Sophie Ortiz

Sophie Ortiz works together with Taylor Jones in WillCheer4Beer. They met through a New York City queer non-profit adult charitable cheerleading organization. As ‘main’ and ‘side’ bases, they’ve performed in queer nightlife, honing skills in tumbling, stunting, dance, parkour, and virtual design. With infectious glee and iconic wit, they’ve built a community, exploring cheer’s ties to drag, performance art, dance, martial arts, gymnastics, and sex work. Their collaborative, DIY performances offer an ethnographic view of cheerleading, challenging media stereotypes, gender perceptions, national identity, and the sport’s kinesthetics.