Tina Smothers is the founder and Artistic Director of Ignite the Light Performing Arts and the driving force behind its mission to develop great humans who happen to be great performers. With more than 20 years of experience teaching, directing, vocal coaching, and mentoring young artists, Tina is passionate about creating a place where students receive exceptional performing arts training while feeling supported, challenged, and celebrated.

Tina holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice from Bluefield University and has trained hundreds of young performers through Ignite the Light Performing Arts and Voice by Tina. Her students have gone on to perform on Broadway, in national tours, at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, regional theatres, Disney productions, cruise ships, and acclaimed New York City venues. Students she has coached have also been accepted into leading college and conservatory programs across the country.

Under Tina’s leadership, Ignite has grown into an award-winning performing arts community with students recognized at the Junior Theater Festival and beyond. While she is incredibly proud of what her students accomplish onstage, Tina believes their growth as people matters even more.

Her teaching philosophy centers around a simple message: “Be a good human.” She believes performing arts education should build confidence, creativity, resilience, leadership, kindness, and the courage to take risks. Whether she’s working with a young performer taking their very first class or mentoring an advanced student preparing for college or professional opportunities, Tina meets each student where they are and helps them discover where they want to go.

Known for her heartfelt leadership, dynamic directing style, and deep connection with her students, Tina has created a culture at Ignite where performers are encouraged to work hard, support one another, find their individual voice, and shine unapologetically—both on and off the stage.

Meghan Eyerman is thrilled to join the Ignite the Light team. Meghan graduated from Millikin University with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2017, where she performed in a variety of Main Stage theatrical productions. 

Meghan has spent the last decade working with students in the performing arts throughout the Loudoun County area. Some of those education roles include creative development and dance instructor at Bella Ballerina, private vocal and guitar lessons and curriculum development for varying age groups. She currently teaches Music & Drama at Destiny School of the Arts, where she works with elementary and middle school aged students through the school year. 

Meghan currently lives with her husband, dogs, and cat in Western Loudoun where she enjoys spending time outdoors and participating in community theatre productions.

Born, raised and trained in Northern Virginia, Michelle has been performing and teaching since the age of 16. Over the years she has taught multiple dance styles and enjoyed watching her students grow in both size and skill.

Michelle has performed in productions of West Side Story, Grease, Crazy for You, 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, Barnum, Oklahoma, Josephs…Dreamcoat, many holiday reviews and children’s shows. For several years she was a member of the Stage Crew Dance Ensemble and a cast member on the television series Talent Hunters. One of her most interesting roles was being the Dance Captain and a performer aboard the Spirit of Washington. 

In 2004 she was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Choreography for her work on a professional production of Crazy for You. Michelle has also choreographed for many high school show choirs, dance teams and musicals. Her focus is to provide excellent dance instruction while also nurturing the student as a whole. Michelle believes that fun hard work produces happy well-trained dancers.

Jamie is an educator and improviser who loves to help people explore new ideas. He studied improv theater at the conservatory-level at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City and has performed improv and sketch comedy at festivals throughout the country. His classes use improv to develop students’ performance and social-emotional skills, focusing on active listening, character development, creative problem solving, narrative, game, and building confidence. He also has over 10 years of dramatic and musical theater experience.

Haley Hall is a performer and teaching assistant with a longtime passion for working with young students. She began assisting in the classroom at a young age and has developed years of experience encouraging children as they learn, create, and build confidence.

With a love for theater, music, and performing, Haley brings an enthusiastic and supportive energy to the classroom. She especially enjoys working with Ignite’s youngest performers and helping create a fun, welcoming environment where preschoolers feel comfortable exploring music, expressing themselves creatively, and discovering the joy of performing.

Kennedy Keller, a recent graduate from James Madison University, began dancing recreationally at the age of 2 and competitively at the age of 4. Kennedy has extensive training in a variety of disciplines including Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Contemporary and Modern.

She danced competitively and trained at Strictly Rhythm and Studio Bleu Dance Center and attended Colgan High School for dance. She is proud to share that she was chosen for a residency with the amazing Savion Glover and continues her training through tap residences and conventions. She was also a member and social chair for Madison Dance Club where she trained and performed throughout her years at JMU.

Kennedy has a passion for teaching and choreographing and works with various studios in the DMV area. She loves working with students of all ages and spreading her love for dance with others!

Angelique Melendez is a versatile dancer, choreographer, and instructor from the DMV area.

After a youth full of extensive training in classical and theatrical styles and assistant teaching, Angelique continued her training in Shenandoah University’s Dance BFA program.

Angelique joined DC-based company DHH Dance Collective in 2022 producing new works for annual performances at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, benefit concerts, and emerging choreographer dance festivals.

In recent years, Angelique has been dedicated to evolving studio culture, developing programs for dancers of all ages and abilities and managing studio administration. She now partners with programs across the DMV with the goal of providing nurturing classroom experiences to support the goals of every dancer.

Jordan McEachin is a dancer, singer, and actress who received her BFA in Musical Theatre at AMDA College of the Performing Arts in Los Angeles. She has been performing since a very young age, with extensive training in dance, acting, and singing. She has performed in various musicals, including Beauty and the Beast, 9 to 5, and Edges.

In addition, Jordan has worked on various film productions, including films on Netflix and other streaming channels, commercials, music videos, and short films. Her most recent professional credits include performing as a dancer and character performer with Disneyland Paris and Disney on Ice.

Aside from performing, Jordan has a multitude of choreography credits for youth performing arts, including Mamma Mia, Grease, and Singin’ in the Rain in which she was presented with the National Youth Arts Award for Outstanding Choreography (2023).

She is excited to share her passion for the performing arts as an instructor and looks forward to providing a safe and comfortable space for students to learn and grow to their best abilities.

Jordyn has been dancing her whole life, with years of experience in multiple different styles of dance. She has experience in the competitive dance, musical theater, choreographing and lots of technical training. She also enjoys teaching at her local church. She loves sharing her passion with the next generation. As a teacher, Jordyn strives to create an encouraging environment where dancers can learn while having fun and develop a love for dance and performing. 

Maddy Mirabella is thrilled to be teaching at Ignite the Light this year! She is a rising freshman at Riverside High School this fall. Maddy has been dancing competitively and for 9 years, training with a variety of genres including jazz, contemporary, lyrical, tap, musical theater, hip hop and ballet. She has been performing in theater for 9 years and continues to learn and grow. She has been a part of student leadership for 4 years and has helped with 12 shows, she started assistant teaching and teaching 5 years ago and has worked with all ages of children. Maddy is overjoyed to help kids develop new skills and confidence while creating an environment that encourages every student. She is looking forward to a great year!

Since beginning her dance journey at 2 years old, Heidi has dedicated her life to the art. After training in tap, jazz, lyrical, ballet, pom, and hip hop throughout her earlier years, she continued to dance as she pursued a degree in athletic training and minored in dance at Virginia Commonwealth University. After college, she returned to the studio where she had grown up dancing and devoted 25 years to teaching dance there.

Specializing in lyrical, contemporary, jazz, musical theatre, conditioning, and technique, Heidi has garnered numerous entertainment and choreography awards on the competition circuit and has judged collegiate-level dance competitions.

Heidi is passionate about bringing her vast experience and unwavering dedication to the studio. Her mission: to provide rigorous training, expand students’ dance vocabulary, and foster a loving and nurturing environment where kids can grow and develop their art. She is committed to inspiring the next generation of dancers to reach their fullest potential, both in dance and in life.

Reagan Murphy is a junior at Riverside High School with a passion for both theater and acrobatics. She spent eight years as an elite gymnast, where she developed strength, flexibility, and discipline, and has been involved in theater for the past three years. In addition to performing, she has experience working with young children through babysitting and as a counselor at local summer camps. She is excited to share her love of movement and performance by creating a fun and supportive environment where preschoolers can build confidence and develop new skills. She looks forward to helping each child grow while making lasting memories in class.

Nilton Rodney brings over 16 years of experience as a dancer, teacher, choreographer, and producer of urban dance events throughout Costa Rica and Central America. His artistry and expertise have taken him to international workshops in the Netherlands, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, where he has shared his passion with dancers around the world.

Nilton has performed on stage with internationally recognized artists such as Macka Diamond, Ding Dong, and Merital Family, and has proudly represented Costa Rica in some of the most respected urban dance competitions, including Hip Hop International (USA) and Hip Hop Kingz (The Netherlands).

For the past three years, Nilton has been an active instructor throughout the DMV area, teaching at ten different breaking studios and leading a wide range of youth and adult classes. His teaching blends strong foundational technique, musicality, and authentic cultural roots—empowering dancers at every level to grow, express, and shine.

Josiah Smothers is a performer, choreographer, and teaching artist who is passionate about inspiring the next generation of performers through creativity, confidence, and a love of the arts. Drawing from his professional performance experience and years of working with young artists, Josiah creates an encouraging, high-energy environment where students are challenged to grow while having fun.

As a professional performer, Josiah appeared in the National Tours of Finding Neverland and A Christmas Story, The Musical, performing alongside Broadway-caliber artists and creative teams. His performance career has also included regional theatre productions, award-winning performances, and appearances at prestigious theatre events, giving him a well-rounded perspective that he brings into every class and rehearsal.

At Ignite the Light Performing Arts, Josiah teaches musical theatre, dance, acting, and audition preparation while choreographing productions and helping lead the studio’s Junior Theater Festival teams. His classes emphasize strong technique, storytelling, teamwork, and building confidence both on and off the stage.

Josiah believes every student has something unique to offer. His goal is to help each performer discover their own voice, develop their skills, and leave every class feeling more confident than when they walked in. Whether coaching a first-time performer or mentoring an experienced student, he is committed to creating a positive, supportive space where every child can shine.

Madi Saunders is a rising junior at Potomac Falls High School with a passion for both theatre and working with young children. At 16 years old, she is thrilled to be teaching Preschool Imagination Factory this season. Having been involved in theatre for many years, Madi has developed a deep appreciation for creativity, storytelling, and self-expression. She loves helping young performers build confidence, use their imaginations, and discover the joy of being a performer. Madi is excited to combine her love of theatre with her passion for teaching, creating a fun, encouraging environment where every child can shine.

Ash Strayer brings over five years of experience in marketing, social media, and content creation, along with a strong background in acting and technical theatre. Her experience both onstage and behind the scenes gives her a unique perspective when creating and promoting content, allowing her to understand the production process from multiple sides. At Ignite the Light, Ash wants to help build the organization’s online presence and share the talent, creativity, and stories behind each production. She is passionate about combining her love of the performing arts with her skills in digital media to connect productions with audiences in meaningful and engaging ways.

Gracie Vosburgh is a senior at Woodgrove High School with around nine years of experience in technical theatre and performance, as well as twelve years as an artist. She has been in 30+ productions around Loudoun County as a theatre technician, more commonly as an artistic crew member or lighting and sound. At Ignite the Light she creates the artistic tech for shows. Outside of theatre Gracie works as a face painter for Hilt Face Painting. After her graduation, Gracie wants to pursue fine arts teaching and a technical theatre minor. 

Katie is a native of Northern Virginia and has been participating in theater and choir for over 10 years. Katie recently graduated from Liberty University with a bachelor’s in theater education and has been teaching at Destiny School of the Arts for the past 5 years teaching preschool music and movement among other things. 

Katie was the student leader of her a cappella choir in her senior year and has directed 3 plays including one she wrote and one which helped Woodgrove’s Theater 2 class take regional runner up in the VCLA one act play competition. Katie is excited to start working with the students at Ignite!