After being selected for a summer scholarship to the Sedona Dance Academy and two weeks of training with Ballet Arizona in Phoenix, 15-year-old Sedona student Sofia Wolf embarked on a summer adventure around the globe to pursue her dream: she boarded a plane to train at her aunt Natasha Medvedeva’s dance studio, Viva La Danza, in Naberezhnye Chelny, Russia. Wolf has had a dream of becoming a ballerina since she was two years old. Wolf was selected by the Rotary Club of Sedona Village for a summer scholarship to train at the Sedona Dance Academy.

“Becoming a professional ballerina takes total dedication and this is an important (milestone),” said Jessica Phillips, founder of Sedona Dance Academy. “Summer training starting at age 14 is important to build a good resume and get challenging training outside of your own training environment. She’s been my student since I opened the school (in January 2020)…when I opened the school, she was just excited and decided that she really wanted to do this as a career, and I support her in that.”

Wolf’s Russia experience was followed by a summer intensive program at the International Dance School in Alicante, Spain, with the Russian Masters Ballet Camp, which ran from July 8-27 and included five hours of training, six days per week. Wolf said she typically trains 20 hours per week during the rest of the year, focusing on ballet and also incorporating elements from modern, jazz and hip-hop styles.

“She’s extremely intelligent and very strong-willed,” Phillips said. “Those are two qualities you have to have to be a professional athlete. She has no problem making sacrifices. In fact, I don’t feel like it feels like sacrifices to her, like getting up early before going to school for practice or stretching. She’s also very kind and humble and just a wonderful student to work with.”

Wolf’s good knowledge of Russian, thanks to her family background, made her trip to Russia easier, and during the Spanish part of the trip she helped her fellow students, who came from over 30 countries, translate.

“My uncle lives in Moscow,” Wolf said. “So I stayed in Moscow and visited Red Square and the Bolshoi Theater, where the best ballerinas in the world perform. And then I just spent time with my grandparents.”

After deciding to pursue dance as a career, Wolf originally planned to attend a summer intensive in New York City to pursue her long-held dream of dancing for the American Ballet Theatre, but she ultimately decided to travel to Russia due to her family connections.

“Learning all about these different people and how the different countries live, their morals and traditions, that was the best part,” Wolf said of her travels. “One of my favorite memories of Spain is when the soccer games were on. Spain is known for its soccer madness. You could just hear everyone stomping and honking when their team scored a goal.”

In addition to dancing, Wolf is interested in sports medicine and how it relates to her dance training and performance. She is the second class president of SRRHS, a member of the Interact Club, and looks forward to the Sedona Dance Academy’s annual performance of The Nutcracker.

“Don’t let anything hold you back. It’s good to step out of your comfort zone because that’s the only way you can grow.”

Wolf offered some advice to others considering a summer program.

“(Wolf) will be competing in some competitions in New York this year,” Phillips said. “This was a big deal for her and will really advance her training to become a professional athlete.”