Like so many – especially those living in areas not visited by winter – Natalie Tso relied on a television set to introduce her to the sport of figure skating.
“My interest to become a skater started when I saw Michelle Kwan competing and performing on TV,” said Natalie. “I started with group lessons in Pasadena when I was 7 years old. After a couple years, I was recommended to train at the East-West Ice Palace in Artesia, which happens to be owned by Michelle and her family.”
Natalie has competed regionally and nationally through the senior level until her graduation from San Marino High School in 2014. She was trained by Michelle’s sister and brother-in-law, Karen and Peter Oppegard.
“Michelle’s father unofficially became my mentor, offering advice on and off the ice and on occasion I would get to spend time with Michelle when she was in town,” said Natalie. “While I trained, I also became an instructor with the skating school classes and a volunteer coach for the Special Olympics. This journey at the rink with the Kwan family has become more memorable and valuable than any of my awards or medals.”
Entering her junior year at New York University’s College of Dentistry, where she is working towards a bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene, Natalie coaches in Central Park and is a competitor for NYU’s intercollegiate skating team.
But Natalie didn’t receive a set of scores for her favorite performance.
“The opportunity to work with Baz Luhrmann, director of ‘The Great Gatsby,’” She recalls. “I was a skater in his Barney’s NY 2014 Holiday Windows project, working alongside Baz and his Academy-award winning wife. The grand opening took place on Madison Avenue with a live performance with the Pentatonix. It was amazing.”
Natalie can be seen performing in a video for the display, which can be found at Barney’s New York Windows 2014. The performance is called ‘Baz Dazzled.’
“Ironically, the highlight of my skating happened when I had stopped training,” she said of her appearance in the show. The visual marketing project was definitely the best skating experience ever.”
She also noted that ‘The Great Gatsby’ has a special place in her heart because “It was the theme of my Grad Night at San Marino High School.”
More recently, Natalie – the daughter of Rebecca and Vincent Tso – has served as judge at a local skating competition and also serves in that capacity on the East Coast.
