Since she could walk, Ariel has danced, modeled, and acted. Upon graduating, she became a full-time traveling instructor and choreographer, during which she has received multiple choreography and visionary awards. Ariel has choreographed for and participated in Orlando-based artistic events and projects including the innovative IMMERSE Orlando Festival, The Shift, Orlando Uncovered, and Canvas Creative Movement Coalition. In recent years, she has also branched out into the music video and film industry, working with artists like Coach Kit, SVVN, and The Raven Foundation. Her education and training includes programs such as Gaga Labs, SpringboardX, BODYTRAFFIC’s full-length summer program, The Gypsy Project: LA, and Mediterraneo Dance Festival, with instruction from foundational people such as Tilman ODonnell, Alexandra Wells, Brett Easterling, Erica Sobol, James Gregg, Clementine Deluy, Tina Berkett, and MiCaela Taylor, to name a few. Most recently, she was accepted into the 20 th edition of Springboard Danse Montréal, where she performed works of Juliano Nuñes and Kelly Ashton Todd. Ariel also attributes much of her development to her own tireless research. Impacted by the fantastical and sensory revelations of the movement language, Gaga, her movement is deeply rooted in the various sensational layers available in the body, fueled by a wide range of mental and emotional experience. Drawing inspiration from everywhere, her hunger and curiosity for new information and understanding propel her to constantly question and step beyond her own boundaries within her explorations.
Heather Fryxell
In 2000, Ms. Fryxell co-founded the Central Florida Ballet and the Ballet Academy of Central Florida. There she directed the school, directed the student company, developed her adaptive dance program, and danced in the professional company. Upon returning to Utah in 2005, Ms. Fryxell spent the next 15 years teaching at the Ballet West Academy where she served on the principal faculty and then as principal of the downtown and Park City campuses. She currently is the Associate Director of Adaptive Dance at Ballet West and a teaching artist for Orlando Ballet’s community enrichment program.
Ms. Fryxell has danced the principal roles in all the great classical ballets, and she has also performed in Balanchine ballets and contemporary works.
Awards and accomplishments include competing in the International Ballet Competition, performing at the International Ballet Festival in Cuba, earning degrees in English literature and educational psychology from Brigham Young University, and being honored with Honorary Alumna at Brigham Young and Heather Sanders Appreciation Day for the city of Orlando. Ms. Fryxell’s teaching career has spanned 3 decades, teaching ballet to students of all ages and skill level. Ms. Fryxell has had many award-winning students who have won top honors at ballet competitions and students who are currently dancing professionally nationally and internationally.
