Today we’d like to introduce you to Trinity Hester.
Hi Trinity, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
The element of fire has always fascinated me. As a child, I was often in trouble for lighting candles and playing with matches. I couldn’t have dreamed that fire would eventually have a purpose in my life.
I went through a lot of chaos and significant losses in my young life that manifested as major depression in my early twenties. It came to a point where I had to fight for myself. I chose to fight my way out of deep depression. One of the ways I did this was with music & dancing. Luckily, I discovered transformational music festivals. It was at Serenity Gathering Festival in 2015 that I saw a badass female fire performer for the first time. I was mesmerized. I learned that she was using a fire prop called a “Rope Dart”. It looks like a shooting fireball on a long rope. Later that year at another festival, Symbiosis, I stumbled upon a cart selling glowing L.E.D. Rope Darts. I bought that cute, safe, glow Rope Dart and was delighted to have my very first flow toy. I dragged it to a lot of shows and festivals, but I didn’t know anyone else who was interested in that kind of thing. Life got busy, work was demanding, and nothing much came of it.
Then, in mid-2017, a friend I worked with invited me to a small, casual meetup on Wednesday nights in Ocean Beach. It was a group of people who were into “Flow Arts.” Some people used L.E.D. props, and others used fire props to dance and experiment with. Suddenly, I had people who could teach me how to properly Rope Dart! My curiosity quickly turned to obsession. Not only could I finally advance in Rope Dart skills, but there were other props to learn! Hula Hoops, Palm Torches, Dragon Staff- It seemed like the possibilities were endless. I became a Wednesday night regular. It was such a blessing to discover a community and hobby that brought a lot of joy to my life. After years of being out of touch with my body, Flow Arts helped center me by tapping into a meditative “flow” state. I could forget any problems, worries, or grief and just find myself again. After attending the Wednesday gathering for a while, in late 2018, I finally purchased my own fire prop. You would think I had bought a fire Rope dart, but that was just my gateway prop. I needed big fire. I bought a Dragon Staff (A large staff with four fire wicks on each end), and everything changed.
The rest of the story gets dramatic and complicated, so we can save those details for my tell-all book. Haha. What you need to know is that today, the San Diego Wednesday fire circle is enormous. It has touched so many lives. I am grateful to have been a leader- instrumental in building it, a consistent, friendly, welcoming face, and a powerful force for the Wednesday Flow Jam’s expansion. To anyone who has stopped to watch and support my journey with fire on Wednesdays in Ocean Beach: I hope I inspire you as much as you have supported and inspired me.
Fire Performing for San Diego’s underground music scene through the years has created many of my favorite memories. I also originated the wild idea of creating a local festival specifically for fire performers and watched that idea come to fruition. The monthly Circus Arts meetup holds a special place in my heart. Teaching the “Intro to Hoops” workshop for annual World Circus Day was a blast. Additionally, becoming a source of knowledge and inspiration for new waves of fire performers has been such an unexpected blessing in my life. I have met and continue to meet all of the most interesting, inspiring, and creative people because of the Flow Arts Community. I don’t have enough words to properly describe the incredible impact it has had on my life!
As far as becoming a professional performer, it has been a journey of self-education and facing fears. It took a lot to get over my stage fright and put myself out there. My daytime job was leading tours and animal presentations in local zoological facilities. I also spent some time as a tour guide/first mate on amphibious vessels in San Diego Bay. These public speaking experiences helped conquer any fears of being seen, but dancing in front of an audience was a different story. When spinning fire, the noise of it rushing past your body is very distinct and loud. The sound of the fire whooshing became my solace, and when I step in front of an audience, it helps me remember that it is just me- and the fire.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey into Fire Performing has been a bumpy, exciting, intense road. I suppose that is to be expected when playing with fire. My main concern as a beginner was about not getting burned…little did I know it wasn’t the actual fire that I needed to worry about. The greatest struggle in my journey was realizing that I thought I had found real connections, but as my skill level increased, some peers in the San Diego Fire Dancing community started seeing me as competition instead of community. It was many close friends that I had celebrated birthdays & holidays with, supported, uplifted, and inspired that went on to withhold recognition, inclusion, and opportunities from me as a way to sabotage my career and relationships. I was blindsided by their cruelty. I also dealt with repeated, malicious slander, false accusations, and numerous copycats. Weeding out the snakes has been a messy, priceless lesson to learn. It has truly been a “trial by fire,” but I have grown tremendously from any negative experience.
Ironically, it was all the harm and pushback that made me see my value. If I was treated as a threat by that many people, then I must have something incredibly special to share. The bullies saw my potential, my sparkle, long before I did. Once I was able to see my talents through their eyes, it gave me the inspiration and tenacity to keep going. My story may seem like the tale of an Underdog, but there is a difference between an Underdog’s tale and the origin story of a Dark Horse. I have found an unshakable foundation within myself and am racing forward with new discernment.
These days, the Fire Performing Road has the normal bumps that come with gig work: finding fire-safe costuming, going over contracts, deciding on my pricing, and continuously marketing myself. Same road, different bumps. I feel so grateful to be bringing the fire to Southern California and am excited to see how the journey continues.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My style of fire performance is very unique and always evolving. I specialize in fire fans and a prop called the Dragon Staff, but I also perform with Rope Dart, Palm Torches, Double Staves, and Contact Staff. You could say that I want to try it all. Because of this, I am known for playing around until I discover fun, new moves. I was the odd man out because I did not start my fire dancing journey by learning technical moves. It was not natural for me to stand in one place and make shapes with fire. I wanted to dance. I wanted to express myself. I wanted to FLOW. I was looked down on for not being “technical” in my moves. Years later, I have people trying to copy the same style that others made fun of me for. Any artist who is bringing something new to the table experiences this. I am most proud of my unique and original style of dancing with the Dragon Staff. I have developed a lot of sexy movements that accentuate my hips and curvy shape. Determination to find my own flow and staying true to that unique flow is what sets me apart.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
One challenging thing about life in San Diego is how often people come and go. With the military in town, multiple colleges, van-lifers, transplants, and people just testing the waters of California, it can be rough to find ongoing community. Do I need to mention the housing rental market as well? No? I’m sure that is high on the list of what many residents like least about San Diego. Mainly, I love this city because it offers a lot of unique opportunities. I originally moved to San Diego because I was pursuing a career in Exotic Animal Care, and there are more options here. I love how welcoming it is for newcomers. I especially love the music scene. There are events to attend, beaches to explore, trails to be hiked, and great food to top it off.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinityandbey0nd
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trinityhester/
- Other: https://www.liinks.co/trinityandbeyond
Image Credits
Elwood Nickerson
Alex Matthews Photo
Jon Bookout
