During a recent Thursday evening class,
after nearly two hours of ballet, Sophie’s
instructor Isabel Dubrocq told the class
they could spend about ten minutes
on acrobatics. “Yes!” Sophie whispered
and proceeding to per form aerials,
walkovers, and back handsprings — her
favorite acro move.
“She’s very bright, uncommonly smart,”
and full of energy. Sophie is a girl who
enjoys life.”
At her studio, Sophie is the youngest,
and one of the smallest, but she is skilled,
intently practicing moves on the sidelines
while she waits her turn.
“She feels the music,” said Sophie’s
ballet, and with jazz, she’s sassy. She’s a
chameleon. She’s a very all-around kid.”
Pop Dance teacher Niecy Crawley has
choreographed Sophie’s competition
saw her, I knew she always had the sass,”
Crawley said. “What I most enjoy is to see
her progress from four years ago until now.
She’s hard on herself, but in a very good
way, and she takes criticism well.”
As a kid, Sophie’s outgoing and sweet,
with an easy smile. She said she has lots of
friends at school and at dance. She’s smart
student who doesn’t hesitate to raise her
hand in class. She likes country music,
particularly Luke Combs and Taylor Swift,
as well as pop. She loves the St. Louis
Cardinals. And, of course, her younger
brother, Rocco, who is four.
When asked if she’s competitive, Sophie
noted she is extremely so when playing
Monopoly with her family. About dancing,
look suggesting the question was a silly
one. She gives dance her all, and she has
excelled because of it.
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