Marika kossakowski

A New Jersey native, dancer Marika Kossakowski started dancing at the age of three at a local competition dance studio. It wasn’t until age 11 she realized ballet was her true passion and started her ballet training at Ballet Technique under the direction of Julie Caprio. She was then invited to study abroad in St. Raphael, France at Autrand Ballet France under the direction of Pascale Autrand. She has atended Charlote Ballet, Koltun Ballet, Walnut Hill, Ellison Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, and Briansky Ballet summer intensives all on full or very generous scholarships. She has performed in many ballets and contemporary works, including the roles of Sugar Plum and Dew Drop Fairy in The Nutcracker, the First Shade Variation in La Bayadere, and excerpts from Stars and Stripes. Marika has performed in many shows put on by the nonprofit organization Live Dance Live in NYC, who work to raise money for people in need through art. She enjoys using her love for dance to help others and in 2019, further embarked on her professional journey with XAOC Contemporary Ballet.