02. Artistic Pulses

The Scaling Up Programme aimed to challenge the current canon and diversify the dance programming on the major stages in Europe. It focused on mid-career artists from diverse social, cultural and aesthetic backgrounds who often struggle to find support that matches their ambitions. The choreographers were offered formal and informal mentoring and invited to the annual Big Pulse Intensives to foster an ongoing dialogue between the partners and artists, producers, managers and experts.

One of the Scaling Up Programme artists, Amala Dianor reflects on his experience.

Read more about Amala and his Big Pulse coproduction.

Connecting Artists and Stages

Line Rousseau of Agency A Tropic talks about the intricate world of dance representation. In this insightful video, Line discusses her crucial role as a matchmaker between venues and artists, emphasising the strategic and long-term approach necessary for fostering successful collaborations. Discover how she balances the immediate needs with future visions to nurture both artistic and venue growth.

Challenges When Scaling Up
Scaling up comes with unique challenges. In this video, Line Rousseau, founder of the Agency A Propic, shares her insights from nearly 20 years of managing international tours and co-productions.
Three Tips for Scaling Up
For tips on scaling up, explore the PDF guide Upscale Tips by Line Rousseau, which includes practical advice like:
  • Be aware of the workload increase. Scaling up means more work for everyone involved at all levels, including administrative tasks, rehearsals and logistics. Make sure you are ready for that.
  • Build a strong team for managing daily tasks such as rehearsals, travel logistics, tour schedules and contracts.
  • Bring in an experienced producer to handle the increased complexity.

Artist Insights in Collaborating with Institutions

In this video, independent director, choreographer, and artist Charlotte Engelkes shares her experiences working with institutional theatres, discussing the creative processes she’s developed within these settings. She highlights the challenges of adapting her flexible, process-oriented approach to the structured schedules and practices of institutions, offering insights into balancing artistic freedom with the demands of larger organisations.


Three Quick Tips from Charlotte

  • Ensure that the people in the institution understand how you approach the creative process.
  • When you find skilled technicians, keep working with them.
  • View your entry into an institution as the start of a long-term relationship that you will continue to develop and nurture beyond your initial visit.

Tips for Collaborating with Institutions is a pdf guide that offers more practical advice for working with institutional theatres, where permanent staff, fixed schedules and organisational structures shape the creative process. Alongside insights from director Charlotte Engelkes, lighting designer Karl Svensson and sound designer Willi Bopp share their perspectives. With resources to scale up productions, institutional theatres provide unique opportunities, and this guide will help you navigate these environments.

Building Trust in Institutions
Ari Tenhula, Managing Director of Zodiak – Side Step Festival, explores the challenges of gaining and maintaining trust in cultural institutions. He emphasises the importance of transparency, open dialogue, and responsiveness to the needs of artists, funders, communities, and audiences. Balancing these diverse expectations requires both patience and a commitment to relevance across all layers of the arts ecosystem.

Informative Links
Big Pulse Dance

Bringing contemporary dance to the people of Europe.