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journey from dancing in major UK companies to rethinking leadership and ethics in his own practice — from calling out outdated norms to sharing the mistakes and tensions of trying to do better.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00:00 – Theo joins the podcast and reflects on challenging outdated practices early in his career.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

Follow Lead & Create on Instagram

Welcome back to a brand new season of Lead & Create! We're starting with a big question: what is in your power?As independent choreographers, it’s easy to feel powerless — caught between shrinking funding, uncertain futures, and working environments that don’t always support us. But what if the power we long for is already within reach?In this episode, Neus reflects on:
– Why the current landscape makes artists feel small
– How to rethink leadership and authority without recreating old hierarchies
– The power of tender, intentional leadership
– What Kasia Urbaniak calls “relational power” — and how to use it
– A short writing exercise to help you shift unbalanced dynamicsWe also share details of the Rethinking Leadership Picnic on 25th July in London — a chance to gather, share food and ideas, and reimagine what leadership in dance could look like.Whether you’re leading a company, running a project, or just trying to find your next step — this one’s for you.🎧 Listen now and start the season with clarity, confidence, and (urgent) optimism.

🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode

🌱 Join the Rethinking Leadership Picnic
📍 Friday 25th July, near Sadler’s Wells East, London
👉 Sign up here 🎓 Leadership Support for Independent Artists
– 1:1 Leadership Sessions with Neus: Fill in this form
– Leadership for Teachers (in-person training): Sign up to our newsletter to get details when booking opens
– Leadership for Choreographers (online course): Sign up to our newsletter to get details when booking opens📚 Books & Thinkers Referenced
– Not the End of the World by Hannah Ritchie– Kasia Urbaniak (Power dynamics & authority work)

💌 Stay in Touch
Want to share your reflections or ask about training?
📬 Email Neus: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @leadandcreate
🌍 Website: leadandcreate.uk

In this final episode of the How to Sell a Show mini-series, Neus shares the surprising final booking numbers for Bending Reality — and how nearly 100 people booked just days before the show. She reflects on the flurry of last-minute marketing efforts, what may (or may not) have worked, and the deeper realisation that emerged through all the stress: she really wants this career.It’s a wrap-up filled with gratitude for her team, lessons about technical prep, and a newfound commitment to planning the next phase more strategically.Plus, a heads up — a Lead & Create picnic is on the way!

Neus returns after a short silence to share what happened when the ticket sales stayed slow despite every marketing strategy in the book. In this honest, reflective episode, she talks about navigating a dip in motivation, what helped her reconnect to the creative process, and how prepping the space, listening to her favourite music, and owning her nerves all contributed to a richer rehearsal week.This is a check-in on the messy middle — when things don’t go viral, and yet, the art is quietly coming together.

In this second episode of the “How to Sell a Show” mini-series, I wake up grumpy — not just because we haven’t sold ten more tickets (we’re at 35 with 3 weeks to go), but because I’m running on empty. So this one’s about burnout, being honest when you’re not OK, and how sometimes naming what’s wrong gives you the energy to act.We talk about:

Power, ‘good girl’ conditioning, and why I haven’t handed out flyers at my own workplace
How a new trailer and a few bold asks made a difference
Creative workarounds when the answer is no
The quiet win of someone saying “Hey, aren’t you the one with the show at Jacksons Lane?”

It’s a bit messy, a bit raw, but full of small shifts that (hopefully) lead to big change.

Curious about the show we are selling and the new trailer? Follow this link: https://www.jacksonslane.org.uk/events/bending-reality/#book 

Welcome to the first bite-sized episode of Lead & Create: The Mini-Series!
Neus Gil Cortes shares the real (and slightly chaotic) behind-the-scenes of trying to sell a new dance-circus show in 2025. With one month to go before the premiere of Bending Reality, she talks painfully slow sales, algorithm woes, black-and-white photos that Instagram hates, and the desperate hope that audiences do still exist.
Expect honesty, humour, and a little bit of panic — plus the start of a weekly countdown to opening night.
Want to see the show I'm talking about? Book here!

In this last episode of Season 1 of the Lead & Create process, host Neus Gil Cortes meets fellow choreographer and friend Miguel Altunaga to explore the intersection of art, self-awareness, and leadership in dance. Both Neus and Miguel share insights from their extensive experience in the industry, highlighting the importance of vulnerability, community, and personal growth in the creative process. Miguel discusses the challenges of understanding oneself as an artist while seeking deeper meaning in one's work. The conversation covers the significance of 'gym for thoughts,' where artists train their minds with the same dedication as their bodies, and the fluid dynamic of a creative room that fosters acceptance and allows dancers to express their authenticity. Neus and Miguel also touch on developing leadership that emphasizes respect, communication, and encouragement over authority, reshaping traditional norms within the dance community. Overall, the dialogue is a testament to the power of art as a form of self-expression and personal evolution. The episode concludes with a reflection on the joys of the artistic journey, advocating for a mindful approach that embraces the ever-changing process of creation.
Resources:
Online Leadership Course for Independent Choreographers 14 Oct-22 Nov More information and bookings here: leadandcreate.uk/coursebooking