Panthers of the Prowl
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
![](http://www.stspeter-paul.org/ctm/31300/projects/spps/gallery/2024/05/Panthers20240529.jpg?v=20240727050758)
SPP was a magical time which lay the foundation for all of my values today as a professional, wife, mom and mentor. Family, community and the idea that if you work hard enough and want it badly enough, you can make dreams happen. SPP made me feel special, valued and empowered. It encouraged me to try it all. I participated in Student Council (President in '92), volleyball, softball, cheerleading, talent shows, plays, service projects, and the Academic Olympics. In 8th grade, when I was chosen to play Mary for the Stations of the Cross, I'd never felt more honored. It was truly a special experience. I really dove into my time at SPP and doing so made for an enormous treasure chest of memories. All these years later, I can still hear Dr. Morales' heels in the hallways, Mrs. Zeno asking someone to "go cool off", and the clamor of big and little Panthers alike as we picked up our 1st and 2nd grade buddies for Mass. But, my favorite memory, and one that plays in slow motion every so often, was when our SPP softball coach at the time, Fr. Alvarez, took a chance by putting me in left field for a championship game vs. Carrollton, and I caught a pop fly! It wasn't pretty, but I was so grateful that it had gone our way for the win.
After graduating from the University of Florida with a Bachelors in Dance Performance, I moved out to San Francisco to pursue a professional dance career. Not only did I get to work with wonderful companies and choreographers in the Bay Area, I also had the opportunity to travel the U.S. and perform in cities I'd never been to. In 2005, when the movie rendition of RENT, the musical, was being filmed in San Francisco, I got to experience performing on a movie set as well. In 2006, I decided to open up my own dance studio in San Francisco and SF Dance Space was born, and still thriving today. In addition, I also serve as the Dance Program Director at Sacred Heart Cathedral High School in SF. Training and mentoring a new batch of young artists is a dream come true. I've always valued the journey and am blessed to play a part in theirs. I even get to teach the daughter of one of my SPP besties, Anel Rodriguez!