01. Festivals for Change
Four years of expanding contemporary dance across Europe
Illustration: Fanny Senocq
In 2019, during the ICE HOT Nordic Dance Platform in Reykjavik, a group of directors from contemporary dance festivals across Europe met to discuss ways to collectively enhance support for the contemporary dance sector. This dialogue led to the formation of the Big Pulse Dance Alliance—a partnership of twelve European dance festivals and institutions, united by the goal of promoting, strengthening, and expanding the reach of contemporary dance.
With funding support from the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union, Big Pulse partners have been able to provide opportunities for mid-career artists, commission new concepts for outdoor productions, connect young artists with partner festivals, and organise annual intensive retreats and local events. Alongside other European dance networks, such as EDN and Aerowaves, Big Pulse has also advocated for more sustainable, accessible, diverse, and fair practices in the dance sector.
– After four years, it is time to reflect, evaluate, and prepare for the future.
Building an Alliance
Big Pulse Project Manager Eduardo Bonito, Amy Fee, Director of Danscentrum, and Anita van Dolen, Artistic Director of Julidans, discuss the project’s origins, and how its vision, activities, and management structure were shaped by shared values.
The Start
Anita Van Dolan of Julidans recalls how Big Pulse Dance Alliance began. She reflects on early conversations with familiar faces, the shared vision to support artists, and the excitement of rallying around a plan to fill the gap for mid-career artists. Anita shares the drive that shaped Big Pulse from those very first discussions.
Building the Network
Eduardo Bonito introduces the four-year Creative Europe project, Big Pulse Dance Alliance. Eduardo reflects on the project’s five main initiatives: from supporting large-stage and open-air co-productions to providing artist mentoring, hosting Big Pulse Intensives to tackle key sector issues, and establishing the Visiting Artist Programme to aid emerging artists in international touring. He describes the trust and collaboration fostered among European dance festival partners, showcasing how this collective effort has built a network dedicated to elevating contemporary dance and supporting artists across Europe.
Challenges
Amy Fee shares insights into the challenges faced in the early stages of Big Pulse Dance Alliance. Reflecting on unexpected hurdles—from adapting to Covid lockdowns to restructuring budgets and replacing a key partner—she highlights how strong collaboration and trust among partners helped the team navigate setbacks, restructure governance, and steer the project towards success.
Initial Burning Questions
At the core of this project were a series of burning questions designed to address the dance sector’s challenges, ambitions, and needs. Below, we share some of those initial questions that shaped the project’s direction and goals.
- How can festivals diversify the big stage programming by commissioning, co-producing and organising tours together?
- How can festivals find ways of supporting mid-career artists?
- Can festivals be used as platforms for professional development of the sector?
- What can festivals do to make dance more visible in society and reach new audiences?
The pdf Initial Burning Questions outlines the key questions that shaped our approach and guided the project’s mission to create a more inclusive and dynamic future for contemporary dance.