Ali Clarke is an Irish choreographer and performer with a degree in Dance Arts from Fontys Fine Arts University ( Hogeschool voor de Kunsten) in Tilburg (NL). Her studies included a Minor in interactive performance studies and further focus on interdisciplinary and site-specific choreography with a particular interest in the cross-over between dance and contemporary circus.
As a creator Ali’s work has been influenced by a desire to create a more interactive and experiential format for performance. Her work is characterised by her strong trans-disciplinary approach and a passion for exploring the interface between public and performer exploring immersive formats for contemporary performance. Her work has been awarded widely including the Next Generation Award 2022 from the Irish Arts Council, an Arts & Disibility Research Award (‘22), the fAUNA Residency Award ('21), the Dance Ireland HATCH Award ('21) and LaunchPad Award ('20), an Arts Council Ireland Dance Bursary ('21) and Professional Development Award ('20), the Chassé Theater Culture Funds Award ('19), the Cafe Theater Festival Jury Award ('18) and more. Ali’s work has been further supported with inclusion in the Creation Artists trajectory from Carlow Arts Festival and Dublin Dance Festival ('21/22) and Axis Theatre Play:Ground program (‘22).
In 2016 she initiated the international company KNOT Kollektiv and has been building her repertoire as a choreographer since. KNOT Kollektiv is a nomadic, interdisciplinary company existing on the crossroads between dance and circus with a strong focus on the creation of interactive performances which bring the audience together as a community. KNOT Kollektiv is internationally recognised with support from Chassé Theater and Podium Bloos in the Netherlands, Tanzwuchs Freiburg in Germany and the Courthouse Arts Centre in Ireland.
Besides her own choreographic work Ali works as a freelance choreographer and performer with the Brussels based dance company Untamed Productions with whom she has toured in Europe Mexico and Brazil. Ali currently teaches Concept Development, Cultural Management and Contemporary Dance Technique modules in the professional dance diploma course Performact in Portugal. There she also acts as a coach and mentor for professional students choreographic projects at performact and for the dancers a. She has acted as an expert speaker on Friday Night Live ('21), at STRP Festival ('20), and the Jacques de Leeuw Ceremony ('19).
