Born in Parsons, Kansas, Clark Tippet was the seventh of eleven children. He began dancing at the age of five. At eleven, on scholarship to Thalia Mara’s National Academy of Ballet in New York City, he balanced both academic and dance training. In fall 1972, Tippet joined American Ballet Theatre and quickly ascended, becoming a Soloist by 1975 and a Principal Dancer in 1976.
Following his rapid rise at ABT, Tippet created notable roles in Twyla Tharp’s Push Comes to Shove and Glen Tetley’s Sphinx, while also performing leading roles in classics such as Giselle, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker. He left ABT in 1978 to broaden his artistic horizons, dancing as a guest artist with the Maryland Ballet, the Bat-Dor Dance Company of Israel, and the West Australian Ballet. In December 1982, Tippet returned to ABT, where he originated roles in works by Martine van Hamel, Twyla Tharp, David Gordon, Kenneth MacMillan, and David Parsons.
Later in his career, Tippet turned to choreography. His first work, Enough Said, was created for ABT’s 1986 Choreographers’ Workshop and premiered in Miami Beach in January 1987. He subsequently choreographed Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 (1987) and the playfully titled S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A. (1988) for the company.
Clark Tippet passed away in January 1992 in his hometown of Parsons, Kansas.