Today we’d like to introduce you to Ari Bliss.
Hi Ari, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up in NYC dancing at the School of American Ballet and spending winters in Miami with my ballroom loving grandma truly cemented my love of dance. When I wasn’t performing with the New York City Ballet as an Angel or Polichinelle Girl in the Nutcracker, I was dancing with Miami City Ballet for their Summer Program. Now I was in Miami during summers and NYC during winters. The changing seasons and love of art helped inspire me to open up my own program of daily ballet classes to help the next generation learn ballet and take classes virtually or in person!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It was a natural progression of my love of dance and talent I suppose. I was constantly in movement, doing Balanchine variations left and right. I wanted to perfect each step with the flow through the powerful musicality. When I wasn’t performing on stages throughout NYC and Miami, I got inspired to start my own video series in variations, pointe work, and ballet barre classes after one of my students said she needed more support for her pointe work after class. In addition, I also created guidebooks for each level of ballet to help students work on technique, arm positions, artistry, and confidence!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I teach children, teens, and adults ballet classes from beginner to advanced. Yoga and Pilates are included. Whether you want to perfect a variation for an audition or help you get in tip top shape for your prom or wedding, our private classes are tailored to your personal needs. I just had a student audition to Mark Twain for the Gifted and Talented Junior High School and she got in! It was an honor to see the joy and excitement after going through dance class each week for 2 months to get the steps right. I am known for providing a safe space for students to get to know themselves through the art of dance. I am most proud of every new student that tries dance even if they’re shy. It’s remarkable how much confidence students embody after just a few classes! What sets me apart from others is that my journey of ballet awakened my passion for speaking. I started a podcast where I include mindfulness to partner up with the world of dance, something that is becoming more trendy and intentionally so. Just last month I interviewed 2 Principal Ballerinas from Miami City Ballet on their journey of life through dance. Samantha Hope Galler and Nathalia Arja have beautiful stories of resilience, success, and passion! The Growth Grace and Gratitude Podcast helps us all explore mental health in the arts and beyond with a fresh new perspective through the lens of spiritual success in the world of ballet!
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I remember during one summer class at Miami City Ballet, we had the incredible, legendary Edward Villella come in to teach class. He even gave me a compliment and said, “This is a perfect example of beauty, artistry, everyone should dance through the arms, fingers, the upper body leads like this.” I was so touched and honored to receive that kind of attention from the Founding Artistic Director of the Miami City Ballet! We even had Principal Dancers taking class with us as well including the amazing Mary Carmen Catoya, who was also our summer teacher! This inspired me to keep going and trust my instincts with dance, creation, and artistry when creating my own dances for our students to perform!
Pricing:
- We have free online classes every week
- Daily classes start at $20
- Private classes start at $35
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blueblisscoach.wixsite.com/website
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthandgracemindset?igsh=MTRxN2NtZ3d5b3Zubw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17n82q6VmN/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Twitter: https://x.com/blueblisscoach?s=21
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@balletdaily?si=E-RuU1LXaVTYSRzw
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7FFAmHibAWiZ42SOLgDfat?si=nmvrbFIXSVCRzUc8qblp6A&t=1&pi=oHQYtsjlTo-_m
