Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Clair.
Hi Alex, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We can push forward some, let’s say to high school…2010 was the year I started at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Since the age of three, my feet found the dance studio and so did my soul. But it was high school where I dove headfirst with full heart into a greater level of passion for dance. After four years of discovering more layers of the art form and falling in love with creative work and movement languages, I graduated from BTWHSPVA and went on to receive my BFA in Dance at The Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College (SUNY) in New York. Though I had spent countless hours in high school navigating through the internet, finding more creators and artists, when I arrived at college, it was a whole other world of knowledge. My days were spent dancing from 10 am-10 pm almost every day, and I fell deeper in love with it all. I grew stronger into my own artistic voice and being, and graduated magna cum laude in 2018. After graduating, I found myself in New York freelancing for some time, but knew before I got there that it was not a place I’d wanted to be. Europe, regions overseas, and I have a close bond. I always felt more connected on European soil, and it always welcomed me with homelike warmth more than any other moments I’d spent. Flash forward to the pandemic time; after leaving New York and finding myself back in Texas during the lockdowns, I made the decision to move across oceans to Tel Aviv, Israel. Mid-pandemic I made the move to the Middle East and created life there with my freelance artistic career until 2023. During my time in Tel Aviv, I had the opportunity to work with choreographers within Israel as well as Europe. My time was constantly split between the two, working both as a dancer and creator myself. In June of 2023, I made the decision to leave Israel and relocate my life to its next chapter. Though that destination is still yet to be determined, I have given into the unknown and the trust that holds its hand. I’m currently “based” back home in Dallas and continue to work not only locally throughout Texas and the States but also in Europe. At the moment, I am dancing with a company out of Norway.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh, what a journey. For me, it’s been a road filled with rejection and, just as so, invitations. Both that have only reminded me of how devoted I truly am to this art form and my career. This road has held the lowest of lows and, with that, the cliche of the highest highs. I’m a true believer in that hard work pays off and that everything happens for reason. And of course, comparison is such a tricky thing in this field, especially now with social media. To find the right mindset and perspective, to focus on your own path…is everything. I feel only now in my life I’m finding more of my own root inside my art and knowing my worth. And with these things, my work ethic continues with its dedicated strength, and my excitement for what is to come fulfills me. I am filled with gratitude for the beautiful moments and experiences I’ve gotten to take part in thus far; and with that I can admit that I am thankful for the effortful push through the thicker moments of the journey. I am grateful for the support I have and the believers in me. I am grateful for my able body. And I continue to take care and tend to my mind and heart, and body as they are my treasure and instrument in my career.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a freelance dancer and choreographer. I’ve been fortunate enough that my passion has taken me to places throughout the world that have left my jaw dropped, my heart bursting, and my soul filled. While in Tel Aviv, I worked with local choreographers Andrea Martini and Omri Drumlevich. Since 2021, I’ve continued working with Andrea Martini – touring his work throughout Israel, Italy, and other regions of Europe. His creations introduced me to dance theatre work, which I continue to fall into more interest with. I was also invited as an artistic associate with “On Mending,” a project crafted and directed by Emilie Leriche and Shawn Fitzgerald Ahern. This project initiated as a dance film which was awarded internationally and throughout the States and was also invited to make its transition to live stage at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City in 2022. I recently worked with European choreographer Damien Jalet and rehearsal director Shawn Fitzgerald Ahern on the collaborative project “CHIROPTERA” with renowned visual artist JR and former Daft Punk composer Thomas Bangalter, which performed at the Opera Garnier in Paris, France. An unforgettable experience: dancing 30 meters high inside of a scaffolding, harnessed in, performing to the Paris public of 28,000 people. I currently am dancing with WinterGuests, the company of Norwegian choreographer Alan Lucien Øyen. We just had a tour in Taiwan and head out soon to Switzerland. It’s been some real-life “dreams coming true” moments for me personally in the last few years, and I don’t think I’ve found the exact words for how it feels. Gratitude, beyond.
As a choreographer, I have created three works for Dance Arts Faculty in Rome, Italy (a prestigious and recognized professional training program) since 2021, and also teach and mentor the young artists. I will soon have a premiere of a new work I created for the students of my alma mater (Booker T. Washing HSPVA) this April, which has been a full circle of an experience. I have taught and created at The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance in Israel and Dance Italia in Italy. When I first started teaching it was an understanding of this art form that I hadn’t experienced before; I learned more from giving than from anything else. Exporting what I can to the young artists that are hungry is an incredible feeling. Knowing that my passion can support these next generations of artists is not only important but humbling.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I believe the industry has already been living through some major changes; social media being one of the largest. It can act as a wonderful thing, and, on the other hand, it also cannot. I’ve found myself signing emails with my Instagram link, aiming to have it represent my artistry in the most genuine way. With all things understood, social media can be (and is in some instances) looked at as the new way of a CV or resume. I try to keep my authenticity to my own while still trying to push the social media involvement. It can be looked at in a way that if more people see more dancers, then perhaps more theatres will be filled. Perhaps more stages will be graced by performers, more film (of all kinds) will turn to dancers and movers for such opportunities.
On another note, the industry of performing arts must make some changes in the coming years. It’s been known and needed for way too long now. This spreads from stage, to theatre, to film, and print. We, as artists, certainly dancers, and performers, deserve much more than we have been given.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alexclair.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/aclair/
Image Credits
Penny Halcyon
Emilie Leriche
Alvin Collantes
Lee Chia-Yeh
Andrea Guermani
