Controversial dancer and choreographer. Born in Aberdeen, the son of a farmer, Clark was brought up in Kintore. He was taking lessons in Scottish country dancing by the age of four. He went on to be accepted by the Royal Ballet School at the age of 13. Following a period with the Royal Ballet, Clark spent two years with Ballet Rambert, where he was able to develop his interests in modern dance, including performing in Richard Alston's Dutiful Ducks and Soda Lake. He then spent time in the USA and France before returned to Britain in 1984 to start his own company.
As a choreographer, Clark is known for his originality and inventiveness, incorporating a succession of modern styles and outrageous fashions. His productions include No Fire Escape in Hell (1986) and I Am Curious, Orange (1988). Clark suffered due to the abuse of drink and drugs, but was able to get over his addiction, with the help of his mother, to appear as Caliban in Peter Greenaway's memorable film Prospero's Books (1991). He produced the dance work Mmm... Modern Masterpiece (1992), followed by O (1994). Depression and injury forced his temporary retiral, although he returned to dance in 1998, presenting a new work current/SEE, the development of which was the subject of a BBC documentary. He has subsequently been responsible for a variety of productions, including Before and After: The Fall (2001), Satie Stud (2003), Would, Should, Can, Did (2003), Oh My Goddess (2003) and Nevertheless, Caviar (2004).
