Lead & Create

What happens when a dancer becomes disengaged in the studio? Rather than simply giving up on the relationship, what if we looked at the conditions we are creating as choreographers and teachers?In this episode, Neus looks at Peps Mccrea's research on motivation from the lens of the creation process, exploring the relationship between motivation, success and failure, and the role we play in helping dancers and collaborators feel that their effort is worthwhile. She looks at why success is subjective, how clear and achievable goals can support motivation, and why recognising progress over time matters.She also explores how we can reframe failure as an essential part of the creative and learning process, distinguish between individual and systemic barriers, and approach feedback as an investment in someone’s development rather than evidence that they have done something wrong.At the heart of the conversation is a question: How can we create studio environments where people feel challenged, supported and trusted to do their best work?

Ready to create better working spaces and creative processes? Join our online Leadership Course for Independent Choreographers. More info here

What does it really mean to be a mother and a choreographer?

In this conversation, recorded during our Instagram Live with Dance Mama, we talk honestly about the realities and challenges of combining motherhood with a choreographic career — and, importantly, what we can do to create better conditions for choreographer mothers.
We also share Motherspace: a new residency for three choreographer mothers, offered by Trip Space in collaboration with Lead&Create. It’s one small but practical step towards creating more supportive conditions for mothers to continue developing their creative practices.Apply by 11th October: here

And if this conversation gets you thinking about how parenting might have shaped the way you lead, join us for our webinar with Dance Mama:Could Parenting Make You A Better Leader?
Thursday 8th OctoberA chance to explore the leadership and Human Resources skills you’re already developing through parenting — and how they might support you in your work as a choreographer.Find out more: here

If you’re finding yourself thinking about your own leadership, and the particular challenges of making a creative career work on your own terms, we’d love to have you join us on the Lead&Create leadership course for independent choreographers. It’s a space designed specifically around our reality — not a one-size-fits-all leadership course — where you can bring your own questions, challenges and ambitions and work through them with experienced coaches from the industry.Early Bird until 9th October | Bookings close 23rd OctoberFind out more

Choreographer, dancer, teacher, and mother of three, Lea Tirabasso joins host Neus Gil Cortes for a rich conversation about what it really takes to lead in the dance world — and in life.Lea shares how her years as a dancer in German companies shaped her understanding of leadership, from the physical rollercoaster of a day in the studio to the profound importance of creating safe, caring spaces where collaborators feel genuinely held. She opens up about the lessons motherhood taught her about care, structure, and vulnerability, and why she believes saying "I don't know" to your team is one of the most powerful acts of trust a leader can offer.Together, Neus and Lea dig into the challenges of receiving unrequested feedback, the sting of harsh criticism, and how the right creative team can lift you up when you need it most. Lea also traces the evolution of her distinctive, animal-inspired physicality — from early bird experiments to studying the Catherine Clouzot method with Gabrielle Moleta — and reveals how philosophy, mortality, and the ephemeral nature of live performance underpin her choreographic work.The conversation closes with a candid look at the realities of juggling motherhood and a freelance creative career: visible parenting in the studio, building support networks, the guilt of being away, and the sleepless nights that come with it. Neus also announces the return of the Leadership Training for Independent Choreographers and a new Trip Space residency for mother choreographers in London.

Topics covered:Leadership lessons from a dancer's perspective. Safety, care, and group dynamics in the studio. Pay, structure, and professional standards. Vulnerability, trust, and not pretending. Giving and receiving feedback in creative processes. Handling unrequested feedback and gatekeepers. Building and choosing your creative team. Animal work, physicality, and the Catherine Clouzot method. Philosophy, mortality, and live performance. Motherhood and the creative juggle. Guilt, sleepless nights, and self-compassion. International funding models and networking.
Trip Space residency for mothers- Apply by 10 October
Leadership training for choreographers- Book by 23 October

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In this episode of Lead & Create, I sit down with Marla King to talk about climate justice and what’s possible when independent artists realise they have more power than they think.We explore:- How climate justice connects with the arts and why it matters.
- The myth that individual impact is too small to count — and how to challenge it.
- The strength and energy that comes from artists joining forces.
- Practical ways choreographers and independent artists can align their work with sustainability.
- Why even small creative actions can ripple out into larger cultural change.

This is a hopeful and empowering conversation for artists who want to engage with climate justice but aren’t sure where to start, or who feel their contribution might not make a difference.

Links mentioned and further reading:
Boycott Bloody Insurance The Carbon MapNo Climate Action Without UsCulture Declares EmergencyEquity for a Green New DealGreen Rider CampaignJulie’s BicycleSustainable Arts in LeedsTheatre Green BookThe Climate Psychology AllianceForce of Nature - The rise of eco anxiety reportDigital Carbon Footprint Info
Set Exchange - resource sharing for Theatre, TV, Film, Events, Exhibitions
2nd hand materials hub - Rene Materials
Restart - London based electronic repair events/advice/upskilling
Costume Directory - We are Albert
Preworn - Online 2nd hand Store
Banking on climate chaos
Books recommended by Marla for further reading: 
It’s Not That Radical by Mikaela Loach Art Wash: Big Oil and the Arts by Mel Evans Emergent Strategy by Adrienne Marie Brown
Active Hope by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall-Kimmerer
It’s Not Just You by Tori Tsui
The Future We Choose by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac
This Changes Everything by Naomi Klein
Nature is a Human Right edited by Ellen Miles
Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit
Spinning Out by Charlie Hertzog Young 
The Intersectional Environmentalist by Leah Thomas

Sarah Blanc is one of those artists who brings her full self into everything she does—whether that’s creating punk gig-theatre for kids, making socially engaged performance, or showing up in her boldest fashion choices. Her work is funny, political, and always unapologetically her.In our chat, we talk about the real side of leadership: the moments when you can hold the space, and the moments when you need to step back and hand it over (including Sarah’s brilliant phrase, “time bitch”). We also touch on rejection, staying in your lane, and what it actually takes to keep showing up as yourself in this industry.And of course, we get into Punk Alley, her riotous kids’ show that gave young audiences permission to ask questions like “why is my brother smelly?” and “why aren’t trans rights taken seriously?”. It’s a reminder that children often see the world more clearly than we think—and that they’re not afraid to ask the difficult questions.This episode is equal parts funny, honest and thought-provoking—a true reflection of Sarah’s artistry and her way of leading.
Check what Sarah's is up to following her IG account

Why do some student groups feel more motivated, engaged, and willing to take creative risks than others — even when you’re teaching the same curriculum? And as teachers, how much influence do we really have over those hidden dynamics?In this episode of the Lead & Create Podcast (also available on YouTube), Neus Gil Cortés dives into the undercurrents that shape a classroom or studio:
How group roles and unofficial “leaders” affect behaviour
The power of social norms and how to shift them
Why clear definitions of success and expectancy matter
What teachers can do (and what’s beyond our control)

Drawing on her experience teaching since 2009 — from NDC Wales to Hofesh Shechter Company to the National Centre for Circus Arts — Neus shares practical insights to help teachers better understand and influence the learning environment.If you’ve ever wondered whether group dynamics are fixed or whether you can actively shape them, this episode is for you.
Links:
Watch this podcast as a video here
Download the slides to visualise the key ideas of the training here
Sign up to our newsletter to get more free resources here

In this episode of Lead & Create, Neus is joined by Adrian Porter, Head of Higher Education at the National Centre for Circus Arts and former Cirque du Soleil coach and performer. Adrian shares his journey from childhood gymnastics to international touring, reflecting on how curiosity and play became the foundations of his practice as both an artist and a leader.The conversation dives into what leadership looks like in different contexts — from the rehearsal studio to higher education — and how expectations, motivation, and trust shape creative learning environments. Adrian and Neus discuss the challenges of conflict, how to approach difficult conversations without blame, and why documenting, reflecting, and reframing are essential tools for growth.Together, they touch on circus training as higher education, the influence of sports science, the importance of creativity and empathy in teaching, and what it really takes to keep both students and professionals motivated over the long run.

What does it take to create actual healthy workspaces in dance — not just the ones we talk about? In this episode, I speak with Theo Clinkard — choreographer, teacher, designer, and longtime advocate for respectful creative processes.We explore what happens when dancers are treated as collaborators rather than vessels, how fear shows up in the studio (in both subtle and obvious ways), and what it really means to lead from a place of clarity without collapsing into people-pleasing.Theo reflects on his journey from dancing in major UK companies to rethinking leadership and ethics in his own practice — from calling out outdated norms to sharing the mistakes and tensions of trying to do better. We also touch on the responsibility of funders and programmers, the pressure to produce “more of the same,” and what a slower, more intentional pace might make possible.This isn’t a conversation full of soundbites — it’s a generous, layered exploration of the systems we’re in and how we might shift them together.

00:00 – Theo joins the podcast and reflects on challenging outdated practices early in his career.
02:39 – We unpack the harm in seeing dancers as “instruments” and why dancer agency matters.
06:40 – Theo shares experiences of toxic work culture and asks why we still tolerate it.
12:50 – What does a truly healthy creative space look like — and how can we make one?
25:09 – How can choreographers be better supported? What does a sustainable practice look like?
30:08 – The pressure of being “a singular vision” and how it affects collaboration.
33:24 – Who holds power in the sector? Theo shares thoughts on funders, programmers, and responsibility.
40:22 – What happens when care and feedback are built into the process from the beginning?
49:31 – The crossover between teaching and choreographing — and how they inform each other.
56:50 – Final reflections on rest, ambition, identity, and staying open as an artist.
🎧 Resources Mentioned in This Episode
"As Technique" – Article by Theo Clinkard
Download here

Book: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
View on Goodreads

Book: The Ignorant Schoolmaster: Five Lessons in Intellectual Emancipation by Jacques Rancière
Learn more on publisher site

Interested in the leadership for teachers course? Subscribe to our newsletter to know when bookings open in early September

We know rest is important. We know we should see friends and take breaks from our screens. But even when we know what’s good for us… we often don’t do it. So what’s really going on?In this episode, Neus Gil Cortes explores twelve reflections to support your mental health as a choreographer — through the lens of four vital relationships: with yourself, with others, with the world, and with your purpose.These aren’t your typical wellbeing tips. Think of them more like perspective shifts — on sleep, loneliness, perfectionism, connection, boundaries, and how to stay grounded in an unpredictable freelance life.Plus: a few thoughts on why letting yourself feel joy might be part of how you keep showing up for others.

🔗 Mentioned in the Episode:

✨ Happiness as an act of resistance by Skye C. Cleary
Inspired this episode’s reflection on joy, resilience, and social responsibility — and referenced in connection with Simone de Beauvoir and Albert Camus.
👉 Read here 
📝 Download the free Mid-Year Check In: Vision, Value & Action
A reflective tool to help you check in with your wellbeing across the four areas — self, others, world, and purpose.
👉 Download here

💬 Book a 1-to-1 Session
If this episode stirred something and you want space to talk it through, you can book a personalised support session by filling this form

What if being fearless isn't the goal? In this episode of Lead & Create, Neus Gil Cortes explores how fear shows up in the lives of choreographers and artist-leaders — and why it’s not something we need to eliminate, but something we need to understand.From funding uncertainty to creative vulnerability, Neus shares personal reflections, common fears in freelance life, and practical tools to help you lead with more awareness when fear arises.This is part of the “How To” series, offering grounded insights for creative leadership in the dance sector.

🔗 Let us support you as a leader:

FREE RESOURCE: Mid Year Check In- Vision, Value and Action for Freelance Choreographers.
A reflective workbook to check in with yourself, realign and dream forward.
👉 Get it here

Lead & Create Leadership Courses
Training for independent choreographers and teachers who want to navigate leadership with care, clarity and confidence.
👉 https://leadandcreate.uk/leadership-training/

1-to-1 Sessions with Neus Gil Cortes
Book a personalised session with me to reflect, untangle specific challenges or plan your next steps.
👉 Fill in this form

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