A communal nexus where young dancers could connect-and possibilities ignite - 48 hills

"On September 27, young dancers, each in their own world, warmed up to prepare for the day's event in studio one of LINES Dance Center. "Ignite," a joint dance and movement workshop and panel organized by two local companies, Tether Dance Project and Pearl Street Dance Collective, was born of a need for connection and guidance among local young emerging artists at this time, a space its organizers wanted to create for both themselves and attendees."

"Tatianna Steiner, Ella Wright, and Teo Lin-Bianco, all recent UC Berkeley alums and co-founders and directors of Tether Dance Project, have faced difficulties finding opportunities as young graduates. Auditions are often invite-only and the companies with open auditions generally are looking for more mature, mid-career artists. As the Trump Administration continues to reduce funding for the arts, artistic directors are more likely to hire artists they know to be reliable from working with them in the past, rather than taking a chance on someone new."

""Ignite" began with Tether's co-directors and Pearl Street Collective director Elizabeth Wiehe asking attendees to gather in a circle and share how they were feeling. Many of the dancers, dressed in different combinations of warmups-sweat pants, oversized shirts, and socks- admitted to being nervous but excited. Wiehe reminded the group, which totaled 16 after a few latecomers arrived, that they were all there to "dance with each other and uplift.""

On September 27 at LINES Dance Center, young dancers gathered for Ignite, a joint workshop and panel produced by Tether Dance Project and Pearl Street Dance Collective. The event aimed to create connection and guidance for emerging artists who face limited audition access and reduced arts funding. Tether co-founders Tatianna Steiner, Ella Wright, and Teo Lin-Bianco described difficulties finding early-career opportunities, noting auditions are often invite-only and companies prefer known, reliable hires. Sixteen attendees shared feelings in a circle, then completed a group warmup and learned 64 counts of choreography premiered by Tether. The atmosphere emphasized comfort, mutual support, and uplift.

Read at 48 hills