Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariana King.
Hi Ariana, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started off as an athlete playing almost everything soccer, volleyball, swimming, track, and cheerleading. I always remembered seeing my friend dancing at cheer practice and I am the type of person who loves learning new things, so I asked her to “teach me how to dance” and from there it’s been a nonstop journey since 2016. I truly didn’t believe or know that a dance industry existed. I always thought it was just pretend-like in the movies and tv shows but once I started taking dance seriously I found out that you really could have a true profession out of it. I was once on a dance crew called Wolf Pack in Cleveland and this was my first initial step in making dance my career. I learned street dance styles such as Hip-Hop, House, Popping, and Krump. I then graduated from Villa-Angela St. Joseph High School in 2017 and attended Hampton University for six months. I auditioned to be in a dance company there.
By the grace of God, I made it into the company not knowing this was a technique-based company and that I am more of a street dancer. But I’m very grateful for that opportunity and time because I learned also Ballet, African, Jazz, Pilates, Modern, and Contemporary dance.
I soon decided to come back home to dance with a company called ELEVĀTED. ELEVĀTED has played a huge role in my dance career the knowledge and mentorship I received and the physical training and dancing aspect. They hold a special and dear place in my heart, they are truly my family. With ELEVĀTED, I have been blessed with so many amazing dance opportunities like auditioning for America’s Got Talent, winning 3 World of Dance Championships titles in Los Angeles, showcasing for Playhouse Square, opening up for the Cleveland Cavilers, Gloria James: All-Star Weekend GLO Event, and so much more. I’ve also performed at the House of Blues, Kanye West DONDA Light Up Listening Event in Chicago, and more. Dance is one thing I truly feel like I can be myself unapologetically. I’m not the best at communicating my feelings/emotions but when I dance and move, I can speak so fluently with my body. Dance isn’t just what I do, it is who I am. I feel most free and vulnerable when I dance.
Anything I go through in my life, celebration, grieving, hardships, joy, etc., dance is the one thing I can always turn to.. to honestly save me. Everything about the art form of dance I fell in love with and continues to fall in love with more and more each time I do it. I wholeheartedly believe that God has gifted me with dance to be able to live my purpose of inspiring and impacting people, showing them that you can truly do what you love as your career. I want to be able to say confidently that I can provide for my family by doing what I love. I keep my head down and work hard and stay ready so I don’t have to get ready.
Something live by is “the harder you work for something, the greater you feel when you achieve it.” I practiced choreography every day, day and night. I “freestyled” every single day, trained at recreation centers, and trained outside at parks, I never stopped dancing since I started. I just want to be great in anything I do as a human and an artist. I think my favorite part about dance is that it exposes me to other arts like music, singing, theater, acting, and more. I am able to learn and tap into so many different sides of myself which is so cool. Today, I continue my journey of pursuing dance as a career, traveling more, training, performing, inspiring, and living. I would not be where I am today if it were not for God being my firm foundation and forefront in my life. I give him all the credit for how I got to where I am now because it has not been an easy journey at all getting here, but I’m so thankful for every bump on the road. When people watch me dance I just want them to feel me however they do. I want them to know that I am human just like them and that we all go through things and it’s okay to share/exchange those feelings with one another and know that we are not alone. I love to dance with my whole heart, it is the longest relationship I have ever had with anything and I hope that people can see that when they see me move.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has not been easy at all on my dance journey. There are so many obstacles and challenges that a lot of people don’t know that dancers go through. For me personally, some of the struggles I faced mentally were almost like an identity crisis in a way. I went through a phase of “wanting” to be like other people and not be myself. I copied a lot of people in how they danced, how they dressed, how they talked, etc. It was hard building my confidence in this art form, especially when I didn’t know myself all the way yet. Being surrounded by really amazing, talented dancers can sometimes easily discourage you and make you doubt yourself and I definitely had a time period where I constantly told myself I wasn’t good enough. But God and the people that I love close to me kept reminding me on my journey that if I just stay true to myself that I can accomplish whatever I put my mind to. Self-doubt, lack of confidence, overthinking, and anxiety, are all some of the mental struggles I went through along the way. Physically, I can say dance is probably the hardest sport I’ve ever done.
I say this because in dance you have to have the physical stamina and strength to perform at a high quality, on top of remembering choreography, having facials when performing, and multitasking by moving and dancing at the same time, all by making it look effortless and entertaining! That is not easy one bit but it is so fun! I usually try to train like an athlete for dance. I do full-body work outs, a lot of cardio, and more. So physical pain is also apart of my struggles for me. I have injured myself a lot from dance. I have sprained my ankle four times, shoulder popping out of socket, toe bones shifting out of place, and I have gotten stitches in my leg before too. Taking care of your body is no joke when you are a dancer. I have to constantly soak, massage, and rest my body because I constantly dance and sometimes super hard. But the biggest obstacle on my journey has to be last year of November 2021, I lost someone very close to me. His name was Michael Smart. I could go on and on how he helped me go through all my hardships in and out of dance and that he plays a super big part in my journey.
His passing effected me in ways I can not even describe or put into words. Since then, I can feel how my dance has changed and that I move with so much more intention. Life is so short now a days and losing him really taught me that we all should really cherish our lives and loved ones every single day. He is with me every time I step onto the dance floor no matter what. I will continue to live on his legacy, as well as my own, through dance.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a striving professional dancer/choreographer. I am most known for being fluent in both the freestyle world of dance and the choreography/commercial industry of dance. I am most proud of my work ethic and resilience. I am constantly working on my growth as a person and as an artist and no matter how hard it gets, I still push through and maintain to spread love and positivity.
I am always working on my craft, consistently putting hours into my training, self-care, etc. I believe what sets me apart from others is my vulnerability and support. I try to be as genuine and open with people and dance. I’ve been told that in person when you see me, I am such a sweet, humble, introverted person but when you see or watch me dance I am the tallest, biggest, shining star in the room, almost like I have an alter ego. My vulnerability and support radiants off me in a natural way and it separates me from others in and out of dance.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory is probably anytime I spent with my best friend Hannah W. Anytime we were together it was just the best time. We did everything to doing plays together, camping, playing pop-star, going to parks, having sleepovers/make overs, going to an animal safari, starting a YouTube channel, and so much more.
We were inseparable. Another favorite childhood memory is my family and I use to go to this restaurant called The BoneYard where it had an arcade too and we’d eat and play games every Thursday and I’d always get this ginormous bowl of Luck Charms cereal.
Pricing:
- 40$ an hour for a private dance session.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/ari.king_?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ari.king.54
Image Credits
Bruce Vision Global and Gabrielle Grant Productions
