02. Artistic Pulses
The Big Pulse Open Air Programme aimed to produce outdoor dance pieces that were light and ecological, involving either professional or amateur local performers, and be adaptable to different locations and accessible to different audiences. The overall aim was to bring contemporary dance into the public space to increase its visibility and accessibility through free events. The open call for the Open Air Programme received over 270 proposals, demonstrating the huge interest in performing outside of traditional theatre spaces.
Open Air Performances
Checklist for Open Air
There is a clear growing interest among artists in bringing dance to public spaces and reaching new audiences through free outdoor performances.
- This checklist – Outdoor Detailed Performance Checklist – will help choreographers handle the challenges of large-scale outdoor productions. It aims to ensure that events are successful, inclusive and sustainable.
- For just the essentials, download A Quick Guide to Outdoor Performances. It will ensure that none of the key components for planning an outdoor performance are overlooked.
Artist Insights from Bosque / Woods
Woods, a large-scale open air performance by Clarice Lima, Catarina Saraiva, Aline Bonamin, and Nina Fajdiga, exemplifies how eco-friendly outdoor productions can thrive on an international tour. Originating from Brazil, Portugal and Slovenia, this project was realised with local participants in each location, with only a few core members travelling. Touring seven European countries and ten cities, the production offers valuable insights into sustainable touring and outdoor performance practices.
Three quick tips from Woods:
- Adapt each presentation to the local context, and be prepared for last-minute changes.
- Provide time and care to participants, both as a group and individually.
- Documenting the process, production, and presentation is essential.
Download Tips on Open Air Performances in which the Bosque / Woods artists share their key learnings and practical tips from their experiences. From building local collaborations to adapting to diverse environments, their advice provides a roadmap for artists and organisers embarking on similar projects.
Artist Insights from Byström Källblad
Byström Källblad reflect on their journey with Big Pulse Dance Alliance, and the impact of co-production and touring on their professional growth.
“The biggest mentoring process for us has been the many co-production and touring processes which have given us a much greater understanding and knowledge about international touring in dance in Europe, and of course contacts in the network.
We also have had some mentoring, mostly in relation to specific questions about budgeting and international contacts. This has been very valuable. All this has been truly amazing!
What we missed a little bit is how to keep momentum and make the step to the next project/production and new co-productions. In theory we can perhaps understand or imagine how this is done, but somehow practically we feel we don’t really get a grip on it…”
Artist Insights from Catarina Saraiva
In this video, choreographer Catarina Saraiva reflects on the unique challenges of advocating for dance as an artform and fostering connections between local and global contexts. Drawing from her experiences, she discusses the importance of breaking down barriers, educating audiences and building solidarity within the dance community. Catarina highlights the value of creating bridges between diverse cultural contexts and ensuring mutual support to empower artists and communities alike.
Artist Insight from Taneli Törmä
Join choreographer Taneli Törmä as he reflects on the challenges and learnings from working on tightly scheduled dance projects. He highlights the importance of adapting to unexpected changes, understanding the differing demands of community work versus guest performances and fostering collaboration between artists and institutions.
Informative Links
New Dance Context journal 2024 opens the topic of dance in public space