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: hereAnd 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: hereIf 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 OctoberLeadership training for choreographers- Book by 23 OctoberConnect with us! Subscribe to our newsletter Follow us on Instagram @leadandcreate

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 InfoSet Exchange - resource sharing for Theatre, TV, Film, Events, Exhibitions2nd hand materials hub - Rene MaterialsRestart - London based electronic repair events/advice/upskillingCostume Directory - We are AlbertPreworn - Online 2nd hand StoreBanking on climate chaosBooks 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 BrownActive Hope by Joanna Macy and Chris JohnstoneBraiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall-KimmererIt’s Not Just You by Tori Tsui The Future We Choose by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-CarnacThis Changes Everything by Naomi KleinNature 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