Darren Suarez
Nominee Profile
Location: Liverpool
Darren Suarez is a celebrated educator, choreographer and cultural leader whose work has empowered underrepresented communities through movement, mentorship and meaningful representation. For nearly 30 years, Darren has driven change across Liverpool and the UK, particularly for QTBIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and in the last decade been fortunate to work and create with our Deaf, disabled and neurodiverse community .
Born in London and raised in Liverpool, Darren trained at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. While his career began in performance, it quickly evolved into a lifelong commitment to inclusive education. He has delivered masterclasses and lectures for Matthew Bourne, Billy Elliot the Musical, Northern Ballet School, Edge Hill University, Liverpool John Moores University, LMA (Liverpool Media Academy), and more. He is currently a lecturer at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
In 2006, Darren founded House of Suarez — an anti-racist, radically inclusive performance company that champions equity through dance, outreach and education. The company is committed to platforming voices from historically marginalised communities, including QTBIPOC, trans and non-binary people, Deaf and disabled artists, and those who are neurodiverse.
House of Suarez celebrates the roots of vogue culture in Black and Latinx queer and trans communities, and honours vogue as a powerful, independent artform. Its flagship Vogue Ball is a nationally recognised celebration of identity, creativity and community. Darren’s work has been featured by BBC iPlayer, Sky Arts, ITV2, the National Theatre, Eurovision and more — but it is the people he uplifts that define his legacy.
Darren Suarez is not just a choreographer — he is a mentor, educator and changemaker whose life’s work has opened doors for countless others to thrive.
Born in London and raised in Liverpool, Darren trained at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. While his career began in performance, it quickly evolved into a lifelong commitment to inclusive education. He has delivered masterclasses and lectures for Matthew Bourne, Billy Elliot the Musical, Northern Ballet School, Edge Hill University, Liverpool John Moores University, LMA (Liverpool Media Academy), and more. He is currently a lecturer at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
In 2006, Darren founded House of Suarez — an anti-racist, radically inclusive performance company that champions equity through dance, outreach and education. The company is committed to platforming voices from historically marginalised communities, including QTBIPOC, trans and non-binary people, Deaf and disabled artists, and those who are neurodiverse.
House of Suarez celebrates the roots of vogue culture in Black and Latinx queer and trans communities, and honours vogue as a powerful, independent artform. Its flagship Vogue Ball is a nationally recognised celebration of identity, creativity and community. Darren’s work has been featured by BBC iPlayer, Sky Arts, ITV2, the National Theatre, Eurovision and more — but it is the people he uplifts that define his legacy.
Darren Suarez is not just a choreographer — he is a mentor, educator and changemaker whose life’s work has opened doors for countless others to thrive.