We had the good fortune of connecting with Araceli Cervantes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Araceli, what matters most to you?
The value that matters the most to me is perseverance because it is important to keep taking the steps in life that are needed to reach your goals. No matter how far out of reach something may seem at times, taking one step at a time to reach your goals will lead you to success.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The moment that I have been most proud of as a dancer was becoming a World Champion dancer at the 2020 World Salsa Summit competition. After two years of being close to placing in the top three, I made sure that I reflected on the two previous times in the competition to see what I could improve on and made sure to train in those areas. I did not allow myself to get discouraged and instead used my motivation to take the steps to reach my goal. By working on the areas that needed improvement, I became a stronger dancer and person and increased my knowledge. It is important to continue to be a student of your craft in order to continue to grow. There is always more to learn.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting the San Diego area, I would take them to Balboa Park and La Jolla Cove to explore the beauty of the Spanish architecture and museums and the view of the ocean and sunsets. I would also take them to Little Italy to eat some authentic food. I would take them to visit Seaport Village and the Embarcadero area to see the marina and small business shops. I would take them to Old Town to eat some delicious Mexican food and explore the small shops. We would also go to the La Jolla Playhouse and the San Diego Civic Center to watch plays.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate my shoutout to those who have made a positive impact on my life: Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Griggs-Hopkins, Serena Cuevas, Jose Serrano, and Franklin Liranzo. I would also like to dedicate my shoutout to my friends and family members who have been there for me.

Website: aracelicervantes.com

Instagram: aacervan

Image Credits
Lindsey Jackson

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