Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sophia Marrapodi-bove’. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sophia, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
Growing up, I had a pretty confusing childhood. Grew up in a pretty rough neighborhood but at the same time we would travel a lot. We would get food donated to us and my mom working as a corrections officer and working the night shift , would bring home “jail food” so we could have food. But then my dad, which I would see every 2 weeks , didn’t have this issue. But my dad situation was not ideal. So I knew I had to take care of myself most times. Not because love wasn’t there just my parents were doing the best they could and not handling it in the best forms but I knew love was there. So I started working at 15, got my driver’s license (permit) at 15, ( really driving since I was 13 (shhh don’t tell). And I knew if I wanted to eat , I had to work. So the “keep going” the “being without” has also stuck with me , so that pushed me to make sure I wouldn’t ever give up. Despite many times I felt like I wasn’t enough.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I started in South Florida (Hollywood/Miami area). Born and raised but also raised in Italy from my parents family still there, so going very often, and sometimes in Zambia where my mother was born and raised. I love poppin and waving. Hiphop. I discovered heels and fell in love with the technique of being in a heel. Which dancing in heels can be any style , which I love since I’m coming from more of a Hiphop background. I am SOFIRE. Which came about when I was dancing with this Hiphop crew who I started dancing with when I moved up to New York and one of the dancers would say “Sofia? Nooo SOFIRE” Which I loved so I kept it now for over 10 years.
I moved to NY alone, no family, no friends , no job. Decided to give it a go. The plan was 2 years and here I am way over 10 years here. I did go back and fourth with my dance career, thinking I wasn’t supposed to do it so I would bartend and I was really good at it and made a lot of money and I liked it because I was “performing” behind the bar, so I guess I felt right place right time. . Back in Miami I have worked with artists T-Vice, Guop Boys, Pitbull and others. Then up in Ny I got to perform at Radio City Music Hall a few times and to work with Fatman Scoop, Kat DeLuna, 50 cent to name a few. I began teaching in NY in 2014 and then overseas, mainly in Italy in 2016. Then I realized I truly wanted to give it my all dancing and acting, so I quit the restaurant and it was scary but then right before I thought I’d have to go back things started happening for me. Teaching more and got to back up Dance for Kiezsa. Then covid hit and not having an agency, teaching dance was the only thing keeping me dancing (thankfully). Then I got pregnant. And was afraid ..that was it for me. But I kept going. I didn’t want SOFIRE TO BE PUT OUT.
And it wasn’t, I got to then teach in Paris and Zurich along with still going to Milan and Florence and many other cities in Italy. Got to back up dance again for Soave at his winning of the life time award achievement. Then I got pregnant again. So now I’m trying to think of my options to keep SOFIRE alive.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
One skill is, Hard work.. meaning be ok with putting in the work, be ok with not giving in to “I’ll do it tomorrow” I am all about take care of yourself and listen to your body, but know the difference between pride and rest. Another skill: Communication.. not everyone is good at it and it’s important to communicate how you feel and what you need and to understand what is needed from you. Knowing that you don’t have time. I know they say “you have so much time” but one thing I’ve learned is time goes faster then you think.. days are long but years are short and you can’t go back. So don’t fall into the “I have so much time” that is not to say don’t give yourself grace but if you are saying “I have time” then use that time and do it now… because trust me when I say … you will then change from I have time to “where did the time go” and only if I could” … another thing is try everything. You’d rather say “aw well that didn’t work out,” then saying “ugh if only I would have”.
If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
Comparing myself and my timeline.
I have done amazing things but it’s been up and down. I made wrong choices and looking back I truly feel I can say “knowing now how to operate, things would be different for me” but hindsight is truly 20/20.
Which I hate because I wish 20/20 is NOW.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @sofire_dancer
- Youtube: Sophia Marrapodi
Image Credits
Ally Visuals
Korie Genius
James Harper
DJ Browser
Taylor DeNapoli
Twin
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
