Rooted in where we've been.

Ignited by where we're going.

Ignited: Rooted & Rising grew from a desire to create a space where dancers could come together to learn, connect, experiment, and grow — but the spark for creating something of my own didn't happen in isolation.

I've been deeply inspired by the people in this community who have done the work of creating spaces for dancers to gather.

Denise Ward Madden, through events like Nightmare on Yelm St and Hip Twist on Bourbon Street here in Washington, showed me what can happen when someone takes an idea, gives it personality, and builds an experience around it.

And Krisztina Naz-Clark, through Sacred Circles in Michigan and Tassels and Cues in New York, has shown me another version of what gathering dancers together can become — immersive weekends built around learning, community, and simply getting to be together in the dance.

Their events are their own, with their own identities and traditions. Ignited is mine. But what they created helped give me the courage to try building my own vision.

In 2026, that idea became Ignited: Rooted & Rising.

The premise was pretty simple: bring teachers I admire and dancers who love this art form into the same space, create opportunities to learn from one another, and see what catches fire.

And something did. 🔥

Where the fire started…..

Ignited 2026

On June 20–21, 2026, Ignited: Rooted & Rising became real.

For our first year, Super Beth and Kido Sun joined us in Coeur d'Alene for a weekend of workshops, dancing, experimentation, laughter, and community.

Super Beth brought us Harissa Flavor, Living Mandala, and Curry Flavor, while Kido Sun got us moving — and spinning — with Skirt and put our fingers to work with Zils. And because apparently four workshops weren't enough dancing for one weekend, we gathered again Saturday night for a hafla.

Across the weekend, we had dancers showing up to learn something new, revisit something familiar, challenge themselves, and spend time in community with one another.

But the part of Ignited 2026 that mattered most to me wasn't how many people registered.

It was watching an idea I'd been carrying around in my head turn into an actual room full of people.

It was skirts flying. Zils ringing. Dancers laughing when something went sideways and trying it again. People learning from teachers I deeply admire. Familiar faces reconnecting and new connections being made.

It was exactly what I'd hoped Ignited might become — a place to learn, play, connect, and grow together.

And somewhere in the middle of all of that, something shifted.

The weekend I'd wondered whether I could actually pull off became something people wanted to do again.

Including the teachers. 🔥