WKI MAGAZINE:What was the motivation behind you becoming a dancer?
SOFIA: Initially my motivation for becoming a dancer is almost impossible to describe because my parents enrolled me when I was 5 years old and I really hadn't ever even thought about dancing prior to this and to be honest I had a terrible experience when my mom tried to enroll me in a dance summer camp at a different studio the year before when I was just 4 and I just wasn't ready yet. As soon as I started at Dancetown though I fell in love and realized dance was going to be a huge part of my life.
WKI MAGAZINE: How long have you been dancing? What are the styles you like to dance?
SOFIA: I've been dancing for almost 10 years now and I've learned at a very high level basically all dance styles including Ballroom, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip hop, flamenco and jazz. My favorite though is always going to be ballroom but hip hop and contemporary also have a special place in my heart.
WKI MAGAZINE: How did you feel being on World of Dance?
SOFIA: Being on World of Dance with The Dancetown Divas was the most amazing and unforgettable experience of my life. Not only did I get to dance with my best friends in the whole world on the most impressive and biggest dance competition in the world but I also met some of the most amazing performers and people too. I also got to interact with some incredibly interesting people that work on the show every day and I'm not only speaking about the people you see on air like J-lo and Derrick and Neyo even though they were incredible too.
WKI MAGAZINE: What was your favorite part of being on World of Dance?
SOFIA: My favorite part of being on the show actually has nothing to do with actually performing, I really enjoyed the times backstage when we weren't rehearsing or doing interviews but we got to just enjoy being with each other having fun and being regular teenagers because it was so much hard work in between those times that we were able to get a much better appreciation of what being together meant.
WKI MAGAZINE: What are some of your goals for the future?
SOFIA: While dance will always be a huge part of my life and I want to keep dancing for as long as I can, I want to take the lessons I've learned at Dancetown from my amazing Instructors, especially Manny and Lory Castro, the directors of the studio, and apply those lessons to every facet of my life moving forward. I remember my dad once told me that the discipline of having to always be on time with my hair perfect and ready to work hard every day will make every challenge I face in the future a breeze and at the time I didn't really understand what he meant but I now realize that whatever I do in the future cannot be as challenging as it would've been had I not been part of this amazing school and the lessons I've learned being there.
WKI MAGAZINE: What is one thing you would want our readers to know about you?
SOFIA: I think the one thing I'd want the readers to know about me is that I never quit at anything I set my mind to, dance was very challenging for me for the first few years I did it and I saw alot of kids with alot more talent than me not willing to put the time and effort it takes and they just left dance all together. I always knew that if I worked hard and never gave in to disappointment or barriers in my way eventually I would become the dancer I wanted to become and being part of the most amazing dance team Dancetown has ever assembled, The Dancetown Divas, is proof of the payoff I received for never giving up.
WKI MAGAZINE:What is some advice you would give to fellow dancers? Possible motivation?
SOFIA: If I had to give some advice to any dancer it would be to understand that if you are passionate about dancing never let anyone influence your path and always try whatever type of dance that inspires you. Dance is an art form and everyone brings their own style and vision to whatever style you like. If anyone tells you that you are not the type of dancer that would do well in any particular type of dance but you still love that style then go out and prove them wrong but at the same time use other peoples doubts as a tool to make yourself better. Even though other peoples doubts should be used as a tool your greatest motivation should be your passion to dance at the highest level that your heart can take you.
