Between 2004 and 2015, Gary Clarke operated as an independent artist and created an impressive body of small-scale touring work for theatres and site-specific locations which toured extensively throughout the UK and abroad and featured as part of a number of festivals and seasons including The British Dance Edition, Spring Loaded, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Exposure: Dance at The Royal Opera House, Junge Hunde International Theatre Festival, LEAP Festival and Homotopia.
The creation of my early dance works was a thrilling act of discovery. Each piece offered a space for me to explore my creative voice as an emerging artist, allowing me to test ideas freely, experiment boldly and embrace risk. I was fortunate to be mentored by some of the UK’s most respected dance makers including Javier De Frutos, Wendy Houstoun and Nigel Charnock, whose insight and guidance shaped my artistic practice and long term vision. These early works were sustained by a strong network of partners who commissioned, nurtured and championed my practice, creating opportunities for me to test ideas and attract new audiences. Organisations such as Danceworks UK, Yorkshire Dance, Dance4 and The Place were instrumental in their support, helping me to build a national profile. From this well-established foundation, and with the guidance of my now joint CEO, Annabel Dunbar, I began to evolve into a more seasoned maker, expanding my ambition and scale of work – a progression that ultimately led to the formation of Gary Clarke Company.
Gary Clarke, Artistic Director
