As San Jose Dance Theatre prepares to bring Alice in Wonderland to the stage this spring, one dancer is preparing for a milestone performance that is both exciting and emotional. Senior dancer Sofi will take her final bow with SJDT as the commanding and unforgettable Red Queen before graduating and beginning her next chapter in college.
For Sofi, closing out her SJDT journey in such a bold role feels especially meaningful.
“It’s honestly so bittersweet,” she shares. “College is this huge, exciting next step and I’m ready for it, but leaving the studio feels like leaving home.”
After years spent training, rehearsing, performing, and growing within the SJDT family, Sofi says the studio became far more than a place to dance.
“I’ve spent more hours here than anywhere else—it’s where I laugh until I can’t breathe with my friends, where I’ve cried after tough rehearsals, and where I always feel like the best version of myself.”
That sense of dedication and artistry shaped not only the dancer she became, but also the person she is today. Sofi credits SJDT with teaching her resilience, accountability, discipline, and the importance of pushing through challenges even when things feel impossible.
“Excellence isn’t an accident,” she says. “It’s hours of corrections, sore muscles, and showing up even on the hard days.”
Those lessons became especially important while preparing for the role of the Red Queen—a character filled with dramatic emotional swings, larger-than-life energy, and theatrical storytelling.
“I love the Red Queen,” Sofi says. “One second she’s furious and commanding the entire stage with ‘Off with their heads!’ and the next she’s playful and almost childlike. Switching between rage, humor, power, and pettiness is such a challenge—and that’s what makes it so fun.”
Developing the role required Sofi to fully commit to the character in a way she initially found intimidating.
“At first I was afraid of looking silly or ‘too much,’” she admits. “But my teachers kept telling me ‘more’ until I realized this role only works if you commit 100%. Once I stopped doubting myself, everything clicked.”
Beyond the stage itself, Sofi says her favorite memories from Alice in Wonderland have been the moments shared with her fellow dancers.
“The little in-between moments are what I’ll miss most,” she says. “Laughing during long rehearsals, watching my friends rehearse their solos, and dancing alongside people who feel like family.”
One especially meaningful part of this production has been performing opposite Alice, danced by her real-life best friend.
“It makes the scenes feel so real and fun,” Sofi says. “Those moments where we lock eyes during the dance and try not to break character are my favorite.”
As she looks toward college and the future, Sofi knows dance will always remain part of her life. Whether returning for future productions, helping backstage, or mentoring younger dancers, she hopes to stay connected to the SJDT community that helped shape her.
“SJDT gave me a home and a family,” she says. “I’m really just saying ‘see you later,’ not goodbye.”
Before taking her final curtain call, Sofi leaves younger dancers with one final piece of advice:
“Take a chance on yourself. Don’t let ballet ‘rules’ tell you who you can or can’t be. Keep showing up, keep working hard, and don’t let anyone—including yourself—tell you that you don’t belong.”
This May, audiences will have the chance to see Sofi bring the unforgettable Red Queen to life in Alice in Wonderland—a fitting final performance for a dancer whose artistry, leadership, and heart have left a lasting impact on San Jose Dance Theatre.