Christina Kotsopoulos is a performer whose artistry refuses to be confined by traditional boundaries. She moves seamlessly between stage, screen, and commercial work, forging a career that exemplifies the versatility and adaptability needed to thrive in today’s fast-paced entertainment world. A testament to her skill and resilience, Kotsopoulos’s journey is one of self-discovery, growth, and a continuous commitment to artistic evolution.
Born and raised in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Kotsopoulos’s early training at Vlad’s Dance Company laid the foundation for a career that would span multiple facets of the dance and entertainment industries.
“I trained for 17 years at a very competitive level, in every style—jazz, tap, ballet, acro, hip-hop,” she recalls, describing her years spent immersed in the intensity of competitive dance. “The training was rigorous, but it gave me a foundation in all these different styles. Without that, I don’t know if I would have felt confident moving to New York at 17.”
This comprehensive training not only honed her technical skills but also fostered a mindset of versatility.
Kotsopoulos’s journey wasn’t just about learning the steps, it was about broadening her understanding of what it means to be a performer. At 12 years old, she was already exposed to working with professional dancers through a program called Bridge to Artist.
“I was dancing with 25-year-olds when I was just a kid,” she says. “It definitely pushed me to see the bigger picture, to experience dance as a full expression of artistry rather than just a competitive pursuit. That really shaped how I view performance today.”
While her foundation in Toronto was solid, Kotsopoulos knew that to truly pursue her dream, she had to step beyond the city limits. After high school, she made the decision to move to New York City to further her training and career.
“I just knew that if I wanted to really take my career to the next level, I had to be in New York,” she says. “I needed the best exposure and the best training. And with mentors guiding me along the way, I ended up at SUNY Purchase College.”
It was there that Kotsopoulos immersed herself in a program led by top-tier educators, whose guidance would influence her both artistically and professionally.
“It wasn’t just about getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts,” she reflects. “It was about building the connections and gaining the experience to set myself up for the industry.”
Her time at SUNY Purchase, combined with the vibrant energy of New York City, provided Kotsopoulos with the perfect environment to launch her professional career.
“The program had top-tier educators and a focus on building connections in the industry,” she says. “I knew it would lead to something bigger.”
Her adaptability and willingness to embrace new challenges became key themes in her development as an artist, allowing her to take on roles across various media and genres.
One of her standout early experiences was performing in Broadway Backwards, a charity event that brought together Broadway performers and choreographers on a massive scale.
“It was one of the most fulfilling projects I’ve worked on,” she says. “We performed in a huge theatre for hundreds of people, and it was amazing to be part of something so large and live. The energy from the audience was incredible.”
Kotsopoulos’s success didn’t stop at the stage. Her work in TV and film quickly expanded, with roles in Backstage and The Boys, among her most notable credits. These experiences showcased her range, allowing her to explore not just dance but also acting and emotional depth.
“Performing in theatre is all about the live experience,” she explains. “You’re feeding off the audience and the people around you, and it’s exciting because anything can happen in the moment. But in TV and film, the energy is different. You have to play to a camera and you do multiple takes to capture the shot perfectly.”
Whether on stage or in front of the camera, Kotsopoulos’s ability to adapt her performance to the medium at hand has set her apart from her peers.
This versatility has extended to her work in music videos, where she has been featured in projects such as Jesse Malin’s Strangers and Thieves. For Kotsopoulos, these projects are a departure from the more technical aspects of dance, allowing her to experiment with raw emotion and creative expression.
“When it comes to music videos, you have to focus on channeling emotion rather than intricate choreography,” she says. “It’s about feeling the music and bringing that emotion to the performance. It’s a different kind of challenge, but it keeps me on my toes.”
While Kotsopoulos’s own career continues to evolve, she is equally committed to mentoring the next generation of dancers. She believes in the power of versatility and self-expression, values she instills in her students.
“I always tell my students: ‘You don’t need to change who you are to fit in. Know yourself, embrace yourself. When you walk into an audition, do it for you, not for what you think they want to see,’” Kotsopoulos says.
Isabella Porreca, a student who has worked with Kotsopoulos for years, has found this advice to be invaluable.
“One of the most impactful things Christina told me is to trust the process,” Porreca says. “Auditioning is such a rollercoaster, and there are so many no’s but she reminds me that what’s meant for me will come, and to stay true to who I am.”
Porreca credits Kotsopoulos’s mentorship with giving her the confidence to stand out in auditions: “She emphasizes that to get the job, you have to show up as yourself, not try to be someone else. That’s what really sticks with me.”
Kotsopoulos’s teaching style is marked by her infectious energy and hands-on approach.
“When I teach, I try to be very full-out,” she says. “I want to show them what it looks like to give everything you’ve got. But I also make sure they know where their strengths are and how to grow from there. Confidence has to come first.”
Porreca, who has worked with Kotsopoulos for years, describes her teaching style as unique.
“Christina’s energy is contagious. She really makes you want to work hard, and she’s so invested in her dancers’ progress,” Porreca says. “She’s always recognizing growth, and that’s so encouraging.”
In addition to her work as a dancer and educator, Kotsopoulos has also ventured into the world of Pilates. After coaching for six years at SolidCore in New York City, she moved back to Toronto, where she now teaches Pilates at two local studios—Reform Pilates in Markham and Club Pseudo in Vaughan.
“Pilates has been a game-changer for me,” she says. “It helps dancers prevent injury while also building strength and stability. I’ve been able to incorporate my New York training into my teaching here in Toronto, adapting it to meet the needs of the clients.”
While she continues to teach pilates, Kotsopoulos’s ultimate goal is to open her own pilates studio, where she can bring her approach to strength training and body awareness to an even wider audience.
“For now, I’m just getting back into teaching and working with different clients,” she says. “I want to build their bodies, prevent injury, and help them feel strong. Eventually, I plan to open my own studio, but for now, I’m focusing on building my reputation here.”
Kotsopoulos’s career continues to evolve, but one thing remains constant: her unwavering commitment to growth—both as an artist and as a mentor.
“The best dancers are always learning,” she reflects. “You have to stay curious and adaptable. If you’re always willing to change and grow, you’ll always have a place in this industry.”
It’s this mindset that has allowed Christina Kotsopoulos to push the boundaries of what it means to be a performer in today’s ever-changing world of dance and entertainment. For Kotsopoulos, success in the arts isn’t just about technical mastery.
“It’s about being true to yourself and embracing what makes you unique,” she says. “When you stay authentic, you’ll find your place. That’s what I want to pass on to my students: you don’t have to change who you are to succeed.”