Diana Reyes, aka Fly Lady Di, introduced herself as a multi disciplinary artist when we recently met for our portrait session. A DJ, painter and dancer/performer - Reyes is a thoroughly modern artist. She effortlessly (or so it seems) transitions between all of her creative endeavours and makes it very easy to online. I'm listening to her mix on Cloud Mix as I’m typing this post, I watched a video where she danced with Jason Derulo on stage for this year's Much Music Video Awards (Derulo’s “Wiggle” was viewed an astonishing 600 million times on YouTube), and as quickly as scrolling down her Facebook page I’ve seen a smartphone video documenting her first Baluto eating experience, surrounded by a visibly loving family in the Philippines. A click away are her photos taken with a Filipino Folk-Fusion dance troupe called HATAW here in Toronto.
Not all is roses however. Born here in Canada to Filipino parents, Reyes talks about racial as well as gender “attitudes” and that she does not always feel perfectly at home here in Canada. Moving away from the cocooning of her old neighbourhood in Markham, where she was surrounded by the comfort of ethnic diversity, she found more established neighbourhoods in Toronto a bit alienating. Even a visit to a boutique coffee shop can feel odd.
But how wonderful it is to see all of those elements bouncing inside of this active and energetic artist.