In front of a boisterous sold-out crowd at the historic Lobero Theatre on Saturday, Georgey Taupin was chosen 2024 Spirit of Fiesta and Alleenah Soriano was selected as this year’s Junior Spirit for Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish Days Fiesta.
The Spirit of Fiesta auditions kick off the 100th anniversary of Santa Barbara’s beloved Old Spanish Days Fiesta.
Georgey Taupin was previously Junior Spirit in 2018. She is a 16-year-old 10th grader at Oaks Christian School Online. Aleenah Soriano is a 9-year-old fourth grader at Roosevelt Elementary School.
Both dancers train with the Zermeño Dance Academy.
““It awesome, I don’t know if there’s another word to say,” said Georgey Taupin. “If you win, it’s like what you work for.”
“I feel awesome, shock and amazing,” said Alleenah Soriano
A total of 25 finalists participated in this year’s spirit auditions – 14 vying for Spirit, and 11 for Junior Spirit. Aubrey Romero was selected as Junior Spirit runner-up, and Chloe Kossen was named Spirit of Fiesta runner-up
The Spirit of Fiesta and the Junior Spirit will be ambassadors throughout the 100th anniversary celebration of Old Spanish Days Fiesta. They will perform at the Mission, in the historic parades, and at Noches de Ronda, in addition to countless other appearances and dances.
The entire Spirit Auditions 2024 can be seen on Fox/KKFX from 8-10 p.m. on Saturday, April 20.
Fiesta 2024, the centennial, runs from July 31 to August 4.
