ARIEL CECELIA FREEDMAN WAS BORN IN PHILADELPHIA BUT ADMITS TO GROWING UP ACROSS THE RIVER IN NEW JERSEY. From the age of three, her independent creative movement practice was documented in excruciating detail by her father’s camcorder. After the meteoric rise and fall of her gymnastics career, she dedicated herself at the age of nine to the study of dance. In spite of identity crises at the ages of 13 and 33 and a general air of confusion about what exactly she is doing with her life, Ariel continues to call herself a dancer. And for this privilege, she gives thanks.