I had the opportunity recently to ask Sofia Angelov some questions about her journey as a ballerina. Sofia is a fantastic dancer, she graces the stage with poise and elegance. Her love for ballet is phenomenal. Below are her responses.

Q1: When did you start ballet?

I started ballet when I was 2 ½ years old in a Mommy and Me class. I started taking it seriously about 2 years ago when I started competing in ballet competitions at age 10

Q2: Where do you currently dance?

I dance with the Amirian Ballet Academy in Los Angeles, and I also train with my father

Q3: How long have you been en pointe for?

I have been en pointe for 2 years – I began when I was 10 years old

Q4: What pointe shoes do you currently wear?

I wear Rubins – Russian Pointe and love them!

Q5: How did you first get involved in ballet?

Both my parents wanted me in ballet – my father was an artiste and a former ballet dancer and my mom just wanted me to wear a pretty pink tutu

Q6: What is your favourite variation?

My favorite variation is from the ballet Raymonda, Act 1 (the scarf variation)

Q7: What company would you love to work for?

My dream companies are the Bolshoi Ballet theater, The Mariinsky Ballet, the Royal Ballet and The Paris Grand Opera

Q8: Do you have a favourite memory/moment in ballet?

My favorite moment in ballet is whenever I am onstage and we all bow to the audience and all the hard work is rewarded

Q9: Who are your ballet roles models? Dancers that inspire you.

My ballet role models are Marianela Nuñez, Olga Smirnova, Svetlana Zakharova, , Maria Khoreva, May Nagahisa

Q10: Best advice you’ve ever received from a teacher?

The best advice I received would be from my father who said “make sure you practice correctly”

Q11: Advise you’d give a young version of yourself?

Don’t be lazy, put work into your goals. It is important not to learn bad habits

Q12: Best thing about being a ballerina?

Best thing about being a ballerina is the reward being able to entertain and delight the audience doing what you love to do

Q13: Hardest thing about being a ballerina?

Hardest thing about being a ballerina would be the amount of work you need to do to make sure one tiny thing is correct

Q14: It seems like such hard work, did you ever have days growing up where you were like “ugh maybe I’ll just pick an easier career so I can be like a normal teenager”?

Sure, I have had moments when it was hard and I thought maybe it would be easier if I didn’t love ballet.  I always second guess myself when I see someone do it perfectly and I may be struggling (at that moment) But I do love ballet so the hard work is always worth it.

Q15: Classical or romantic tutu?

Classical

Q16: Have you ever suffered a serious injury?

Not a serious injury, minor ones, and I know I have to be careful with my knees to avoid a serious injury in the future

Q17: What do you like to do when you aren’t dancing (your free time)?

Ha! Free time? What would that be? My passion is art so if I do have a moment I like to paint, listen to music and make up my own