A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, James Sofranko received his dance training at The Harid Conservatory, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, Houston Ballet Academy, The Chautauqua School, and later at The Juilliard School in New York, where he received his BFA in dance.  Upon graduation, he joined San Francisco Ballet, and was promoted to soloist in 2007.  He has danced in numerous works and world premieres by choreographers such as Julia Adam, George Balanchine, Val Caniparoli, Jiri Kylian, Lar Lubovitch, Sir Kenneth Macmillan, Hans van Manen, Mark Morris, Yuri Possokhov, Jerome Robbins, Paul Taylor, Helgi Tomasson, Christopher Wheeldon, and Lila York.  His notable roles include Mercutio in Tomasson’s Romeo & Juliet, Eros in Morris’ Sylvia, Bugle Boy in Taylor’s Company B, and the second sailor in Robbins’ Fancy Free. His repertory also includes lead roles in Bintley’s The Dance House; Christensen’s Filling Station; Elo’s Double Evil; Forsythe’s in the middle, somewhat elevated and The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude; Garnier’s Aunis; Lubovitch’s Elemental Brubeck; MacMillan’s Elite Syncopations; McGregor’s Chroma and Eden/Eden; Possokhov’s Firebird, Fusion, and Classical Symphony; Morris’ A Garden and Joyride; Ratmansky’s Le Carnaval des Animaux and Russian Seasons; Robbins’ The Concert; Taylor’s Spring Rounds; and Wheeldon’s Continuum and Rush.  

James was featured in the principal role of 'Eddie' in the Broadway touring company of Movin’ Out, a musical choreographed by Twyla Tharp to the songs of Billy Joel.