Yesenia "Yessy" Lopez
Dancer/La Ja-la Ja-la

Yessy, born in Lares Puerto Rico, is one of the other 2 1/2 Puerto Ricans on the SAOCO team (you'll have to wait to find out who the 1/2 is). She was born in Lares, Puerto Rico which is the town of "El Grito". Apparently, all who hail from there have really loud laughs and that explains why you can hear her over the music in Cecilia's. She gets her height from her father's side of the family - they are "short by very loud". The only question that remains is "where did she get that gorgeous mane of hair???". Jealous women want to know!

Yessy has been dancing rueda for approximately two years. Back when she was taking classes, although she is STILL taking them now, she learned about it from ENTER COLLEGE HERE. That was back in 2002 and now, five years later, she's one of Washington DC's best casineras! She is also an accomplished on1 and on2 dancer and infuses sabor in all styles! She can also hold her own in merengue, balads (slow dancing like in jr. high), boleros, bachata, old salsa, latin & american soul music (oldies which she loves). She has been with SAOCO for two years as well and is a leader in styling.

Besides dancing, Yessy likes to visit old, or rather, historic landmarks. Give her a run down house, car, or furniture and she is there! Being Puerto Rican, she loves the beach and likes to lay out and make sure her skin looks Puerto Rican too. When she can, she loves to travel. And finally, coming back to "El Grito", Yessy loves listening (but not telling) any kind of jokes - especially her cousins'. Although she has not repeated any of them so we cannot guarantee whether they are actually good or not.

SAOCO is lucky to have Yessy, La Ja-la Ja-la, and she considers SAOCO her family here in the United States because like her family in Puerto Rico - we all have fun together no matter what we are doing or where we are going.