- Our last Rethinking Leadership Conversation was on Friday 21st June 2024. Sign up to our mailing list to hear about the next one

Music: Happy Day by Top-Flow

Tune in to discover how embracing a calm, mindful approach can transform your leadership style and studio environment. Let’s all make a conscious effort to be better leaders.

Don't forget to check out the Rethinking Leadership conversation coming up on Friday, 21st June from 1-3pm online, and stay tuned for our 5-week online leadership training for independent choreographers launching in October.

Hope you enjoy the episode!

Resources:

Our last Rethinking Leadership conversation was on June 2024. Sign up to our mailing list to know about the next one
Download the guide "The 7 Steps to Finding the Collaborators That Are Right for You" here.

Music: Happy Day by Top-Flow

Today, I’m sharing personal mistakes I’ve made as a leader, including overlooking the importance of social interactions, rushing in choosing collaborators, and not being clear in my communication. 
By discussing these experiences, I hope to create a supportive environment where we can learn and grow from each other.

Next week, join me and Stuart Waters as we explore “process over perfection” in leadership.

Please share your feedback about what content you would like to hear by filling in this 2min survey, I would love to know your views.

Discover how the best leaders invest and inspire rather than intimidate or make dancers feel replaceable, and how creating a supportive environment can lead to greater creativity and artistic quality. 
We will also talk about the difference between being kind and being nice, for those afraid a good process might compromise their artistic vision.

Join us as we challenge outdated notions and embrace a new vision of leadership in dance. And don't miss our exciting announcement about an upcoming guest speaker in our leadership training program launching next October!

Tune in and let's redefine what it means to be a successful choreographer together.

Resources: Study on stress versus creativity here

We’ll dive into practical exercises and reflective questions to help you uncover what makes your artistry special and how to articulate it. Plus, there's a handy quiz linked in the notes to help you understand your leadership style and values.

We’ll discuss how to define your medium, draw inspiration from other art forms, and connect deeply with your audience. By the end of the episode, you’ll have a clearer sense of your artistic identity and purpose.

Remember, your work wouldn’t exist without you – and that’s both empowering and humbling. Tune in for a packed, thought-provoking episode and start clarifying your Why today!

Join us as we reflect, ask the right questions, and uncover the true value you bring as an artist.

RESOURCES:
Link to the quiz- How do you work best with others? can be found here

Link to Simon Sinek’s TED talk: Start With Why - How Great Leaders Inspire Action can be found here

All the best with your projects!

Share your thoughts and connect with us on Instagram @leadandcreate or send us an email. Let's continue this conversation together!

In this episode, we share our journey of incorporating accessibility for deaf audiences into the creative process of NOISE—a project three years in the making. From two rounds of R&D to an interactive BBC film and a live immersive performance, we discuss how we continuously evolved our approach by listening to artists, consultants, audiences, and venues. Tune in for insights, challenges, and practical ideas on making access a core part of your creative work.

In this episode, you’ll get insights about:

- How to make accessibility an integral part of your creative process from the beginning
- Practical ideas for working with communities with specific access needs
- The importance of listening to artists, consultants, and audiences

Resources:
Towards the end of the episode I talk about a video that Stopgap has created to explain best seating for different access needs that you can find here
For Access Riders and general access information, check Unlimited's website here
To know more about the Pastoral Care Offer check Grace's website here
Sign up to our newsletter here to be the first to know when our leadership course launches.

Welcome to another episode of Lead and Create, where we delve into the transformative practices reshaping leadership in the arts. I’m thrilled to be joined by two trailblazers in the dance community: Reece McMahon and So'l Jelenke.

In this episode, Reece and So'l share their journey through a groundbreaking transformation at Chisenhale Dance Space, an iconic venue in East London. Reece, who became the executive director in 2022, and So'l, a vibrant member of Chisenhale's newly established Artist Committee, discuss how Chisenhale has flipped traditional leadership models on their head to empower its artists in unprecedented ways.

Reece provides insight into the evolution of Chisenhale from a member-led organisation to a new artist-centred governance model. He reflects on the challenges and triumphs of reintegrating a more inclusive and equitable approach, emphasising how the shift aligns with Chisenhale's 40-year legacy of supporting marginalised voices in the arts.

So'l, who joined Chisenhale post-transformation, offers a unique perspective on what it’s like to be part of this revolutionary change. She talks about her motivations for joining, the importance of community, and how Chisenhale’s commitment to anti-racism and inclusivity resonates with her personal values.

We dive deep into their experiences and explore how past leadership roles have influenced their current practices. This episode promises an engaging discussion on leadership, inclusivity, and the future of artist-led initiatives.

Before we dive in, don’t forget to check out our upcoming six-week online leadership course, designed to help independent choreographers build strong foundations for successful collaborations and personal growth--Book here or Sign up for our newsletter to keep in touch with other activities we do.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation with Reece McMahon and So'l Jelenke as they share their experiences and insights into redefining leadership in the arts.

00:00 Introduction to the Lead and Create Podcast

00:55 Meet Rhiannon Faith: A Boundary-Breaking Artist

01:57 Recent Projects and Creative Endeavors

05:20 The Concept of Radically Tender Dance Theater

11:58 Parallels between Motherhood and Leadership

20:47 Creating Safe Spaces for Vulnerable Topics

31:25 The Importance of Collaboration and Support

47:27 Conclusion and Upcoming Leadership Course

Links:

Rhiannon Faith company
Bookings are open for our online leadership course!

In this episode of the Lead and Create podcast, host Neus Gil Cortes, an experienced Spanish choreographer, discusses leadership in the dance industry with Yukiko Masui, a Tokyo-born choreographer based in London. Yukiko shares her journey in combining hip hop and contemporary dance, her experience with different leadership styles, and the importance of communication, empathy, and creating a balance between care and pushing physical limits in dance. The conversation also touches on the challenges of working in hierarchical and non-hierarchical environments, the intricacies of co-creating with another choreographer, and the impact of cultural backgrounds on leadership approach. Yukiko's experiences, including her time on the Equity Dance Committee and participating in the Clore Emerging Leadership Workshop, have shaped her leadership philosophy. The episode offers valuable insights into Yukiko's growth as a leader, the process of building meaningful relationships within the dance community, and the significance of self-awareness and intention in leadership roles.

If you want to develop your leadership style be sure to book for our Online Leadership Course starting 14 October. Click here

Resources:
Online Leadership Course for Independent Choreographers 14 Oct-22 Nov More information and bookings here: leadandcreate.uk/coursebooking

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 

This is a check-in on the messy middle — when things don’t go viral, and yet, the art is quietly coming together.

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!

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 dynamics

We 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: admin@leadandcreate.uk
📸 Instagram: @leadandcreate
🌍 Website: leadandcreate.uk

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

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

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.

"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

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.

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 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

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:
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