Alec Mercado’s ballet journey commenced at the age of 7, and for 11 years, he dedicated himself to training at the Long Beach Ballet Academy. He has performed in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Coppélia, Aladdin, Don Quixote, and Cinderella. At YAGP, Alec has placed in the top three in both classical and contemporary categories for the Men’s Senior Division at regional competitions and has competed at YAGP Finals as a soloist, placing as a member of a large group ensemble. He has attended summer intensive programs on scholarship at Long Beach Ballet Academy, the Kirov Academy of Ballet, Jaqueline’s School of Ballet, and Oklahoma City Ballet School. From 2016 to 2023, Alec was a Petit Oasis Scholarship recipient. In 2021, he received the Spirit of the MACY Award for Best Male Dancer. He is currently pursuing a major in dance at UCI.