Steeped in Irish arts her entire life, Máire was born in London of Irish parents—her mother was a renowned Irish dance teacher, adjudicator, and feis musician. Màire has made a career in Irish arts, with her acclaimed dance theatre companies touring Britain and Ireland in the 1980-90s. Her award-winning show The Bad Arm – Confessions of a Dodgy Irish Dancer toured North America, Dublin, Edinburgh Festival, and London’s West End, as well as an appearance at the Irish Dancing World Championships in North Carolina.

Máire Clerkin is a writer, director, choreographer, teacher, actor, storyteller, performance coach, and former Irish dance adjudicator. External examiner at University of Limerick and Master Teaching Artist with Los Angeles Music Center, Segerstrom Center for the Arts and LA Arts Group, Máire specializes in Irish dance and theatre, with a background in journalism.

Máire has created multiple dance drama productions, achieving regional, national & international success. Other credits: Telling LA, PBS TV; World City at Walt Disney Concert Hall; Music Makers Schools on BBC TV; Revolver on BBC World Service; Dancing on Dangerous Ground, Radio City NY and Theatre Royal Drury Lane; Unconnected Soundings, Royal Opera House; Centenary Knees Up, South Bank; Fennels, Flannels and Funnels with John Hegley, The Place; collaborations with DV8 and Peter Sheridan; co-founder The Hairy Marys and Clerkinworks. Once Upon a Time in Ireland (Irish storytelling for children), is performed in schools and libraries and online. Máire’s screenplay, The Jig is Up is currently in development.

Other teaching credits include Weekend Arts College, Lewisham Youth Camp, Loyola Marymount University, Cois Céim, Blás, UICC Summer Camp, The Players Conservatory, Aman Dance Educators, & Santa Monica College.

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