The Junior Spirit of Fiesta

Marissa Cordero might only be 10 years old, but she knows she has what it takes to be the Junior Spirit of Fiesta. “I have sassiness and spunkiness. So I think that’s why I won,” she said. Chosen over 19 other girls who auditioned for the role, Marissa said she was inspired to start dancing by her mother, who once auditioned for Spirit of Fiesta, and her great-grandmother, who danced in the first Fiestas of Santa Barbara.

A flamenco dancer since she was four years old, Marissa also loves to play goalie for her All Stars soccer team and participate in drama at Saint Raphael Catholic School, where she will enter the fifth grade this fall.

Like the Senior Spirit, Marissa is looking forward most to performing her solo dance as part of La Fiesta Peque±a at the Mission. She said she is a little nervous about getting her hair done, since the process hurt the last time because she had “about 200 bobby pins in my head.” Marissa said she is excited to wear the four white dresses being made especially for her performances, and for the Fiesta itself, because “it’s like getting together and having a party with everyone you know.”