"A great sport and I love doing it:" Sky is the limit for young Milwaukee area dancer



MILWAUKEE -- Some people are born to perform. Sophia Brussow has a gift that brings her joy and hopes it will bring joy to others.

Sophia Brussow



"I like performing in front of people," said 10-year-old Sophia Brussow.

Introducing 10-year-old Sophia Brussow.

"It makes me happy and I hope it makes other people happy too. Thinking and knowing that other people care about your dancing really helps you perform and get yourself out there; so you're not as frightened," said Brussow.

Sophia Brussow



Stage fright? Hard to imagine with this poised young lady. Sophia is a born performer, and charmer who took a circuitous route to dancing.

Sophia Brussow



"Well, I started skating and it wasn't, I would say the sport for me," said Brussow.

Sophia Brussow



Five years ago, she found her passion.

"You can find me dancing in my living room 24/7. I mean it's a great sport and I love doing it," said Brussow.

Sophia Brussow



No one knows that more than Sophia's mother Lisa, who's been with her daughter every step of the way.

"She's dancing constantly. There's points where we have to tell her there's no dancing in the kitchen! But there's always some turns or leg holds or something like that going on in our house; in fact our living room has been turned into a dance studio for her. That's how much passion she has for it," said Lisa.

Lisa Brussow



Many of Sophia's friends appreciate that passion. They think dance is "cool" others take a slightly different position.

"People go like, 'Whew,' like they think it's completely disgusting. But I'm like, 'This is my sport. This is what I like doing, and I love dancing; it's like the best thing that could ever happen," said Brussow.

Dance takes discipline. Sophia often practices three hours at a time -- but this all-star is going for the gold.

Sophia Brussow



"What you have to do is you really have to try for it. If you don't try there's no way you can do anything. If you don't believe in yourself there's no chance," said Brussow.

Sophia Brussow



That competitive spirit, combined with her God-given gifts have made Sophia Brussow a versatile all-star.

"She works in contemporary, she does lyrical, jazz, which is very popular. She even does a little musical theater and Broadway type of work. One thing that's really big in this area here is palm work -- and even as far as hip-hop," said Melissa Anderson, Brookfield Center for the Arts.

Sophia Brussow and Melissa Anderson



Melissa Anderson knows Sophia has just finished the 5th grade, but says that if the young dancer maintains her passion, desire and ambition -- the sky is the limit.

Sophia Brussow



"If she wants to work in Broadway she could do that. She has the facial, you know she has the energy. If she wants to be in a company and she works on refining her ballet, she could certainly go to a conservatory program. If she wants to go to L.A., she's got the energy to be a commercial dancer. I really wouldn't put a top on what Sophia can do," said Anderson.

Sophia first told her mom that when she grows up, she wants to buy a big hotel and adopt a lot of kids and teach them to dance.

But, first things first.

"Well, I really really want to become a famous dancer. I want to be in front of people I want to do it for other people, and especially for the other people I'm dancing with," said Brussow.