Although celebrating Fiesta has always been a big tradition for the Marquez family, 18-year-old Jessica will be the first in the family to dance at Fiesta as Spirit. Jessica has been dancing since she was three years old and recently switched dance studios.
This Santa Barbara City College student tried out for Spirit twice before and this year, on her third try, she finally won the coveted spot. Jessica attributes her win to her “pretty good routine” and the fact that she had just come back from a trip to Spain. She said that in the competition, she “just went out and danced.”
Jessica is really looking forward to the events at the Mission and the Courthouse. She considers dancing in Fiesta a “big honor,” and as the Spirit of Fiesta, she will have as many as four performances a day, not counting other appearances she has with her dance studio. Jessica admitted to feeling a little bit nervous, but she also said, “I’m sure I’ll be fine once I get out there.”