Reflecting on four years of chapter growth and impact: Q&A with Berkeley co-presidents Sona and Lily

For UC Berkeley seniors Sona Wyse and Lily Eros, ballet has been a passion since childhood. After eight semesters of volunteering with Ballet & Books, including two terms as co-presidents, they turned their love for dance into a commitment to service. As they prepare to graduate in May, this dedicated duo reflects on how they’ve helped the Berkeley chapter deepen its impact in the Bay Area.

Lily Eros (left) and Sona Wyse (right)

Q: What drew you to Ballet & Books, and how has your involvement grown?

We both have been doing ballet most of our lives, love working with kids, and care a lot about giving back to the community. We also grew up loving going to libraries and loving reading. Reading even inspired both of us to start dancing! A wonderful coincidence for us, and also Ballet & Books as an organization was the perfect way to give back to all the things we love. Moreover, we recognized the privilege that we had getting to take ballet lessons growing up, and we loved that Ballet & Books provided the opportunity to make ballet accessible to every community member, regardless of background and economic status.

Over the past four years, we have gone from being mentors our freshmen year to being co-presidents for the Berkeley chapter for the past two years. Further, we have both gotten closer to team members on the national team, who have all been so helpful and supportive. Finally, we have become closer friends and learned how to collaborate more effectively as co-presidents!

Q: How has the chapter evolved over the past four years? Are there any accomplishments you are especially proud of?

One of the first things we did as co-presidents was officially get Berkeley Ballet & Books registered as a student organization on campus. This has allowed us to tap into student funding, recruitment opportunities, and the campus community in new ways. Further, our presence with the larger Berkeley community has deepened, and we are able to provide richer experiences for our participants, especially with more financial resources since financing has always been our biggest challenge.

We are proud of how we have developed our program over time to provide higher quality ballet classes and mentoring. This includes fundraising for and getting nicer equipment for our classes such as dancing spots, jumping blocks, and fun props for our dancers to express themselves. We have even been able to rent out large studios for performances that give the kids plenty of space to dance.

We have also strengthened our partnership with the Berkeley Public Libraries over the past four years. We have gotten to work closely with so many amazing librarians and literacy leaders, and we have even expanded our programming to two separate library branches this year. It is exciting to connect with community leaders who share a passion for expanding literacy and other extracurricular opportunities. Finally, for the first time in the history of the chapter, we are presenting to the Berkeley Public Library board in a few weeks, speaking on our programming and partnership. We are so excited!

Q: How have you worked together as co-presidents, and what has your partnership taught you about leadership?

As co-presidents, we have developed a strong friendship and ability to collaborate. Together, we have learned to split up tasks to best suit our schedules and strengths. Our leadership styles balance each other out well and we’re so grateful to have been able to work alongside each other for so many years.

Running a chapter of a national non-profit comes with challenges, and we’ve learned a lot of lessons along the way. We’ve gained communication skills and grown in the ability to resolve conflicts and troubleshoot. Running a tight-knit 8-week program — coordinating mentors, mentees, and parents — requires flexibility and a willingness to step up. We are proud of each other for taking on new challenges every semester, and we are always so happy to see everything come together in the best way!

Q: What is your favorite memory from your time in Ballet & Books?

This is not necessarily one particular memory, but we always love the final performance at the end of every eight-week program. There’s so much excitement in the air while the kids are getting ready for their piece and we are putting up the last few decorations. All the families are gathered into one place, where they can see what their child has been working on for 8 weeks. It’s always a time for us to reflect on how it felt for us to perform ballet for the first time.

We love watching the joy on parents’ faces as they watch the group perform and shine on the stage. In addition to this main act, we always have Ballet & Books mentors perform ballet solos for the kids and parents to watch. It brings us so much happiness when the kids get excited seeing an older dancer leap across the stage we are all sharing. Dance truly has the ability to bring everyone together.

Q: What do you hope the future holds for Berkeley’s Ballet & Books chapter after you graduate?

We hope that Berkeley Ballet&Books continues to grow and thrive once we graduate. We are proud to be leaving the Berkeley chapter in good hands, and we are excited to see where the new presidents will lead the club. This organization has become so close to our hearts, and we do not plan on losing connection with it. Although we both have very different career paths, with Lily planning for medical school and Sona going into public policy, we are committed to continue volunteering and giving back to Ballet & Books however we can.

Ballet & Books is truly inspiring as an organization, as it bridges communities across the nation (and even the world), and transcends careers and backgrounds. We are excited to continue our journey with this organization in a new way post-grad, from different parts of the world. Further, we are both excited for the opportunity to connect with more members of the Ballet & Books community in different parts of the country, as we both move away from the Bay Area. We will always cherish the Ballet & Books family!

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Lily Eros (she/her) is a senior at UC Berkeley studying Molecular & Cell Biology and Psychology. She will be graduating in May 2026 with plans to pursue medicine. Lily was born and raised in San Diego, CA and now, through her time at Berkeley, considers the Bay Area her second home. She began ballet at the age of 10 and is now the executive director for UC Berkeley’s ballet company.

Sona Wyse (she/her) is a senior at UC Berkeley studying Statistics and Political Science, graduating in the spring of 2026. Sona was born in Los Angeles, CA, but moved around a lot, spending a significant amount of time in Seattle and even living in Montreal as a kid. She has been doing ballet since she was 4 years old, and it still remains one of her biggest passions.