Sofija Milic

Sofija Milić is a Serbian/Croatian performance artist and choreographer. She has been a passionate dancer, creator and performer since the age of four, which is when her artistic
journey began. Sofija studied contemporary dance at the New Zealand School of Dance, and graduated with Level 6 and 7 Diplomas. During her time at the academy, she had the privilege of working with and learning from renowned New Zealand choreographers Sarah Foster Sproull, Ross McCormack, Jeremy Beck and Holly Newsome. After graduating, Sofija established her project based dance company L!CK Dance Theatre, and presented her debut full length work ‘Lick Off My Tears, Death is Also Dying’ at the New Zealand Fringe Festival 2024. The show was met with great acclaim, earning nominations for Best In Fringe, Momentous Movement, and The Grand Design Award. Additionally, L!CK Dance Theatre won the Most Promising Emerging Company Award while Sofija was nominated for the Most Promising Emerging Artist Award. Sofija has had the privilege of collaborating with and dancing for the esteemed New Zealand choreographer Lucy Marinkovich on her innovative work, Oh Dear. Additionally, she was an improvisation teacher and facilitator at the New Zealand School of Dance, as a part of an Enhance program for younger dancers.

Sofija is a dedicated yogi, and a certified yoga and mindfulness teacher. She is currently a member of SUB.LAB.PRO The Ensemble Program in Budapest, Hungary.

The human experience is fragile, wonderful, and painful. Our ability to access so many emotional states is a mystery to Sofija. Through her art practice, she explores her body, and delves into her own physicality to gain a deeper understanding of the world around her. She experiments with contrasting and abstract movement patterns, exploring how the body can tell stories in their most raw and pure forms. As a mover, the connection between the mind and body is at the forefront of Sofija’s curiosity. When dancing, vulnerability and strength awaken within her, and through this self-exploration, Sofija aims to inspire change in others, encouraging them to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery. As a choreographer, Sofija is deeply curious in the fusion of movement, voice and performance art. She is intrigued by experimental, conceptual, and provocative creations and through them she wonders what the purpose of art is, in the world we live in today. She’s intrigued in a shared experience between the artist and the audience, and hopes her work stimulates complex and deep emotion, challenging the audience’s sense of purpose. Sofija believes art is the leading force of humanity, and has the power to make a huge change. Being an artist has gifted Sofija joy, hope and freedom.