Anissa Gathers (Mercedes) is a New Yorker raised in Puerto Rico until the age of 12, when she returned and quickly found her niche in the salsa scene. Anissa was always drawn to the music of Celia Cruz during her tenure with the company Ballet Mestizo of NY. She has opened for Julio Iglesias in Tenerife, Spain as well as for Tito Nieves and Victor Manuel. She also played the titular role in the musical Celia in New York, Miami, Puerto Rico and Chicago.