Dynamic Visionaries! With Erik Sosa
Celebrating the Career-Driven Artists Who Broke Boundaries at the Inaugural 2025 Choreographer’s Cup!
Please join us in celebrating the phenomenal geniuses who brought the audience to their feet! Each of these top 3 artists took home titles and cash rewards up to $25,000! The work these choreographers and their dancers put in, was definitely worth it. Our team at Inside Dance is honored to turn the spotlight on each of them and bring their journeys to you, our readers!
$10,000 WINNER – 1ST RUNNER UP:
ERIK SOSA “I Sat Down To Leave, But You Won’t Let Go”
What gave you the motivation to strive for the Choreographer’s Cup competition?
For a long time, I was honestly scared to submit. I’d never entered a choreography contest before, never worked with professional dancers, and I’d never traveled specifically to have my work seen. But that fear is exactly what pushed me. I realized that if I wanted to grow, I had to take a chance on myself.
Tell us about the moment you found out you were a finalist!
I was shocked and excited all at once. Honestly, my first reaction was pure imposter syndrome—I felt so out of place, like “Wait… they picked me?” I had never submitted to anything like this before, so seeing that I was a finalist was surreal. After the initial disbelief, it quickly turned into gratitude and this quiet confidence that maybe I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
Give us an overview of your creative process with this specific piece!
This piece began as a dance I originally created for my company kids at Bobbie’s School of Performing Arts using custom chairs that were made for us—that’s the piece I submitted with. That first version was about having a difficult conversation with someone. For Choreographer’s Cup, I elevated that idea into something deeper—the feeling of having a conversation about letting go with someone who isn’t ready to let you leave. I experimented with transitions, spacing, and patterning to make sure the story was being told clearly through the structure of the choreography. Throughout the entire process, I kept coming back to the title of the piece—it helped ground the narrative and ensured that every choice supported the emotional journey I wanted the audience to feel.
How has this experience propelled you, as an artist, into creating new bodies of work?
This experience helped me trust myself in a way I never had before. It pushed me to keep creating stories and moments that hold real depth and meaning. Working with professional dancers completely shifted the way I approach creation. Their artistry inspired me to listen more closely, to collaborate more openly, and to let their instincts guide each new world and narrative I build.
Tell us about how life-changing it was for you to present your work, and work with professional dancers for the very first time!
Presenting my work with professional dancers was an incredible experience. Watching them take each idea and elevate it into something even more powerful was unreal— they brought a level of artistry and intention that pushed the piece beyond what I imagined. Being surrounded by so many other artists I’ve looked up to, all sharing the same stage, was equally inspiring. It grounded me, motivated me, and made me feel like I truly belonged in that space.
QUICK HITS
Based out of? Newbury Park, CA
Been choreographing for how long: I’ve been choreographing professionally since 2015.
Who inspired you? I’m inspired by directors who build entire worlds— artists who create their own universes, trilogies, and storylines that feel completely immersive. That kind of vision and commitment to a larger narrative is something I try to bring into my own choreography.
