Ginger Fatale (they/she) is the Founder of Soul On Fire Dance, a non-binary, POC, and queer-owned dance studio dedicated to inclusivity for all bodies. Founded in 2021, Soul On Fire Dance provides a welcoming space for dancers of all ages and skill levels, blending the joy of movement with a mission to foster equity, diversity, and trauma-informed care. Ginger brings a unique blend of expertise to the studio as a seasoned burlesque performer, choreographer, and licensed mental health professional, ensuring that Soul On Fire Dance is not just a place to learn but a safe haven for self-expression and empowerment.

During our interview, Ginger shared the inspiring journey that led them to create Soul On Fire Dance and the challenges they’ve overcome to cultivate a supportive community. We explored their approach to trauma-informed dance instruction, the importance of safe spaces for marginalized communities, and their passion for helping students reconnect with their bodies. Let’s jump right in!

Can you walk us through your professional journey and how you got to where you are today?

I feel like any good story starts with something like, “a girl walked into a dance studio…” and then takes off in some unbelievable way from there.

My story begins when I started dancing at 10, doing the competition circuit like so many others. The competition circuit is pretty brutal. You work for months on a piece, get ripped to shreds by your choreographers, then get scored on your performance by a panel of judges you can’t even see from the stage. But it was never about winning medals or trophies for me—I loved my friends. My dance family. The ones who cheered each other on at 6:00 a.m. and were still going just as loud at 12:30 a.m. Dance gave me a lot of healing—a safe way to express myself—it got me through some really dark times as a teenager.

Fast forward a bit, and I’m dancing in college. The vibe isn’t the same; I kind of hated it, actually. Then my friend introduced me to this dance studio for adults where they do pole and burlesque, and I fell in love all over again. When I started teaching there, I loved seeing the transformation of my students—finding joy and confidence in their own skin, expressing themselves through movement, discovering their sensual selves, creating social connections with others in class through shared experience. When I started performing burlesque, I was in awe of the confidence I found and could see in my friends. I joined their burlesque performance troupe and helped grow it for 13 years through performance and choreography. They were my family again, and we were there for each other through so much.

And then COVID happened. Black Lives Matter happened. #StopAsianHate happened. Aggressive bills against the queer community happened. The country was ripped apart at the seams between those who were on one side and those who were being actively harmed. My dance family was no different. I started to see the types of people I was surrounded by. The places I was a part of weren’t safe. I didn’t control those places, so even though I was someone people turned to every day, I couldn’t keep people safe. The only “logical” idea was to create my own place. (I use quotes because who actually thinks opening a brick-and-mortar dance studio in the middle of a global pandemic sounds logical?) But it was a calling I felt strongly pulled toward, and I had a lot of support, so that’s what I followed. There was a need for a community—a safe haven, a place where people could come dance and be seen and valued for who they are. That’s when Soul on Fire Dance was born.

On top of all that, Soul on Fire Dance wasn’t even my day job. I’m a Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist, as well as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. I worked in acute, inpatient psychiatric units as I worked to open the studio. That stretch of time was one of the most grueling I’ve experienced in my life. Now, I am the Clinical Director at Open Space Therapy Collective—a queer-focused group practice in Los Angeles, CA—while also running Soul on Fire Dance.

What inspired you to offer the services you provide?

Soul on Fire Dance was born to fill a need. Dance studios are often for children, with adult classes as an afterthought. Adult dance studios are frequently dedicated to the hypercritical, competitive commercial dance scene. But where were the spaces for adults who simply love to dance—for the fun, beauty, and joy of it? What about the adults who have never danced before but have always wanted to learn, despite society saying they’ve missed their opportunity?

Orange County, California—where I’m located—also needed a safe haven for those who have been historically marginalized. As an AAPI, queer, womxn-owned studio, Soul on Fire Dance rooted itself here and has been finding like-minded humans since we opened. We are dedicated to healing our students’ relationships with their bodies, donating money to causes that touch our community, and engaging in local events to bring joy to others. We want everyone who comes through our doors to find their sensual selves through dance. We are Sexy with a Social Mission.

My instructors also go through trauma-informed dance instruction training. In a typical dance class, for example, Pilates, an instructor might come up and touch a student to realign them. We make sure not to do that. We’re mindful that people have had different experiences, so we always ask, “Is it okay if I do this?” We also check in by asking, “Does anyone have any questions? Are there any injuries or things we should be aware of?” That kind of awareness isn’t typical in most dance classes, but it’s essential for us.

We’re also intentional with our language. We never say, “We want you to look like this.” Instead, it’s, “Here’s some choreography—do it in a way that feels good for you, and if you need to modify it, feel free.” You’re here to find joy in movement, not to conform.

What is one of the biggest challenges you have faced in your journey as a service provider, and what did you do to overcome this?

One of the biggest challenges I faced in my business journey was dealing with a difficult business partner. Initially, I had a partner who had experience running dance studios and seemed like a perfect fit. However, after signing a lease for our dream location, she revealed that she had no money to invest and terrible credit, making it impossible for us to secure funding.

I had to think on my feet and find alternative ways to finance the business. I managed to open unsecured lines of credit and get personal loans to cover the costs. Despite my partner not having any financial stake, she still wanted 49% ownership of the company. I had to stand my ground and say no, as it wasn't fair or justified.

For the next six months, we battled it out with lawyers while my partner neglected her responsibilities. I was left to run the business, handle administrative tasks, and manage the front desk all by myself while still showing up to teach my classes. It was an incredibly challenging time, but I was determined to keep the business going, fueled by the support and love of the community I had built within the studio.

Eventually, we reached an agreement where I gave her the performance videos she had received while with the company, and she left. However, this legal battle drained the last of my finances and tested my resilience. It was a painful experience, but I persevered, motivated by the community that believed in what we were building.

Now, over a year later, I can reflect on how difficult and overwhelming that period was. However, I'm proud to say that despite the challenges, my business is thriving, thanks to the invaluable community that supports us every day. 

If you could give one piece of advice to future LGBTQ+ service providers within your field, what would it be?

Trust yourself. Be open to creating the space you always needed. The community needs your own specific magic and you gain nothing by holding yourself back. Also, stay authentic and true to yourself. Embrace your unique perspective and experiences, as they are invaluable assets in the business world. Surround yourself with supportive allies and mentors who believe in your vision. Your identity is a strength, and it can inspire and drive your journey.

How does being openly queer inspire or impact your business?

Being openly queer has helped me find folks in our community who needed this space. Dance has these stereotypes of being hyper-femme, all the men are gay or super masculine, and you have to fit into one of those boxes. We break the binary—we welcome people to express movement in ways that feel good, powerful, and affirming. People get to move their bodies in the way that feels right to them; our instructors aren’t aiming to create clones of themselves. One of my instructors likes to say, “I give you the ingredients, but you bring the spice,” and I think that encapsulates what we’re looking for. We’ll give you training, we’ll give you choreography—but you’re the only one who is going to dance like you.

What brands or services by LGBTQ+ founders are your go-to's and why?

Brain & Body Music Studio - Orange, CA. We partnered with this like-minded music studio to host a Pride festival. We love their mission and we work to support each other in every way we can. Queer folks in the arts in our conservative county need to stand together!

Open Space Therapy Collective - Silverlake, CA. I'm the Clinical Director here, so maybe I'm a little biased. I went to grad school with the founder and they have had this vision since then. They opened a collective of queer and allied therapists to serve the queer community.  The number of people who have a hard time finding a therapist they don't have to educate was astounding. I'm really proud of them for stepping up to this immense challenge.

Good Time Coffee - Long Beach, CA. This is my favorite coffee shop, it's down the street from my house, they always have great vibes, have a cute little store where they sell queer brands, and they host a ton of cool events.

Who is your favorite LGBTQ+ celebrity and why?

Honestly, I have a hard time identifying a favorite celebrity, but probably George Takei.  I love how loud and active he has been for LGBTQ+ activism in a variety of scenes, including politics.  I love that he's told his story through a beautiful Broadway show of being in the camps as a Japanese American during WWII (my family was also in the camps). He just seems like the kind of guy you could sit down and enjoy your evening with.

Can you share one fun fact about yourself?

I am terrible at these! I feel like the thing I get teased about the most is that I hate pants and I hate real shoes. Shorts and flip flops/bare feet are for all weather/occasions.

Visit Ginger Fatale’s profile on Famm here. Visit the Soul On Fire Dance website here.