My name is Sophie Barbarics – dancer, master dance teacher, and creator. I’ve been teaching dance since I was 19. For a decade, I taught children, but later I shifted my focus to teaching amateur adults. I prefer to call it a dancing-sharing experience, as it allows me to genuinely contribute to others’ lives.

I earned my Master’s Degree with distinction from the Hungarian Dance University in 2016. In 2010, I received my BA in Croatian Language and Literature from Eötvös Loránd University. Languages have always fascinated me—I’ve learned seven so far.  I have always been mesmerized by languages – I’ve learned 7 of them so far. A human life offers endless opportunities and in my opinion, it’d be a waste not to utilize those opportunities. The many languages we speak, that’s how many ways we think.

In this vein, I perceive the acquisition of dance language as akin to mastering any foreign language—an exciting, yet terrifying discovery.  Over the past 20 years, I’ve explored various facets of dance. I’ve taught children and directed and choreographed children’s shows at institutions like Cholnoky Dance Studio, Basic Dance Studio, and Dance Craze Academy. I’ve even taught the children of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. As a professional dancer, I’ve performed with the Hungarian State Opera, Basic Dance Studio, and FootNotes Dance Company. Additionally, I’ve worked as an assistant choreographer for national and international productions, including those at the Hungarian Dance University and the Operett Theater. I’ve also contributed to the development of teaching materials and have hosted workshops both domestically and internationally in countries such as Serbia, Hungary, and India. I’ve been organizing an international dance festival for over a decade (Connector Dance Festival), and have been directing my own dance company (FootNotes Dance Company) where I create productions for adults with the participants of my courses.

I thrive on new challenges, my spirit warms up when I can get lost in new ideas. I’m immensely inspired by human stories and I feel incredibly lucky to be surrounded and to know so many different people and am constantly looking for ways we can connect to each other.  In 2020, with the birth of my son, I embarked on a new self-discovery journey that deepened my understanding of femininity and motherhood. This experience has added more depth and colour to the human tapestry I observe, fuelling my continuous quest for connection.