Sopio Phkhaladze

#KnowYourColleague – with this series of articles we highlight our colleagues’ hobbies and their stories. We aim to create a safe space where everyone is welcome to bond and share their adventures as we grow as a community.

Our colleague, Sopio Phkhaladze, is a Data Analyst in the Data Management Department and she loves Georgian dancing.

Since she was very young, she always dreamed of becoming a professional Georgian dancer and even now remembers how she danced everywhere as a child which gave her inner freedom and happiness. She also admired how graceful Georgian dancers were when they were performing.

A year ago, she took up Georgian dance classes again. Her teacher is a leading dancer with the Georgian National Ballet, Sukhishvilebi, who is a very energetic, vibrant and charming woman and makes every lesson the best experience possible.

One day, after they had hosted a concert in their studio they were just sitting, talking, drinking wine and enjoying themselves when one of the dancers suggested they should celebrate the end of the quarantine period in one of the big public parks where a lot of people had gathered. And just like that they took all the equipment, the DJ and their dances to the park. It was such a memorable experience, everybody was filming them and clapping.

After that, and on many other occasions in various situations, people have told Sopio that they regard her as a professional dancer. This art form is always full of pleasure and excitement and she hopes to experience it for the rest of her life.