CLG
Tomoyo JPN

Cover – $20 and $15 for competitors

Winners gets Ca$$$h prize, Gift Certificates from American Apparel, Rebus, Superstein, Rightfoot Studio, Lindsay Ritter, Street Dance Academy and a Plaque

Tickets are Sold:

Street Dance Academy-160 Spadina Ave. (416) 840-4934
Metro Movement – 833 Broadview Ave. (416) 463-9174
Gotta Dance Studio-3581 Dundas St. W.(416) 604-3566
Manifesto – 37 Bulwer St. (647) 284-1701
City Dance Corps – 489 Queen St. W.(416) 260-2356

Workshop at Street Dance Academy w/ Caleaf Sellers June 23rd Saturday 6:30pm – 8pm – House

Monday June 25th Top Rock Workshop w/Samo

 

Judging UDO’s Canadian Street Dance Championships

it was an awesome experience to have judged the UDO’s Canadian Street Dance Championships among Toronto’s top street dance talent. it was also cool to be the only female representing street dance, that truly meant a lot to me! above is a pic of all the judges – TURBO from the UK (all-styles), BONELESS (all-styles), SCRAMBLELOCK from MTL (locking), NEO BOOG (popping), ? (sorry!), PRIMAL (krumping), FRANK BOOGIE (popping), ME (house), JADE CLARK (organizer), LENNY LEN (hip hop). LEGENDS IN THA HOUSE!

here is our judges showcase video, enjoy tha dopeness!