Today we’d like to introduce you to Tina Carreras and Erin Kracht.
Hi Tina and Erin, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
We are Erin and Tina, San Diego-based dance artists whose collaborative journey began in 2017 at San Diego City College. Erin was just beginning her college career straight out of high school, while Tina was returning to dance after a 20-year hiatus. Despite our different paths, we shared a deep love of movement, an openness to learning, and a desire to connect through dance. Under the mentorship of Terry Wilson and Debi Toth, we trained in modern dance, which became the foundation of our evolving artistic voices.
Erin went on to earn her BFA in Dance from San José State University, where she studied contact improvisation, jazz, and Limón technique. She graduated summa cum laude and received the Virginia Ann Excellence in Dance Scholarship. Meanwhile, Tina became an integral part of the San Diego dance community, performing, choreographing, and teaching with San Diego Dance Theater and Grey Matters. Her work focuses on aging bodies and redefining who belongs in dance spaces.
Throughout Erin’s time in school, we stayed connected—cheering each other on from afar in our choreographic pursuits. When Erin returned to San Diego, our bond deepened over regular coffee dates, where we shared artistic goals, personal dreams, and ideas for future collaborations. We began dancing in each other’s work and showcased our individual pieces in events such as San Diego Dance Theater’s Emerging Choreographers Showcase & Awards, Ballet Counterpointe’s The Gathering, and Disco Riot’s Choreo & SCARYaoke.
Eventually, those conversations turned into action. We began applying to present our work together and discovered a shared vision: to broaden the perception of who is seen on stage and what “professional” dance can look like. In May 2025, we premiered our first evening-length work, “One Pie at a Time,” at the San Diego International Fringe Festival, which explored the effects of living in a patriarchal society on feminized experiences. Our choreographic process is rooted in collaboration, storytelling, and embodied experience, often exploring the complexities of identity, self-discovery, and the human experience.
Today, Erin serves as the Regional Director of NACHMO San Diego (National Choreography Month), furthering our commitment to accessibility and artistic diversity. She also teaches at Creative Dance Theatre and Malashock Dance. Tina continues to explore movement as a form of healing and expression, teaching individuals with cognitive disabilities and neurological conditions. She collaborates with San Diego Dance Theater and Malashock Dance on their Healing Through the Arts Initiative, which is supported by the Conrad Prebys Foundation. We are always dreaming of our next piece of choreography and what our collective will look like in the years to come as we continue to pursue opportunities in San Diego, as well as out of state and abroad.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has been far from smooth, but every challenge has shaped our journey in meaningful ways. For Tina, one of the most personal struggles has been coming to terms with the physical limitations that come with dancing later in life. There are moments of envy—watching younger bodies do what she still dreams of—but her experience and perspective have opened doors she never imagined. Being in a different stage of life has allowed her to connect more deeply with others and pursue creative opportunities that feel aligned and authentic.
For Erin, the struggle arose just as she was entering her career. Only four weeks after earning her BFA in Dance, she returned to San Diego for hip surgery—a decision made after years of chronic pain and limited mobility during her university training. Doctors described it as a “career-ending” procedure, but for Erin, it was the beginning of a new chapter. Six months post-surgery, she danced in Tina’s piece for San Diego Dance Theater’s Emerging Choreographers Showcase. That performance marked not only her physical recovery but the start of a deeper, more grounded artistic voice. The experience transformed her into a more empathetic teacher, an adaptive mover, and a choreographer who isn’t afraid to think outside the box.
Beyond our personal stories, there are the shared challenges that come with being independent artists—navigating rejection, struggling with funding, and constantly having to find (and often pay for) rehearsal space just to bring our work to life. We don’t always get the opportunities we hope for, but we keep showing up, creating from what we have, and pouring our energy into the process.
And somehow, despite the obstacles, we find the magic. After a performance, when the stage is lit and the audience is moved, when dancers tell us they feel seen and valued—that’s the reward. Those moments of connection and impact make every struggle worth it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We are Erin and Tina, San Diego-based dance artists and choreographers who specialize in collaborative, contemporary dance rooted in storytelling, identity, and lived experience. Our work is known for its emotional depth, physical honesty, and the unique way our artistic voices blend together. Erin brings an abstract, movement-driven approach, while Tina’s work leans into narrative. Together, we’ve found a creative rhythm that merges these perspectives into something dynamic and distinctive.
One of our proudest accomplishments is our recent evening-length work, One Pie at a Time, which premiered at the San Diego International Fringe Festival in May 2025. This work marked a significant milestone in our collaboration, driven entirely by our shared vision and commitment.
What sets us apart is that we don’t wait for permission to create. We show up, make space, and invest in our dreams. Our work is deeply intentional—we strive to create opportunities for dancers of all ages, body types, and backgrounds to be seen, heard, and celebrated. Whether we’re performing, teaching, or producing, we challenge conventional ideas of who belongs on stage and what “professional” dance can be.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
One of the most surprising things about us is that we have a 22-year age difference. Despite being in very different life stages, our shared vision for creating dance and our core values align in a way that feels seamless and cohesive.
What’s even more surprising is how naturally our choreographic voices complement each other. Erin tends to approach work from a more abstract perspective, while Tina leans toward storytelling and literal interpretation. On paper, our styles might seem quite different—but when we collaborate, something uniquely cohesive emerges. Our choreography feels like it breathes in unison, even as it explores themes from different angles.
We didn’t realize just how well our voices could blend until we started creating together. The result is work that feels richer, more dynamic, and more layered than either of us could have imagined on our own. It’s a beautiful surprise that continues to shape our partnership and creative growth.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @tinacar8 @erinkracht_dancer
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=CSezxlTVbePf5SaY&v=HIXdFTlxpdI&feature=youtu.be
Image Credits
Doug McMinimy, Alejandro Lopez, and James Horvath
