Sonoma Valley ballerina enrolls at San Francisco Ballet School

Sonoma Valley ballerina Sierra Sowinksi spent June and July dancing in the San Francisco Ballet School’s (SFBS) summer intensive program, and this fall was offered a competitive scholarship to enroll at the school. Sowinski, 14, only began training four years ago and she says she has aspirations to go on to the professional ranks in the ballet world.

Sowinski grew up in Sonoma and trains at the Sonoma Conservatory of Dance. She attended Prestwood Elementary and graduated from Adele Harrison last year. She is now a freshman at the Sonoma Performance Academy, an independent high school program in town.

“Sonoma Conservatory of Dance is a place of family,” said Mark Sowinski, Sierra’s father, in press materials sent out by SCD. “Miss Patty (O’Reilly) and her team go above and beyond to teach and help their students grow as individuals by emphasizing camaraderie and friendship, respect, dedication, politeness and integrity - a true sense of welcome and belonging. Sierra has grown tremendously as a person, thanks to her experience at SCD and with (director) Patty O’Reilly.”

Sowinski will be a part of San Francisco Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” this year, which will be performed at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco throughout December.