Ariel Clarke is a dancer, educator, model, and a company member with Open Space, Portland under the direction of Franco Nieto, as well as both a 2023 Ballare Carmel Inaugural Fellow and Member under direction of Lillian Barbeito. Not having the privilege to attend a university for the pursuit of dance, she has accumulated a wide range of educational and performative experiences through various different programs, both national and international, combined with her own personal and tireless research. From multiple Gaga Labs, to BODYTRAFFIC’s full length summer program, LINK by Salt, Meditteraneo Danse Festival, Springboard Danse Montreal’s 20th edition in 2022, where she had the opportunity to perform works by Juliano Nuñes with Ballet Jazz Montreal and Kelly Ashton Todd. Ariel has performed new creations by Alex Ketley, MiCaela Taylor, Lauren Edson, Rena Butler, Clementine Deluy, Franco Nieto, Noelle Kayser, Niharika Senapati, and Gianna Burright. Recently, she had the extreme privilege of performing an original creation by Franco Nieto entitled “Alchemy” for Portland’s TEDx 2024 event, dancing for a live audience of several thousand, with millions streaming online.

Being a creator herself, Ariel has presented multiple works for different festivals and has branched into the film industry in partnership with several music artists, along with The Raven Foundation for their educational film series exploring the Theory of Mimesis, something she is extremely proud of. She finds great joy in sharing her passions for dance and has taught for many years to a variety of different ages and levels at numerous institutions. Over the past five years, Ariel has been developing her own method and technique within Floor Work, a mindful and therapeutic approach to help younger dancers develop a more intentional and sustainable dance practice.

Drawing inspiration from all aspects of her life, her hunger and curiosity for new information and understanding propel her to constantly question and step beyond her own boundaries within her pursuits and creative explorations. Ariel is deeply passionate and sensitive, both as a person and a mover; any moment of sharing movement that allows her to provoke sensitivity and connection to self within others is the greatest gift to her.

Moving into her fifth season with the studio, Ariel is endlessly grateful to consider XDA her home.