Ariel Rebecca (Rivka) Grossman founded Ariel Rivka Dance in 2008. Born and raised in New York City, she trained at LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts and the Joffrey Ballet School, under the direction of Gerald Arpino, for 10 years. She earned a B.S. in Dance with honors and a Minor in Women’s Studies from Skidmore College. Her work has been presented at Baruch Performing Arts Center, New York Live Arts, Gordon Center, BAM Fisher, Park Synagogue East, Kaplan Theatre, NJPAC, Dixon Place, Rutgers University, Gershman Y, Saratoga Dance Museum, and more. Ariel is drawn to dancers with strong technique who are willing to take creative risks and collaborate. She draws inspiration from the struggles and joys of the human experience, particularly finding emotional depth through being a woman and a mother. The dancers and she work together to transform these emotions into shapes and stories. Ariel encourages dancers to bring themselves to the work — molding pieces that are striking, evocative, and layered. Ariel Rivka Dance reflects this evolution from classical training to boundary-pushing work.