Janis Claxton

Claxton started dance training in Brisbane at the age of 3, and went on to gain a BA in Performing Arts (Contemporary Dance) at Queensland University of Technology.{{cite web|title=CV|url=http://www.janisclaxton.com/about/cv|publisher=Janis Claxton|accessdate=3 July 2017|archive-date=3 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303084847/http://www.janisclaxton.com/about/cv/|url-status=dead}} As a young dancer, she worked with Erick Hawkins, whom she continually cited as an influence and upon whose techniques she built much of her practice.

In 2003 she formed Janis Claxton Dance in Bristol, then moved to Scotland in 2005. In 2008 her Herald Angel Award-winning Enclosure 44-Humans, part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, involved her and other dancers in a site-specific work at Edinburgh Zoo where they performed for 11 days in an animal enclosure.{{cite news|last1=Apter|first1=Kelly|title=Up and coming: Janis Claxton|url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/up-and-coming-janis-claxton-1-1136514|accessdate=3 July 2017|work=The Scotsman|date=10 October 2008}} Since 2009 Claxton spent much of her time in China performing, teaching and working on cultural projects.

In 2013 she was awarded an International Creative Entrepreneur placement in China.{{cite news|date=15 May 2014|last=Dhupa|first=Venu|title=Janis Claxton profile|website=Creativity & Human Development}}{{cite web|last1=Glass |first1=Suzy|title=International Creative Entrepreneurs 2013|url=https://storify.com/suzyglass/international-creative-entrepreneurs-2013|publisher=Storify|accessdate=3 July 2017}}{{cite web|title=Janis Claxton|url=http://www.internationalcreativeentrepreneurs.com/participants/janis-claxton|website=Participants|publisher=International Creative Entrepreneurs|accessdate=3 July 2017|archive-date=23 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023175512/http://www.internationalcreativeentrepreneurs.com/participants/janis-claxton/|url-status=dead}}

Her award-winning POP-UP Duets (fragments of love) was described as "the choreographic stand-out" of the 2016 Edinburgh Festivals.{{cite news|last1=Jennings|first1=Luke|title=Best Dance of 2016|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/dec/04/luke-jennings-best-dance-2016-akram-khan-michael-clark-tamara-rojo|accessdate=3 July 2017|work=The Guardian|date=4 December 2016}} It comprised a series of 5-minute love duets performed in the galleries of the National Museum of Scotland.{{cite news|last1=Sawers|first1=Clare|title=Pop-Up Duets|url=https://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/article/83310-pop-up-duets|accessdate=3 July 2017|work=The List|date=12 August 2016}}

In 2018, Janis Claxton Dance embarked on a world tour of POP-UP Duets (fragments of love). Although London remained elusive, Claxton received international recognition, with venues including Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival and the Lincoln Centre{{cite news|last1=Seibart|first1=Brian|title=Review: Those Touchy-Feely Folks on the Plazas? They're in 'Pop-Up Duets'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/arts/lincoln-center-pop-up-duets-review.html|accessdate=8 September 2018|work=The New York Times|date=2 August 2018}} in New York.

Claxton died peacefully {{Where|date=September 2018}} in the early hours of 7 September 2018, aged 53, having been recently diagnosed with lung cancer.{{cite web|url=https://www.dancemagazine.com/choreographer-janis-claxton-died-2602908308.html|title=Choreographer Janis Claxton Has Died|work=Dance Magazine|date=7 September 2018|last=Escoyne|first=Courtney|access-date=7 September 2018}} On 20 August 2018, she received a special Archangel award from The Herald for her sustained and valued contribution to the Edinburgh festivals over the years.{{cite news|last1=Miller|first1=Phil|title=Pussy Riot take home an Angel as The Herald's festival awards unveil second week of winners |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16585798.pussy-riot-take-home-an-angel-as-the-heralds-festival-awards-unveil-second-week-of-winners|accessdate=8 September 2018|work=The Herald|date=20 August 2018}} A leading campaigner for gender equality in UK contemporary and classical dance programming, and consistent advocate for promoting Scottish Arts abroad – especially in the Far East{{cite news|title=Obituary: Janis Claxton: Choreographer who promoted Scottish arts and campaigned for equality|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/obituary-janis-claxton-ww87s5g65|access-date=11 September 2018|publisher=The Times newspaper|date=11 September 2018}} – Claxton said on Facebook in August 2018:{{quote|I have done a lot for Scottish Dance but #popupduets clinched it and shattered that ceiling. I wish for more female choreographers to get THEIR well deserved chances. The work will change and evolve and become more rich deep meaningful and no more rag doll flingings of disembodied disempowered women being chucked about by men [...] NO EXCUSES. NO NO NO EXCUSES! There simply are none.{{cite web|last1=Claxton|first1=Janis|title=Comment|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10209709549175532&set=p.10209709549175532&type=3|website=Facebook|date=20 August 2018|accessdate=8 September 2018}}|}}

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|http://www.janisclaxton.com/}}
• {{Cite web|url=http://www.dancebase.co.uk/past-artists/janis-claxton-dance-155|title=Janis Claxton Dance|publisher=Edinburgh Dancebase: National Centre for Dance}} Includes video of "Chaos and Contingency" and "Enclosure 44"

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Category:1964 births

Category:2018 deaths

Category:People from Brisbane

Category:Queensland University of Technology alumni

Category:Australian women choreographers

Category:Australian choreographers

Category:Australian expatriates in Scotland

Category:Deaths from lung cancer in Scotland