he/him

hometown: Santa Barbara, California

Ari is studying Cultural Anthropology with a focus on the music, dance, language, and culture of Brazil and the Arab world. Ari has been been playing Middle Eastern drums all his life,  and later became interested in the traditional dances of the Middle East, studying dabkah and tahteeb. Ari also plays Afro-Brazilian drums and dances capoeira. In his words, “Capoeira inspires me because it is a movement that is all about flow and balance. It involves spins and flips, but you must always be in control of yourself. It teaches that even when you're upside down and focusing on yourself and your moves, you must look up and pay attention to what's in front of you. You could also seem to be relaxing on the floor, but really, you're plotting your next move. It is incredibly beautiful and has taught me to maintain a balance between giving and taking and working with others.”

Ari joined IDA because he wanted to be a part of an arts center that hosts events for the community on different arts and cultures.