Today we’d like to introduce you to ARIEL “Berries” COLEMAN.
Hi ARIEL “Berries”, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey in movement started long before I called myself a dancer. As a child, I was a cheerleader and hurdler, which gave me an early foundation in athleticism, discipline, performance, and competition. It wasn’t until high school, when I joined my school’s drill team, that dance truly became my passion and I realized I wanted to pursue it beyond the classroom.
That passion led me to Texas A&M University, where I danced with the Aggie Dance Team for three years. After college, I went on to dance professionally with the Houston Rockets Clutch City Dancers for four seasons, including serving as Captain. My career has included opportunities with Sports Illustrated, NBA Philippines, Kendra Scott, and Fox 26, along with performing, choreographing, and judging for collegiate and professional dance teams.
In 2023, I founded Berries Choreo, my own dance education platform centered around commercial choreography, pro-team foundations, performance quality, confidence, and individuality. I currently choreograph and judge for teams including Texas Southern University Sensations and the University of Houston Cougar Dolls, while continuing to teach, perform, mentor, and create opportunities for dancers to grow into confident performers and artists.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My dance journey has been filled with moments where I had to choose between what was comfortable and what I truly wanted. In high school, I actually missed a track meet to audition for my school’s drill team. At the time, it felt like a difficult choice, but that decision became a pivotal moment that changed the direction of my life and solidified dance as my passion.
One of my biggest setbacks came when I auditioned for the Houston Rockets Clutch City Dancers for the first time and did not make the team. I refused to let that rejection define me. Three years later, I went back and earned a spot on the team, eventually dancing for four seasons and serving as Captain.
Every year, Rockets audition bootcamp pushed me beyond what I thought I was capable of. It was physically, mentally, and emotionally one of the hardest things I had ever experienced. After retiring from the Rockets, I faced a completely different kind of challenge when I launched Berries Choreo in 2023. Attendance was slow in the beginning, and learning the business side of building a brand while trying to grow a dance community was exhausting. There were moments when I seriously considered letting it go.
I’m grateful I didn’t. Continuing to show up allowed Berries Choreo to grow into something far bigger than I initially imagined. Looking back, the hardest experiences have taught me that rejection, slow seasons, and discomfort do not necessarily mean you are on the wrong path. Sometimes they are simply part of building something that is worth continuing
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My career has always existed at the intersection of discipline, purpose, and creativity. Professionally, I work in healthcare quality improvement, where I specialize in pediatric quality and patient safety. I have built my academic and professional career around my love for pediatrics, earning my education in the field while working full time in the Texas Medical Center. I have been with Texas Children’s since 2015 and have grown through multiple roles within Quality, currently working as an Advanced Quality Specialist focused on system-wide improvement.
At the same time, I built a career in dance. As a Houston Rockets Clutch City Dancer, being on a professional team required dancers to either work full time or attend school full time. I was one of the dancers balancing a full-time corporate healthcare career with the demands of being a professional dancer while also pursuing my academic goals. That experience taught me how to manage my time, show up consistently, and perform at a high level in completely different environments.
What sets me apart is my ability to wear multiple hats without losing sight of who I am. I’ve been a student, healthcare professional, professional dancer, captain, choreographer, educator, entrepreneur, and now a new mom. Today, I’m still working in healthcare, raising my daughter, and running Berries Choreo. I’m most proud of the fact that I have never believed I had to choose just one version of myself. I’ve continued to make room for every part of who I am and find a way to pursue each one with intention.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
People can work with me in a variety of ways through Berries Choreo. Dancers can sign up for my classes and upcoming events through BerriesChoreo.com, where I offer commercial choreography, performance training, and opportunities to grow as a dancer. You can also follow @berrieschoreo on Instagram to stay connected with upcoming classes, announcements, and community highlights.
I’m also available for masterclasses, choreography, workshops, team training, and performance coaching for elementary, middle, and high school programs, collegiate teams, dance studios, and organizations. I love collaborating with teams and helping dancers develop not only their technique, but also their confidence, performance quality, and individual identity.
The easiest ways to support me are to take a class, bring Berries Choreo to your team or program, book me for choreography or a masterclass, and follow and share @berrieschoreo
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.berrieschoreo.com
- Instagram: @berrieschoreo
