Miss Sonja began her ballet lessons at age four with Sara Gransow and the Princeton Regional Ballet Company in New Jersey. She moved on to James Jamieson and Madame Antonova in Wilmington, Delaware; Kathleen Gorham in Melbourne, Australia; Liz Miles at University of Delaware; and Maggie Banks of Reno, Nevada. She then went into “Show Biz” at the MGM Grand – Reno, for 5 years and spent another 5 years with Gregg Thompson Productions in Bermuda, Antigua and the USA. Miss Sonja came to St. Croix in 1989, teaching dance in various schools on the island and choreographing numerous shows for Island Center, CCT, The Good Hope School and Country Day School. She began her studies in 1992 to receive certification as a teacher and practitioner of dance in both the Cecchetti and Russian Imperial methods. She holds a Licentiate degree in the Cecchetti method, L.I.S.T.D. and LCUSA, and a teachers and examiners degree with the United Kingdom Alliance of Professional Teachers of Dance. Since 2000, Miss Sonja has been a certified Pilates instructor and holds certifications in Mat and Props, Studio and Allegro from both Polestar of Miami and Pilates Elder, Lolita San Miguel. Miss Sonja has guest taught nationally and internationally. She continues to teach in local schools and institutions as well as at Pointe Dance Academy, Inc. founded by Miss Sonja and her sister Miss Heidi in 1992.
