Paul Clayden

Personal Statement

Associate Senior Lecturer: Dance. School of Music and Performing Arts.

Personal Statement:

Paul Clayden joined the Dance Department faculty at Bath Spa in 2004 as a Senior Lecturer in Dance Techniques and Performance.
Paul has worked as a performer with numerous Dance and Physical Theatre Companies since 1980 including Mantis Dance Company, DV8 Physical Theatre, Siobhan Davies Company, Yolande Snaith Theatre Dance, Extemporary Dance Theatre, Motionhouse and Rosemary Butcher. He has a wealth of experience with small scale independent projects and international touring companies. He was a guest rehearsal director for the Ludus Dance Company and re-mounted Siobhan Davies work 'Rushes' on the Rambert Company in the late 1980's. Through his experience as a performer he has experience in a diverse range of techniques, the codified dance techniques of Cunningham, Graham and Classical, the experiential techniques of Release and Contact Improvisation. His creative knowledge is in the areas of Physical Theatre techniques, dance and theatre improvisation, choreographic sourcing and devices.
In the 1980's he formed the ACGB funded companies 'Paul Clayden Dancers' and 'Rubberneck'. His choreographic CV lists over 30 works for stage and film, commissions by companies such as Modern Dance Turkey, Silesian Dance Theatre, Helicon Dance Company, Biserk Dance Company and CRR Dance Company.
He has created works for dance and theatre Institutions which include DeMontfort University, London Contemporary Dance School, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Yildaz University of Istanbul Northern School of Contemporary Dance and The Laban Centre.
He has taught for the last 30 years to a broad spectrum of abilities, in the early 1990's he was a Lecturer at The Northern School of Contemporary Dance where he had an active role in the creation of the degree course. He is regularly invited to teach at the Laban Centre and the London School of Contemporary Dance and has worked at the leading Universities for dance and performance such as Roehampton, Middlesex, Guilford, The London Studio Center and DeMontfort.

Most recent work while a being a tutor at Bath Spa and Circomedia has involved Choreography, Performing and Direction for: Arcadia - Creative Director for the 2010 Glastonbury Show, Circomedia - choreographed a variety ensemble work for students end of year performances and Glastonbury Big Top shows, Invisible Circus - performances and co-direction of Carny Village 2010 and Festival walkabouts and Cabaret Performances with The Bureau of Random Acts.


His research is in the related areas of the understanding and teaching and learning pedagogy of performance and creativity.


1. That of the investigation into the sources of action and movement, the exploration of impulse in relation to codified techniques and theatricality. This has developed, since teaching at Bath Spa, into the exploration of the balance between spontaneity and impulse, and the facilitating of the source of ideas with the preconceived and analytical processes that may guide or inhibit the creativity of improvisation and the subsequent structuring of choreographic work.
2. The second incorporates the performers understanding of the personal boundaries inherent within us allied to the appreciation of the technical requirements in relation to performance methodology, working towards developing a broader understanding of the performers role and place in relation to developing technologies and the ever shifting focus of dance theatre.
3. Research into Contemporary Circus, Street Theatre and Cabaret through the foundation of a student and professional Company's.
4. He is exploring the boundaries of what a Physical or Dance Theatre curriculum could be.

Teaching Specialism:

Experienced lecturer in Dance Techniques with a working knowledge of Release, Cunningham, Graham, Ballet, Contact Improvisation, Performance Studies, Repertory and Physical Theatre Improvisation.

Key Publications/Exhibitions/Performances:

Professional Performing
(year/company/production/choreographers)

2002 - ROSEMARY BUTCHER DANCE COMPANY – Still, Slow Divided
2001 - RBDC– Scan/View from Vertical
2000 - RBDC – Scan/3 Views
1999 - IAN SPINK - Soul Cages/Ian Spink
GRAEME MILLER PROJECT - Country Dance/Graeme Miller
1998 - DV8 - Enter Achilles/Lloyd Newson
YOLANDE SNAITH THEATREDANCE - Blind Faith/Yolande Snaith
1997 - DV8 - Enter Achilles/Lloyd Newson
YOLANDE SNAITH THEATREDANCE - Blind Faith/Yolande Snaith
SECOND STRIDE - Ian Spink
1996 - YOLANDE SNAITH THEATREDANCE - Gorgeous Creatures
SECOND STRIDE - Weird Actions/Ian Spink
YOLANDE SNAITH THEATREDANCE - Chic Menagerie
1999 - MOTIONHOUSE - Geisha/Kevin Finnan & Louise Richards
1989 - EXTEMPORARY DANCE THEATRE - Michael Popper/Kevin Finnan/Louise Richards
PARADE - Lea Anderson
1987 - WELSH NATIONAL OPERA - The Trojans/Ian Spink
TANGLE TWINS - Charlotte Hacker
1986 - DANCELINES - Siobhan Davies/Ian Spink/Sally Owen/Michael Popper/Matthew Hawkins
1985 - SCOTTISH OPERA - Orlando/Ian Spink
OPERA NORTH - Midsummer’s Marriage/Ian Spink
1984 - DIRECT CURRENT DANCE COMPANY - Michael Popper
MATTHEW HAWKINS RIVERSIDE PROJECT - Matthew Hawkins
1983 - SECOND STRIDE - Siobhan Davies/Richard Alston/Ian Spink
DANCE ON 4 - Siobhan Davies/Ian Spink
1982 - SECOND STRIDE - Siobhan Davies/Richard Alston/Ian Spink
1981 - SIOBHAN DAVIES & DANCERS - Siobhan Davies
MANTIS DANCE COMPANY - Micha Bergese/Dan Wagoner
1980 MANTIS DANCE COMPANY - Micha Bergese/Tim Lamford

Professional Choreography Listing
(year/title/company or performer)

2003 - FORCE OF SUBSTANCE – Silesian Dance Theatre
INERTIA REEL – CRR Dance Company (Turkey)
2002 - WHY WE SAVE OURSELVES – Istanbul dancers
2000 - BODYHEAT – Modern Dance Turkey
SPECTRE - Paul Clayden
1996 - HIDDEN AGENDA - DeMontfort University HE students
1995 - TINY DOWNFALLS - Scrannidge Deputy Head
DEPARTING HARBOUR - Lauren Potter
1993 - CROCODILE - collaborated and performed with Namron
1992 - WEST WING - Northern School of Contemporary Dance
1990 - SUBTERRANEAN - Paul Clayden
1988 - RUBBERNECK - Rubberneck (collaboration with Charlotte Hacker)
1987 - DANGERFIELD - Helicon Dance Company
GLANCES - collaboration with Charlotte Hacker
1986 - ADVERSE CAMBER - Paul Clayden Dancers
FULL TILT TOUR - Paul Clayden Dancers
SIDESHOW - Lauren Potter
1985 - BABY’S BRACELET - Transitions Dance Company
DEADLINING - collaboration with Steve Goff & Composer JM Gowans
1984 - NETTLE CITY - solo show
DRUNK ALBERT - Gaby Agis & Liz Lauren
CREEPY DUB - Young Peoples Dance Theatre
1983 - DANDELION DANGLE - Gurmit Hukam, Greg Nash Ann Dickie
DANDELION DANGLE 2 - collaboration 23 Skidoo
MEANWHILE....NETTLE CITY OFFERS A DANDELION DANGLE TO THE OVER- RIPE BLOSSOM - Ann Dickie & Phillippe Giraudeau
1982 - DONUT PLAINS

Choreography for Film
(year/title/commissioner)
1990 - DANCEHOUSE - BBC commission
1989 - TIME TO GET FUNKY - London Records
GUILTY - London Records
1988 - THE SCIENTIST'S KISS - Channel 4 - Directer Emma Burge, Composition Orlando Gough
Libretto Anthony Mingella
THEY CALL IT ACIEED - London Records
1987 - BALLROOM BLITZ - BBC
1986 - MONOLITH - Channel 4

Current Scholarship:

Research in the development of Dance Performance methodology relating to physical techniques and creative performance.

Creation and Development of a professional performing Company tin Bristol, The 'Bureau of Random Acts'.

Extra curricular Company at Bath Sap University with students, 'Random Acts', exploring humour in Dance Performance.


Developing computer based skills in video, web and music technology.

Creating and ongoing development of methods of practice and updating of current university modules.

Currently looking at the understanding of source and impulse in relation to spontaneity and analysis. Developing the appreciation of the balance between the constituent ingredients that inform creativity and communicate through performance.

External Examiners: (Past)

London School of Contemporary Dance
Wiltshire City Council
External Examiner for Truro College (affiliated to Plymouth University)

Other External Roles:

1986 - 2001 Visiting and full time lecturer at The London School of Contemporary Dance.
1985 - 2001Part time lecturer at The Laban Centre (London).
1996 - 2009 Lecturer at Circomedia (Bristol).
1991 - 1995 Full-time Lecturer at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance.
Lecturer at Middlesex University, Roehampton University, Surrey University, London Studio Centre, Bretton Hall and DeMontfort University.
Invited guest lecturer in Dance and Performance on International Festivals, Universities (vocational and degree level) and professional company's (specifically in Poland and Turkey).