We recently had the chance to connect with Alex Clair and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Alex , thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Music. I find it’s one thing that really holds me well and allows me to enter a mind space that’s not only safe, but allowing. Whether it be making and crafting my art, cleaning my flat, falling into slumber, or talking with loved ones; music really does give and engulf me fully. It almost acts as a safe space through sound.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Alex Clair, I am a dancer, choreographer, and performer. A Texas native, I am an alumna of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. For the past seven years, I’ve had a freelance career in the dance and art world. Soon after finishing school in New York at the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College (SUNY), I moved to Tel Aviv, where I lived for some years, which led me to work with choreographers and creators between Europe and Israel. To have been able to work with such extraordinary creators of this current artistic age fills me with gratitude. I hold close the experiences I’ve been fortunate to be apart of thus far in my career. After many years of freelance work, in countries all over from Europe to Taiwan, I’ve recently moved to Shanghai, China to join Punchdrunk’s show “Sleep No More”, where I have been since June of 2025. This life continues to surprise me in such utterly beautiful ways.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My parents, fully and deeply. They have been my biggest fans from the start. I remember in the earlier days, so much hardship and rejection over and over again, and they were the ones that helped me find my feet again each time. Stronger than the last. Truly, the depth of understanding and belief they have always had in me, is beyond support. It’s a treasure, they’re a treasure. Though I have built some pretty tough skin and strong mindsets and perspectives, as the years continue to unfold and unveil, more moments of pay off from all the hard work continue to reveal. I couldn’t and wouldn’t be here without the both of them. My whole heart they are!
When did you last change your mind about something important?
I think, with this career especially, there are a thousand rejections before the “one” acceptance. As cliché as that is, it is a truth, at least it is my truth. The amount of times I devoted myself for an audition for a job that ended with rejection, are countless. And as I continued to move into professional work as a freelancer, different rejections and hardships shaped themselves. I lived though many low points in my career. I feel in the past four years is when I truly made a shift with my perspectives, my mindsets. Instead of dwelling and manifesting the fear and the doubt, I chose to keep going onward and upward in ways I could. Finding and honoring small wins, the bigger love, and the committed desire. Staying present, staying grateful, staying brave. I hug myself the tightest today for doing so. I thank those who were with me during such deep, hard times, for encouraging me through patience and tough love, into the artist and person I stand today.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
In a smaller aspect of things, taking it more inward, perhaps more emotionally, mentally. The cliche saying that “everything happens for a reason”. I hold this one close to heart and mind because as the years have unfolded, they have revealed just that. Everything that has happened in my career thus far, has been paving way for where I am now. All things fell into the right timing. And timing, time, is everything. It’s such a rooted answer for life happenings. Sometimes these things don’t reveal themselves to us for years down the line, but when they do – it all seems to make sense. So trust it, the timing, time itself. All things for reason.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely. For all things in my life; how I live inside of it, the art of my career, the people in my life, the work I put into all things I have passion for and aim towards…it’s all because I full-heartedly feel I need to do it for myself. It fuels me in ways that fill me, lift me, make me understand myself better, the people around me (both near and far) better. To be able to dive deep into the work you love…for yourself, to me, is worth it. Always, no matter the “praise”, or not, that you may receive, if it fills you well and full, that’s reason enough. If you’ve created your life for other people’s demand, then, in my opinion, it seems like a kind of suffering. I’m very fortunate to have a passion and a deep love with dance and this art world. I feel lucky that my “work” has brought me to places and people and happenings and hardships. The breaking points I’ve learned through and from, have only shaped myself and carved more of a path to lead me onward. That is all worth it, to ride the waves of what you love. But to do it for the approval from others…that cracks the heart.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alexclair.com
- Instagram: @aclair
Image Credits
All photos by Hannah Mayfield
@hannahlmayfield
www.hannahlmayfield.com
