About Ignite
Where Passion, Training
& Community Come Together
Ignite the Light Performing Arts is a performing arts studio in Ashburn, Virginia, providing training and performance opportunities for young artists of all ages and experience levels.
From a child’s first experience with music and movement to advanced training, productions, competitions, college preparation, and beyond, Ignite gives students a place to explore the performing arts, develop their craft, and grow alongside a community of people who share their passion.
Our programs include musical theatre, acting, voice, dance, music, technical theatre, homeschool programming, private instruction, theatrical productions, competitive musical theatre, masterclasses, and more.
But while Ignite has grown to offer many different paths, the idea at the center of everything we do has remained the same:
We develop great humans who happen to be great performers.
OUR STORY
How Ignite Began
Ignite was founded by Tina Smothers from a lifelong passion for performing, teaching, and helping young artists discover what they’re capable of.
The vision was never simply to create another place where kids could take a theatre class.
Tina wanted to build a performing arts community where students could receive meaningful training, be challenged creatively, have exciting opportunities to perform, and feel genuinely known and supported along the way.
A place where a student trying theatre for the first time could belong alongside a student dreaming of a career onstage.
A place where young performers could find teachers who believed in them, friends who celebrated them, and opportunities that encouraged them to keep growing.
That vision became Ignite the Light Performing Arts.
Today, Ignite has grown into a community of students, families, teachers, artists, and alumni connected by a shared love of the performing arts.
And we’re still growing.
OUR MISSION
Great Humans Who Happen to Be Great Performers
Our mission is to develop great humans who happen to be great performers.
We strive to provide excellent performing arts education and meaningful opportunities while helping young people develop confidence, creativity, discipline, empathy, collaboration, resilience, and respect.
We want our students to leave Ignite stronger artists than when they arrived.
More importantly, we want the experiences they have here to help shape the humans they become.
WHAT WE DO
There Is More Than One Way to Find Your Place
Every student’s performing arts journey looks different.
That’s why Ignite offers opportunities across a wide range of disciplines, ages, interests, and experience levels.
CLASSES
Students can explore acting, improv, voice, dance, musical theatre, music, and more through weekly classes designed for different ages and levels.
PRODUCTIONS
Our theatrical productions give students the opportunity to take what they’re learning and bring it to life onstage.
PRIVATE LESSONS
Individual instruction gives students the opportunity to work one-on-one with our faculty and focus on their personal goals.
SPARKLE & SHINE ADVENTURE CLUB
Our youngest students discover music, movement, dance, imagination, and creativity through developmentally appropriate performing arts experiences.
IGNITE ALL STARS
Dedicated musical theatre performers can take their training further through competitive opportunities and participation in events such as the Junior Theater Festival.
CREW CLUB & TECHNICAL THEATRE
For students who love what happens behind the curtain, Crew Club provides opportunities to explore the technical and backstage side of theatre.
HOMESCHOOL PROGRAMS
Daytime performing arts opportunities give homeschool students a place to develop their skills, express their creativity, and connect with other students.
Meet Our Founder
TINA SMOTHERS
Founder & Artistic Director
Tina Smothers founded Ignite the Light Performing Arts with a belief that excellent performing arts training and genuine investment in young people should go hand in hand.
As a performer, educator, director, and vocal coach, Tina has spent years helping young artists develop their voices, strengthen their skills, prepare for auditions and performances, and discover greater confidence in themselves.
Her vision for Ignite continues to guide the studio today: create meaningful opportunities, provide excellent training, build a strong community, and never lose sight of the human behind the performer.
READ TINA’S FULL BIO and MEET THE REST OF INCREDIBLE STAFF
OUR HOME
Ignite the Light Performing Arts
Ashburn, Virginia
IgnIte is proud to call Loudoun County home.
Our Ashburn studio is a place to rehearse, create, learn, perform, make friends, take risks, and discover what’s possible.
📍 21030 Sycolin Rd., Suite 100
Ashburn, VA 20147
COME FIND YOUR PLACEcOM
Whether your performer is walking into their very first class or searching for their next challenge, there’s a place to begin at Ignite.
Not sure where to start?
We’ll help.
Their light is already there. Let’s see where it can take them.
