Michael Clark

Michael Clark (born 1962) is a dancer and choreographer.

Michael Clark was born in Aberdeen and began traditional Scottish dancing at the age of four. In 1975 he left home to study at the Royal Ballet School in London, and on his final day at the school he was presented with the Ursula Moreton Choreographic Award.


 * "I was playing a game with [The Royal Ballet School]. I waited until I was the lead in the school production before I got caught sniffing glue, so they couldn’t kick me out."

In 1979 Clark joined Ballet Rambert, working primarily with Richard Alston, who created roles for him in Bell High (1979), Landscape (1980), Rainbow Ripples (1981) and, subsequently, two solos: Soda Lake (1981) and Dutiful Ducks (1982).

He left Rambert and set up his own company, creating several ballets in conjunction with Leigh Bowery.

He was listed number 80 in the Pink List 2010. The citation said:
 * "Launched Michael Clark and Company in 1984 and is now widely considered one of the most daring and fascinating choreographers around. He is an Artistic Associate of the Barbican and his dance company is currently at Tate Modern, transforming the Turbine Hall into a space for experimentation and creating new work."

The film Hail the New Puritan (1987) is a fictionalised documentary about Michael Clark, directed by Charles Atlas with design by Leigh Bowery.