A few words from Dominique...
It all started in October 2002 when I ventured out on a beautiful Fall evening to the Eerie Events in Salem, MA. It was a perfect place to be that time of year, and a perfect (if cold!) evening to perform with my devil sticks for the crowds of revelers.
Though I was performing that night, I was the one in for a treat. I would be introduced to fire dance. At the time it was still quite rare in the Northeast; only one person in the crowd had seen fire dancing live and in-person before.
The dancer was a recent traveler to Europe, where the art had already developed quite nicely.
At first sight I was hooked.
The movements of the fire through the dark night air felt alive in a new way. The contrast of the warm fire light against the blackness, manipulated by a mysterious woman, was so ethereal, so otherworldly, I immediately knew that I had been looking for this for a long time.
Since that night I have hungrily learned the fire arts, variety arts and many dance forms. I have found that all forms of dance and each spinning art has something in common with the others. These overlaps have lead me to some very important understandings of movement theory and how to present these arts to audiences of all kinds.
One of my greatest joys is to bring to others the magic that I experienced that first night; sharing that beauty is a great gift. When I discovered the spinning arts I was training to be a teacher, and I have always held on to that love of sharing knowledge with others.
In my performances I strive to seamlessly meld my variety skills with dance and expression. I have learned many forms of dance, and have developed a personal style that fuses what I've found to be universally appreciated. For me, this is what really makes the performance and also what allows me to be versatile. My performances are created with great attention to the mood of the act, creating a unity of skill, dance, costume, and music. I revel in the challenge of making every performance fit the event perfectly.
Fire performance has lead me to a path I never imagined. From the first classes I taught, I realized I had no business telling someone what to do with their body without a good idea of what might be going on inside. This year I became certified in Erik Dalton's Myoskeletal Alignment Therapy. I am continuing my education with Thai Yoga Massage at Lotus Palm, Yoga Teacher Training at South Boston Yoga, and Personal Training certification through the NSCA.
As a visitor to the site, a guest at a show, or a student, my hope is that you will not only enjoy what I do but also take away something personally meaningful. Whether a greater appreciation for dance and variety acts or a desire to pursue one of these arts, I always strive to inspire and introduce people to something new.
-Dom