Daily Inspiration: Meet Ari Fine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ari Fine.

Hi Ari, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I began dancing at the age of 3 and have only grown in my love of dance since. In college, I was very fortunate to attend The Ohio State University as a Dance major. I worked my entire first year on growing in my skills and technique to be able to become a Dance major. The feeling of seeing your hard work paying off was something I’ll never forget or take for granted. That was what solidified for me that I wanted dance to turn into my career and not just a passion of mine. After college, I moved to Chicago for a summer to work with the summer program at Ballet Chicago and then proceeded to move full-time to NYC to pursue dance and dance education. In NYC, I grew so much as not just a dancer, but an educator, choreographer, artist, and overall person. I learned skill sets in and outside of the studio that helped me become more aware of the world around me and taught me so much about others. During the pandemic, I moved back home to Cleveland and have been fortunate to find a dance community that I love and look forward to spending time with daily. Last year, a bucket list dream of mine came true as I became a performer at Universal Studios in Orlando. This was a true testament to hard work and the power of believing in yourself. I am so lucky that dance has taken me to so many places and given me the chance to meet so many amazing people. I currently teach around the Cleveland area, and I love helping dancers learn and grow in their passion for dance and the arts. I can’t wait to see where dance continues to take me. 🙂 

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?
It definitely has had its challenges, but that’s what makes it so rewarding! Things like juggling finances, auditions not panning out how you dream, and other external factors always make it challenging in the life of a freelance artist. Dancers always talk about how ephemeral and fleeting dances are, and it’ll never be performed exactly the same as the one time you dance it. I think that’s why I find it so special being an artist because you learn to appreciate every moment, since you don’t know where/when your next opportunity will come from. I think the most important takeaway from my college career transitioning into my professional career was learning when to advocate for yourself and stepping up in moments when no one else will step up for you. Making connections and networking is advice I was always told, and what I now always tell my students. Always be kind and treat others with the same respect you’d want to receive, and you never know what doors will open for you! 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a dance teacher, professional dancer, and choreographer currently based in the Cleveland area. I have a strong love of performance and commercial dance styles, like Hip-Hop, Jazz, and heels. I love all styles because they all challenge me in so many different ways. I’m most proud of my students and seeing them grow as humans, not just dancers. It’s so fulfilling to come back sometime later and a student says, “Thank you for inspiring me,” or “Thank you for the encouragement you gave me during this performance.” It makes all the hard work worth it. Personally, I’ve been so proud of the work ethic I kept up during the pandemic and beyond. I never thought all these amazing opportunities would happen to me in my mid-20s, and I’m so grateful, always. I think what sets me apart from others is my love of spreading the joy of dance. It could be in any setting; I love to see others bust out a move and find joy in just being free. 

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I think being vulnerable and open to learning is key to success. The more you train as a dancer, study new styles or techniques, and take classes with different teachers, the more you’ll expand your skill set and toolbox, as an artist. If you’re not open to the process of starting from square one and having to be a student again, it’ll close you off from so many amazing possibilities! I think this is applicable for anything in life, as well! 

I’m so grateful to all of my teachers and mentors who have trained and inspired me along the way, my family and friends for supporting me, and my students for being so open to learning and dancing with me. Thank you isn’t enough!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://arifine.wixsite.com/mysite
• Instagram: @ari_fine
• Facebook: Ari Fine

Image Credits
Tieast Plummer