TWISTED UP Garrett Donaldson flows into the Archer weave in an Arroyo Grande backyard. Kevlar poi on the end of chains are soaked in white gas before they’re lit on fire.

FIRE-BREATHERS Samantha Jones and Shayne Mastriano from Ignite Fire Dance spit flames at an event in Avila Beach during October.

Ignite Fire Dance

SHARING FLAME Using a special mix of lamp oil, Ignite Fire’s Garrett Donaldson, Levi Morin, Gwendolyn Hodgson, and Johnathon Felch (left to right) pass a flame from person to person at a backyard in Arroyo Grande.

DANCE PREP Garrett Donaldson, Levi Morin, Shayne Mastriano, and Johnathon Felch (left to right) prepare their fire torches, poi, and wands for a performance at Spyglass Park in Shell Beach.

IGNITED The Ignite Fire Dance troupe performs fire artistry at weddings, birthday parties, special events, and festivals on the Central Coast and beyond.

SUNSET PLAY Just before twilight in Shell Beach, Shayne Mastriano performs fire artistry with orbitals while fellow Ignite Fire Dance member Levi Morin tosses and twirls a fire flowerstick.

Ignite Fire Dance

EAT IT Sword-swallower Samantha Jones sticks a fire wand in her mouth. Getting burned is inevitable, she said—it’s just a matter of degree.

Ignite Fire Dance

HOOPS ON FIRE Nikki Kaminski spins two firehoops at a wedding in San Luis Obispo for Ignite Fire—a fire performance company based out of Santa Maria.

RINGS OF LIGHT Flow artist Gwendolyn Hodgson from Ignite Fire Dance spins poi rings around her fingers.

SPARKS OF AWE Embers fly from a homemade charcoal props device Shayne Mastriano created for fire performances during a wedding in San Luis Obispo. He uses dry vegetation such as pine needles and hay, grinds them up, puts them in a basket, lights it on fire, and shakes it.

Ignite Fire Dance

ENGULFED Ignite Fire’s Garrett Donaldson, Levi Morin, and Johnathon Felch pass a flame down the line in an Arroyo Grande backyard.

Ignite Fire Dance

Ignite Fire Dance

Ignite Fire Dance

Ignite Fire Dance

Ignite Fire Dance

Ignite Fire Dance