Ballet, Pointe

Sophia Kourtoglou, born in San Francisco, California began her training at Ayako School of Ballet at three years old. At twelve she trained under the direction of Jorge Esquivel and Amparo Brito. There she performed roles such as Nikiya in Raymonda, Sugarplum Fairy in The Nutcracker, and Dulcinea in Don Quixote. In 2017, Sophia competed at YAGP finals and received a scholarship to train at The Rock School for Dance Education, where she performed as a demi-soloist in the 4th movement of Symphony in C. She has recently graduated from the University of Utah receiving her Bachelor in Fine Arts in Ballet, with a teaching emphasis. She has had the opportunity to perform new works by Melissa Bobick, Natalie Desch, and Cherylyn Lavagnino, as well as a restaging of the Pizzicato variation in Raymonda by Christopher Alloways-Ramsey. At the university, Sophia choreographed a contemporary trio titled One With Many, which explored ideas of unity. She began teaching ballet at local studios in Salt Lake City and enjoys seeing the next generation of dancers grow. Sophia looks forward to continuing her career in performance and teaching.