Naomi Wintzen & Her Black Leather Jacket [Danielle Da Silva Shoot]

[Ed. Our latest in a series of features on the work of fashion photographer Danielle Da Silva. This week we get to know dancer Naomi Wintzen. Be sure to check out Danielle's website and fanpage. Click here for our last feature with model Kate Knight! -Nate]

Who are you?

Naomi Wintzen is my name and I’m a dancer.

What’s your background?

My mom is mixed…Jamaican, Chinese and Indian(West Indian). She was born and raised in Montego Bay Jamaica…Yah mon! [Laughs] And my dad is French with a huge French accent from Paris, France!

Where did you go to school?

I went to the Bishop Strachan School (BSS) in Toronto from Jk – Grade 11. I left in Grade 11 and decided to spend my last year of high school at City Academy also located in Toronto which was the best year of high school for me and I couldn’t of been happier with my choice!

Why are you awesome?

Awesome? [Laughs] I don’t think I’m awesome really, but I think that I do some pretty awesome things and I’m lucky enough and blessed to be able to experience and do things in life that not everyone gets to do, because I have the coolest and most supportive parents, family and friends on this planet–> Go to college, drop out, move to new york, dance, do what i love, travel, meet amazing people; that’s what I think is awesome.

What do you love most about yourself and why?

Hmm..I have a quality that allows me to easily understand people and I believe I’m an old soul if you will… so I believe in past lives and I think because of that I understand people better. I’m sensitive and emotional and somehow understand things that most people my age don’t. I always felt more mature than people my own age growing up and even now. I’ve always been able to connect with people much older and sometimes it freaks them out when I tell them how old I am. This is a quality I truly love about my self, it allows me to have such strong connections with people and I wouldn’t change it for anything!

What are 3 things that make you mad and why?

1) When I decide to be impulsive and those choices actually turn into HUGE mistakes that I end up paying for big time! Why? ‘Cause I pay for it BIG time haha!

2) When I have high expectations of people and they have such potential, yet they disappoint me in the end because they don’t have their shit together. Never take what you have for granted.

3) When I hurt people because of my weaknesses. I believe my weaknesses should only cause me pain, not hurt other people.

What’s the last thing that made you laugh out loud?

MY CHOREOGRAPHERS/TEACHERS/MENTORS! All dancers are the funniest people on the planet I swear! During class they have me on the floor, stomach cramped, even crying from laughing so hard sometimes, because of the stories they tell. They can put on accents and act up a storm on top of being a totally dope dancer, its like stand up comedy in the studio ALL THE TIME! I’m LOLING right now just thinking about them [Laughs Out Loud]!

What’s your song right now?

OK, make fun of me if you want to. After watching Black Swan I fell in love with the music from Swan Lake and I downloaded Tchaikovsky onto my i-Pod and I listen to it erryday! He’s dope!! I also have been into Nicki Minaj alot lately (Black Friday album) and I kinda like Britney’s new song “Till The World Ends”- its catchy! But most of all i’m loving “Baggage – Diddy Dirty Money”

Why?? Other than Tchaikovsky [Laughs]! I can relate to all these songs in one way or another and music is always better when you can relate to it.

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to you at a bar?

[Laughs Hysterically] I wish I could say!!! I’m sure more “appropriate” weird things have happened to me at bars and clubs, but I was probably too smashed to remember. Lolz. I may have to ask some of my friends who may have been more sober witnesses of the night.

What would you rather be doing right now?

Nada…I’m chilling out, relaxing, filling this out on my couch so it’s all good! Nice to spend time with your self once in a while and lay low. I’m busy and super tired these days!

What’s your next project and what’s your end goal?

Work wise, next week, I’ll be working with Yemi – Kanye West’s choreographer who is choreographing the music video for this band from Europe that Kanye West produced and I’m a ballerina for in the video… tutus!

My end goal…overall I just want to dance my whole my life because I’ve never felt more happy than when I dance. I want the world to know me well, because I’m good at what I do and I want to create art that people will love and be inspired by.

What would your (next) tattoo look like?

I was thinking about this for a while actually and well since I’ve had some big changes happen in my life recently I would get a tattoo that symbolizes strength and empowerment, I’ve been feeling strong inside lately and its driven me to do some cool and life changing stuff. An exotic flower is something that I’ve always wanted as well. A combination of the two would be cool but I have a lot of thinking and planning to do still before I get inked up again

Who’s your biggest influence?

Right now I’m not really looking up to anyone or feeling influenced or inspired by anyone specific, but that may change soon! For now I’m just doing me.

How will you change the world?

Step by step. Small steps lead to big changes. That’s all I can say for now.

What was it like working with Danielle Da Silva?

Shooting with Danielle Da Silva was an amazing experience! She made me feel relaxed and never out of my element. She always has creative ideas, like when she told me to do some choreography I knew because that’s the most comfortable way I feel moving around for an action shot. She truly knew what to say to make me do things that brought out the best in me. She definitely knows how to bring out the beauty in each individual and make their best assets shine! Couldn’t be happier with the end results. The photos turned out as natural as they felt taking! I hope I get to work with the creative and talented Danielle Da Silva again soon!

Any last words of wisdom for our readers?

Yes, lately I’ve been totally inspired by this…

“Legends say that hummingbirds float free of time, carrying our hopes for love, joy and celebration. Hummingbirds open our eyes to the wonder of the world and inspire us to open our hearts to loved ones and friends. Like a hummingbird, we aspire to hover and to savor each moment as it passes, embrace all that life has to offer and to celebrate the joy of everyday. The hummingbird’s delicate grace reminds us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal connection has meaning and that laughter is life’s sweetest creation.”