Meet Fayad Garcia

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

Hi Fayad, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I was born in El Centro, California and attended elementary school there too, but I lived and was raised in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. I crossed the border every day to attend a private school. I moved to Los Angeles at 13. Living in a border city definitely shaped and impacted who I am today. Being bilingual and bicultural is a HUGE part of my identity. Having an American education whilst embracing my Mexican roots opened my eyes and my life to many possibilities; like travel, education, work, and the uniqueness that I posses because of it. Seeing first hand the duality and balance of life from two different countries gives you a wider lens to look through.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Dancing has been a part of me since I was a kid. It has been a way to express myself, communicate and make others feel happy and I can proudly say that that hasn’t changed! I think something that sets me apart from others is my authenticity and vulnerability. The way I dance, the way I channel what I feel, the way I teach. I am most proud of the pathway I have taken to discovered my love for dance through teaching, and how I continue to balance this thing called life. I get excited to keep learning and discovering my profession and myself.
I got to where I am today because of love, support and grit! Opportunities have found me or I have found them. The passion that I have for what I do guides me every day to new things. Nothing is truly easy. You have to work hard, train and have a lot of discipline. Challenges will always present themselves because they are a reminder that nothing that is worth it will ever be easy. I believe it tests you to see how much you still want it and how much work you’re willing to put in to see it through.
Lessons I have learned? Many. But you can see the results of those lessons through my growth, my resilience, my work, my grace. I would love the world to know that I adore what I do! That I am blessed and grateful each day to be healthy and to share a piece of light to the world. That the feeling I feel when I dance and teach is what makes me complete.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting Los Angeles….

I would definitely take them to the beach! Have brunch at one of my favorite places “Shutters on the Beach” right on the boardwalk in Santa Monica while we enjoy some sun and people watching. After, I would drive to Hollywood and point out some landmarks and take a couple of pictures and then head on over to downtown and maybe stop by “Guisados Tacos” (must have tacos in LA!) We would drive up to Dodgers Stadium to take picture with the Los Angeles skyline in the background and then head to LA LIVE, and check out the home of the Lakers “Crypto Arena” to take a picture with the Kobe statue. I’d also make a stop at the heart of downtown and walk around Olvera Street and check out the delicious Mexican food, do some shopping and walk around.
We would finish our night at “El Floridita Restaurant” and have some delicious authentic Cuban food and enjoy live Salsa music and dancing!!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
MOM. Mom is clutch. She is my biggest supporter and cheerleader. From the young age of three until now, she has always supported my interest in dance. To this day she wishes me good luck in my daily classes, every week. She has always been supportive of my talent and my work. But, I also have to shout out my family and of course my teachers, mentors and coaches that have supported, shaped and challenged me along the way!

Instagram: @fayadgarcia

Facebook: Fayad Garcia