AMA-UTA CreateCollab meets Radiant Solz in a one minute documentary by Nicole Rios

In this installment of AMA-UTA CreateCollab, senior Nicole Rios explores the art of performing with fire in “Radiant Solz,” her original one minute documentary.

Read more about our partnership below.

RADIANT SOLZ: DANCING WITH FIRE

ABOUT MY ONE MINUTE DOCUMENTARY
by Nicole Rios

Fire performing has always been seen as a form of entertainment. The combination of movement and fire can capture the audience’s attention for hours. Fire performing takes skill and discipline, with fire performers perfecting their craft and safety precautions to bring joy to anyone that watches. Fire performers can be found at renaissance fairs, private parties, music festivals and community burns.

Alex Snyder is the creator and founder of Radiant Solz LLC., a fire performing group spread across Dallas and Fort Worth. Snyder started with stilt walking at haunted houses and wanted to develop his passion into professionally performing. He began to take interest in flow arts, a series of movements and dances with light up or fire props at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. After spending hours every day developing his craft, Snyder decided that this passion is what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.

Snyder started Radiant Solz to create a safe place and home for fellow flow artist to come together and develop their craft. There are multiple different props to use, with his favorite being contact staff, which is lit on both ends and spun around. Other fire props include poi, rope dart, fans, levi wand and more. Snyder urges people to come to workshops hosted by Radiant Solz, where people can fall in love with the props and learn how to handle them safely. It’s a community built around making lifelong connections and friends that support and help build one another. Through these free events, it’s a great way for instructors and performers to come together and help one another break free of any shyness or apprehensions they might have. Snyder believes it’s a great way to release your inner child and get out of your comfort zone.  To reach Radiant Solz for all your fire performing needs, their contact information can be found at www.radiantsolz.com.

Meet Nicole Rios

I am a journalism major and senior at the University of Texas at Arlington. Previously a graduate from the Art Institute of Dallas with an Associate Degree of Applied Science in Photography, I focus my art on portraiture and event photography. I chose Journalism to highlight the importance of knowledge on everyday life.

In my spare time I like to attend music events that cover a wide range of genres. I also enjoy traveling, having been to 15 other states and one other country. Lastly, I like to read fiction and memoirs, adding books to my growing collection.

 

About AMA-UTA CreateCollab

Throughout the Fall 2022 semester, the Arlington Museum of Art is partnering with The University of Texas at Arlington and a senior-level digital storytelling class to explore a wide variety of contemporary themes inspired by “A Knight’s Tale.”

Class projects include photo essays, one-minute documentaries, and one-minute podcasts about themes as broad as sword fighting with light sabers, fulfilling family legacies, every day heroes, and modern metalsmithing.

Associate Professor of Communication Erika Pribanic-Smith, who teaches the class, values opportunities to bring real-world experiences to her students.

“My goal is to give my students real-world experience in all of my classes, creating real stories using real sources,” said Dr. Pribanic-Smith. “Creating stories that will be published for the public to see, not just submitted for a grade, gives students extra incentive to put forth their best effort. Furthermore, working with professionals gives the students another layer of feedback to re-enforce what they’re learning in the classroom. I prefer to work with organizations like the Arlington Museum of Art who will benefit in some way from the students’ content so that we are providing a service to the community.”