Andrea Ariel

Andrea-Ariel

Artistic Statement

My artistic work is influenced by the world around me through observing movement and patterns, shapes and architecture, objects and images. I find inspiration in our history and stories. I draw from the repetitive and instantaneous aspects of our lives, our individual expressions, nuance and gestures. But the deepest source of inspiration for my work is centered in the heart of our human experience, and discovering that expression through the physicality and articulation of the body.

I draw from a combination of poetic and everyday elements to craft movement, language, images, sound and space. My work leads me to engage in a collaborative process with other artists and the community to investigate a particular subject or point of focus, which can be personal, social, political, or environmental. Through creating performances, I want to make spaces for reflection, inquiry, inspiration, surprise, and conversation. As part of my process, I am continually exploring new ways of experimenting with the genre of multi-disciplinary dance theatre.

Biography

Andrea Ariel is the Artistic Director of Andrea Ariel Dance Theatre, based in Austin, TX where she produces, choreographs, and performs in dance theatre works created in collaboration with artists working in dance, music, theater, multi-media, and visual art. In 2017, Andrea Ariel and AADT were honored with a special citation from the Austin Critics Table, The Sound and Vision Award, for accomplishments in the realm of dance, and a commitment to visionary cross-discipline work. In 2016, Andrea Ariel received the Site for Sore Eyes and Ears Award for her invigorating collaborations of dance and music in site-specific performance. Andrea and her collaborators also received twelve nominations and four awards for LUMEN (2016), HEART (2014) and The Bowie Project: A Rock and Roll Soundpainting (2014, 2015, 2017), also named #2 of the Top Nine Big Bang Dance Concerts of 2015. Andrea was designated a Creative Ambassador in 2014 when she represented the City of Austin in Spain while attending a Think Tank with the international Soundpainting community. Since 2014, she has served as an artist facilitator for Artist INC, a cutting edge training program that addresses the specific business needs and challenges of artists of all disciplines.

Andrea has created over 50 original works since first forming the company in 1990. Her work has been performed in Texas, California, South Carolina, Illinois, Arizona, New Mexico, and New York. She has been a recipient of numerous grants and commissions including over thirty years of funded projects by the City of Austin, Cultural Arts Division. Four times voted Best Choreographer/Dancer by the Austin Chronicle reader’s poll, her work has previously been honored with two awards and seven nominations from the Austin Critics Table, and two B. Iden Payne Award nominations.

Andrea has performed in NYC with Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble and The Walter Thompson Orchestra, with whom she is a founding Associate Choreographer and certified as a conductor and educator in Soundpainting. Collaborative projects include Same River (2010), John Lennon, A Soundpainting (2007), and Pocket Full of Change (2006) with Strike Anywhere (NYC); American Value, Sojourn Theatre (North American Cultural Laboratory, NY), and performances at the Catskills Festival of New Theater, SUNY, The Zipper and Brecht Forum in NY. Other selected choreographic credits include Speeding Motorcycle, Evita and The World Goes Round (ZACH Theatre), Cesar & Ruben directed by Ed Begley, Jr. at St. Edward’s University, PEXO with The Walter Thompson Orchestra (NYC), The Little Prince (State Theater), Andrea Chénier, Candide, Aïda, Madama Butterfly and Carmen (Austin Lyric Opera), Tintypes (Unity Theater), The Gondoliers, Pirates of Penzance, and The Yeoman of the Guard (Gilbert & Sullivan Society), Bambi, a life in the woods (Austin Theater for Youth).

Andrea’s choreography for film and television include recent commercials for KFC and Shiner Beer – premiering in Texas at the 2017 Super Bowl; Rick Linklater’s feature film, “Everybody Wants Some;” a national commercial for Grand Marnier; and a HBO TV pilot, Mama Dallas. Additional credits include Waiting for Guffman (film) directed by Christopher Guest, Infamous (film) with Sigourney Weaver and Toby Jones, Wild Texas Wind (TV film) starring Dolly Parton, As the Bell Rings (TV Episode for the Disney Channel), and TV commercials for Time Warner, HEB (with Emmitt Smith), and Reid’s Cleaners, starring singer/songwriter Erin Ivey- receiving national recognition. In 2001, she made her choreographic Broadway debut with the Flaming Idiots’, What Goes Up.

As part of Ariel Dance Theatre, Andrea also teaches in the schools through her ARTSPLUS, arts-in-education program. AADT is contracted vendor for Austin ISD and an Arts Partner as part of the Fine Arts and Creative Learning Initiative. She also facilitates AADT’s Community Voices program, providing workshops that bring creative opportunities to the community. Other teaching credits include University of Texas, Austin Community College, Austin Lyric Opera, University of Illinois, Texas State University, Creative Arts Studio, (Brooklyn, NY), and the Texas Commission on the Arts, Texas Touring Roster. She earned an MFA in Dance from the University of Illinois where she was the recipient of the 1986 Creative and Performing Arts Fellowship Award. Andrea is also a Certified Personal Trainer through the Cooper Institute.

View Andrea Ariel’s CV
Artistic/Managing Director • Choreographer • Performer • Teacher