Ariel began her dancing career at age four through the Norman Parks and Recreation Department. She started taking dance classes at Modern Dance Arts at five years old and continued dancing there for eight years, eventually specializing in ballet. She has taken other courses in ballet from the University of Oklahoma youth programs.
After a short fling with martial arts, Ariel decided to return to her first love, dance. After being out of dance for four years, she found the competitive world of ballet to be uninviting. It was then that she searched for a more loving art form and stumbled across tribal style bellydance through Bohemian Tribe. After her first performance at Norman's Medieval Faire in April 2005, she was hooked, and six months later joined Banmala Tribal Fusion to further her repertoire.

Ariel has an interest in history, and works part time in a museum. In her spare time she enjoys reading, knitting, crocheting, sewing, and working on costumes.