Standout Spartan: Mercedes Torres-Serrano '27

Congratulations to Mercedes Torres-Serrano’27, a member of the Raices de Mexico dance troupe that performed at the May 4 Que Pasa Festival held on Brown’s Island in Richmond. The annual festival showcases local Hispanic and Latino businesses, artisans, restaurants, and entertainers. Mercedes, the recipient of Steward’s Melanie G. Rodriguez Scholarship, has been a dancer for two years. At the event, her troupe performed a regional folk dance.

“The crowd was interested to see us, wearing big, colorful skirts and performing a dance that tells a story about a horse,” said Mercedes. “There was a lot of cheering and I'm sure that they were surprised that we sounded just like an actual horse trotting!” Mercedes said that dancing “makes me feel free … it makes me happy knowing that I'm exploring my culture and sharing it with everyone. Dancing makes me proud of what I do, where I’m from, and who I am.”