August 21-September 3, 2018
Spirit of Fiesta will carry the spirit with her ‘I can’t even begin to explain how much this … has changed me,’ Solvang teen says By Raiza Giorgi
news@santaynezvalleystar.com
T
his year’s celebration has ended, but Spirit of Fiesta Jesalyn McCollum says that for her this is just the beginning. Her experience as the face of this year’s Old Spanish Days Fiesta has only fueled
www.santaynezvalleystar.com
Every Issue Complimentary Every Time
her passion for the art of flamenco dance, said the 17-year-old from Solvang. “I can’t even begin to explain how much this past week has meant to me and how it has changed me as a person and a dancer,” Jesalyn at the end of Fiesta week. For nearly 90 years, Old Spanish Days has fostered a unique spirit among local residents that encourages community
Spirit of Fiesta Jesalyn McCollum danced her way up State Street in the Fiesta Parade. Photo by Daniel Dreifuss
cooperation, celebration, and growth, according to festival officials. The event also inspires visitors, they add, and Jesalyn agreed. “I was dancing for a Fiesta event and a woman with her daughter came up to me and said they were from Texas and had no idea what Fiesta was about, but after seeing me dance they fell in love with the event and will be back,” she said. Jesalyn started dancing flamenco at 3 years old with Garcia Dance Studio in Lompoc and then moved to the Linda Vega studio at 6 years old. She was the
2012 Junior Spirit of Fiesta and is now a professional dancer with Flamenco Santa Barbara. She spends four to eight hours a day dancing and teaching flamenco. She has made five trips to Spain, and she just left for another trip for a month to train in flamenco. This fall she will be starting college at the University of New Mexico, where she plans to major in business and flamenco, hoping to come home and open her own studio. “I couldn’t have done it without my FIESTA CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
El Rancho Market
Time to fire up the oven & try some of our fabulous menus Go to: www.californiafreshmarket.com/recipes/weekly
2886 Mission Drive • Solvang • 805-688-4300 elranchomarket.com
o