“At the centre is Clarke, whose presence is mesmerising. Her performance revolves around a sequence of carefully considered poses that bear a strong resemblance to the stances of iconic figures in classical antiquity: think The Birth of Venus or Laocoön and His Sons. This confident display soon becomes ungrounded, however, as though Clarke’s protagonist suffers a loss of faith in her role, and movements that were fluid begin to stutter and fail. This breakdown precipitates a change in the dynamics of the fictional space; in an especially vivid moment, Clarke’s hand emerges from the cube. Released from her confines, what follows is an inspired routine that reveals the mastery of Clarke’s art, as she contorts and shapes her body with meticulous care in mimicking the posture of another.
A fully immersive experience that leaves a lasting impact. Highly recommended.
”
— ★★★★★ Tom Lordan, The Irish Times
Multitudes: Future Nostalgia, by young Irish dancer and choreographer Ali Clarke, explores the space of the kitchen. An inspiration that is clear right from the beginning, with the performer sitting at a table with a decorated cake in front of her. As she stares at the colourful frosting, she starts to tell a story, constantly interrupting herself, adding broken anecdotes that suggest a relationship in which the love language is food. The words match the dance: as she gets up from the chair, the movements are small, hinted at, stifled before they can develop into anything bigger. The stops and glimpses of movement seem to mirror the interruptions of the opening stories: maybe responding to some need for privacy. As she sits back down and dips her finger in the cake, we know that she’s probably taking a brave step, but in what direction remains unknown.
— Greta Pieropan, Springback Magazine
“In Multitudes: Vessel Ali uses dance, aerial circus and theatre to create an immersive, walk-through performance which invites the audience to share intimate moments with the performers. See the Courthouse Arts Centre as never before and step into this surreal look into the kitchen’s of the artists”
— Eoin Mac Raighnall, The Independent
“BUILD opportunities for yourself,” Wicklow professional dancer and choreographer Ali Clarke has urged ahead of her performance with the Dublin Youth Dance Company at the Irish Youth Dance Festival Winter Gala on Saturday, November 19.”
— Michael Shirdan, The Independent
“Ali researches the profound and sees new possibilities in everything. Now she is researching something that can make a difference for the community. Ever since I have known Ali she has wanted to make a change.”
— Lindsay Fransen, Dancer and Collaborator
“Ali has a talent for making people open up, which is crucial creating the safe atmosphere that her work needs. The work that she makes is joyful and simple, but also engaged and smart. It invites people to become a temporary community in the games that she creates, to feel physically connected to one another. In a time where we barely have time to see eye to eye, that is a radically optimistic proposition.”
— Luc de Groen, Director Café Theater Festival
“Her creativity is bright and endless, always seeing the new solutions and possibilities. She takes opportunities with both hands, as a dancer, maker and entrepreneur. She has a unique quality to do great things.”
— Jada van den Hout, Choreographer