Spirit of Fiesta

Spirit of Fiesta expresses herself through dance

Sophia Cordero, 16, has been rehearsing for this role since she was 2 years old

By Raiza Giorgi publisher@santabarbarafamilylife.com

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pirit of Fiesta Sophia Cordero says she’s rather shy, but she can express herself while dancing.

“It’s hard to talk about my emotions, and I can really communicate how I feel through dance,” the 16-year-old said.

Photos by Fritz Olenberger This year’s Spirit of Fiesta for Old Spanish Days is 16-yearold Sophia Cordero, and the Junior Spirit is Paloma Valenzuela, 10.

The Santa Barbara native has been dancing flamenco since she was 2 years old. Now she has been chosen as the Spirit of Fiesta for 2019 Old Spanish Days.

After the tryouts, Sophia remembers feeling elated when she was chosen and immediately being surrounded by all her

flamenco friends who were excited for her.

“This is something I have wanted since I was little, and I am so happy to be chosen to represent Old Spanish Days this year,” Sophia said.

This year’s Junior Spirit of Fiesta is 10-year-old Paloma Valenzuela.

This year marks the 95th edition of Fiesta, which will run from July 31 through Aug. 4. The Spirit of Fiesta tradition started in 1949 with the selection of one dancer as the visual representation of Fiesta and as a goodwill ambassador to residents and visitors. Both the Spirit and Junior Spirit perform at many of the concerts and special events in the weeks leading up to Fiesta. During the celebration, their schedules are packed with performances.

Sophia has already started her rigorous schedule of dancing in several fiesta preview events, including La Primavera, where Fiesta La Presidenta Barbara Carroll unveiled this year’s poster and pin.

The poster, an original design by Santa Barbara artist Victor Sigismondi, features a classic parade scene in vivid colors. It showcases the children, dancers and horses in the parade through the heart of downtown Santa Barbara.

“I wanted to capture the essence of the parade in (the) poster, as the parade is my first memory of Fiesta, and it’s what drew me in as a Fiesta volunteer all of those years ago,” said Carroll. “I

think the parade is one of our most iconic events, and anyone who has ever attended our parade will instantly recognize the scene and connect with it,” la presidenta added. As the Spirit of Fiesta, Sophia not only dances four hours per day in rehearsing for upcoming events, but she also dances ballet, jazz, hip-hop and acrobatics. She also teaches younger dancers at Zermeno Dance Academy in Goleta. “I love working with the younger students as I know they look up to me. I love sharing my passion for dance with them,” she said. The Santa Barbara High School honors student is also on the cheerleading team and a part of the Associated Student Body leadership.

Sophia plans to attend the University of Washington to major in business and hopes to open her own dance studio one day.

Paloma Valenzuela, this year’s Junior Spirit of Fiesta, also started dancing at 2 years old. A fourth-grader at Foothill Elementary, she says she enjoys math because it allows her to challenge and exercise her brain. She also enjoys art because she can be creative and use her imagination.

Paloma spends time raising funds for the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation as well as being a personal buddy for peer buddies.

Upcoming Fiesta preview events include the Old Spanish Days Costume Sale on July 13 and La Recepcion de la Presidenta on July 28.

See a full schedule of Fiesta events at www. oldspanishdays-fiesta.org.