Show & Tell: Meet Sophia Ignadiou of ‘Tournament of Kings’

Q: How long have you been dancing?

A: I started dancing (ballet) at the age of 5 or 6.

Q: And how long have you been in Las Vegas?

A: I moved here when I was about 7. My grandparents moved out here first, and my (family) followed. They were just tired of the L.A. smog and the L.A. lifestyle. ... I went to Kravenko dance center. I was with a ballet company there - they had a youth company, and I did all the Royal Academy (of Dance) exams they do. And my parents sent me to England to do an intensive over the summer. I was maybe 15 or 16.

Q: When did you start dancing professionally?

A: About two years ago. This is my first show. I had a bunch of friends who were, like, "You should audition. It's a lot of fun to do and it's a great show. You don't get done super late, so you can still do something afterwards and do homework (she's also a business major at UNLV)."

Q: What part do you play in "Tournament of Kings"?

A: We have a few different parts. Basically, we're Gypsies. They kind of wanted to add a little sexiness to the show, so we were fair maidens - kind of like wenches, if you will (laughs) - and they recently changed our costumes and our dances, and now we are Gypsies. We do a little dance with the boys and then we come into the audience and help the audience cheer for the knights.

Q: What's the hardest part of the show for a dancer?

A: The dirt was the challenging part, because it's not a solid surface. So doing all the jumps and everything, it takes a long time to get used to it. And it's always changing, because they till the arena and spray it down with water, so you never know what to expect when you get out there.

Q: There are horses in the show, too. Do you have to look out for horse-related hazards, if you know what we mean?

A: Not really. We're pretty safe out there. But you always have to keep your eyes open (laughs).

Q: Ballet is so precise. This style of dance must be fun for you.

A: It really is. I think one of the hardest things for me was letting go. You're so used to being prim and proper (in ballet), and now you're in the audience, getting them to cheer and scream and booing the other knights. And we still get to use our technique.