Sophia Laurio a.k.a Sosa

Photographer – Adam Blasberg

Sophia Laurio a.k.a Sosa is a first generation Filipina immigrant and interdisciplinary dance artist based in Vancouver, Canada. Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, Sosa grew up with a natural love and talent for dance and music. After immigrating to Canada in 2007, Sosa began her professional dance practice at the age of thirteen. She helped start the competitive dance team in her high school at Kwantlen Park Secondary in Surrey, BC. Since then, Sosa has continued to pursue her goals and paved her own path in attaining a professional career in the arts. She’s learned and received mentorship from Vancouver Street Dance innovators like Jeri Chien, Victor Tran, Kenny Mugisha, Yoshi Hisanaga, Kim Sato and Angela Lowndes. With the desire to honor and respect the Street Dance Culture, Sophia continues to travel to New York City and learn from the Street Dance originators/pioneers/innovators of Street Dance Culture. Sosa has learned and continues to seek the highest form of foundational training under the guidance of Elite Force, MOPTOP, Dance Fusion NYC and LiteFeet Nation.

Sosa also explores other genres of art practices outside of Street Dance such as contemporary dance, theatre, creative writing and filmmaking. Sosa’s artistic journey focuses on identity, decolonization & reconciliation. She has been featured in big dance platforms like Dancing on the Edge, Vancouver Fringe Festival ,Manila Fringe Festival , Raw Artist Emerge Los Angeles and Vancouver Street Dance Festival. Sosa has also worked on film sets like Disney’s The Descendants directed by Kenny Ortega and various commercials/music videos. In 2020, Sosa co-founded a non-profit organization called Barangay Project Society, a space dedicated to connecting communities through arts and dance to all youths, most especially BIPOC, immigrants, refugees and at-risk youth. Sosa’s mission with Barangay Project Society is to help eliminate all types of barriers that prevent one from pursuing their goals, especially within the arts. In 10 years, Sosa sees herself as the successful artistic director and CEO of her own company, reaching millions of youth worldwide and helping them achieve their dreams while inspiring the wisdom that Street Dance Culture has instilled in her: “Peace, love, unity and having fun”.