Pathfinders Contributors

The materials shared as part the Big Pulse Pathfinders have been made possible through the generous sharing and collaboration all those involved in the project as well as additional industry experts and stakeholders.

Meet the Editors
Christina Simpson

Christina Simpson – Communications and Project Manager, Danscentrum Sverige (Sweden)
Christina Simpson has worked in marketing and communications for over 20 years. Her current position is Communications Manager at Danscentrum Sverige, prior to which she worked as Head of Communications at Cirkus Cirkör. She has worked in both the cultural and business sector, and has participated in several EU projects, initiated sustainability platforms and membership in the UN Global Compact. Christina holds a bachelor degree in Advertising and PR.

Virve Sutinen

Virve Sutinen – Freelance curator and consultant (Finland)
Virve Sutinen is a renowned freelance curator and consultant from Finland, known for her innovative approach in contemporary performing arts. With extensive experience, she has held significant positions such as the Artistic Director of Tanz im August in Berlin, Dansens Hus Stockholm and Kiasma Theatre at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki. Her several positions of trust include president of IETM, and Nordic Council’s chair of Expert Panel for Mobility and Networking. She is a founding member of EDN, and the initiator of ICE HOT Nordic Dance Platform and Big Pulse Dance Alliance. Sutinen’s work emphasises transnational collaboration and international exchange, making her a pivotal figure in the global performing arts’ community.

Meet the Contributors
Agata Etmanowicz

Agata Etmanowicz – Impact Foundation (Poland)

Agata is a president of ImpactFoundation specialising in audience development processes (including designing and conducting long-term capacity-building programmes for European Capitals of Culture). She had a chance to look at the culture sector from different perspectives and to wear many different hats over the years: she has acted as a culture policy maker, advocate, advisor and mentor, manager, curator, and producer. She believes in social usefulness in her personal and professional life. Together with Impact Foundation, she promotes the A2 approach which combines audience development and accessibility (as "you can't have one without the other").

Amala Dianor

Amala Dianor – Artistic Director, Choreographer, Dancer , Compagnie Amala Dianor (France)
After starting out as a hip hop dancer, Amala Dianor entered the prestigious CNDC school in Angers (in the class of 2002). From 2002 and for 10 years, he performed as a dancer with a number of choreographers in very different worlds, including hip hop, neo-classical, contemporary and afro contemporary. In 2011, he won two prizes at the Reconnaissance award for his first choreography, named Crossroad and founded his own company in 2012. Amala Dianor has received the Médaille de Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 2019. In 2021, Amala Dianor was one of the four European choreographers to be selected and supported by Big Pulse Dance Network.

Amy Fee

Amy Fee – General Manager, Danscentrum Sverige (Sweden)
Amy has a background mainly in theatre, musicals, dance, circus and events as General Manager, Head of production, Project Manager, Producer and Stage manager. Before joining Danscentrum Sverige, she was Head of Production at Dansens Hus Stockholm and Circus Cirkör. She has partnered in several Creative Europe EU projects and led application work. Amy has an education in Stage Management Studies, RCS, Scotland and Project Management in Interactive media, Sweden.

Anita van Dolen

Anita van Dolen – Artistic Director, Julidans (The Netherlands)
Anita van Dolen studied contemporary dance and earned a post-graduate degree in Cultural Management at the Amsterdam School of the Arts. She worked as a production manager at Netherlands Dance Theatre and Springdance Festival. From 2002-2010, she was the Dance programmer at Melkweg, creating platforms for emerging artists. Since 2010, Anita has been the Artistic and Executive Director of Julidans in Amsterdam, focusing on interconnected platforms for choreographers. She also runs the dance program for International Theater Amsterdam and has served on several advisory committees, including the Fund for Performing Arts and Raad voor Cultuur.

Anna Cremonini

Anna Cremonini – Artistic Director, Torinodanza Festival (Italy)
With over 25 years of experience in Performing Arts, Anna works with a particular focus on Dance, Music and Theatre. She has a deep knowledge of the international cultural environment thanks to significant collaborations and prestigious positions in both the public and private sectors, including with Teatro Due in Parma, the Biennale of Venice, Teatro Merdante in Naples, and Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome. She is currently Artistic Director of Torinodanza Festival, managed by Teatro Stabile di Torino – National Theatre.

Ari Tenhula

Ari Tenhula – Managing Director, Zodiak – Center for New Dance (Finland)
Ari Tenhula graduated with an MA in Dance in 1989 (Theatre Academy, Helsinki, Finland). He served as the Director of the Helsinki City Theater Dance Company from 2000 to 2002, and Artistic Director of the Moving in November Festival from 2006 – 2018. He held the position of Professor for Dance Art at the University of the Arts’ Theatre Academy from 2008 – 2018 and served there as Vice Dean in charge of education from 2014 – 2018. Since 2018, he has been the Managing Director of Zodiak – Center for New Dance.

Assen Assenov

Assen Assenov – Director, ONE Foundation of Culture and Arts (Bulgaria)
Assen is the Director of ONE Foundation for Culture & Arts – the organisation behind ONE Dance Festival in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, ONE DESIGN WEEK festival, and ONE ARCHITECTURE WEEK festival. He has a background in journalism and is the co-curator of the artistic selection for ONE Dance Festival.

Ben Evans

Ben Evans – Head of Arts & Disability, EU, British Council
Project Director, Europe Beyond Access After training and working as a theatre director, Ben Evans became Director of Theatre at London's OvalHouse Theatre, and subsequently Creative Director of BeCreative, an independent production company, working on a variety on international projects including producing the inaugural Lagos Theatre Festival in Nigeria. Ben first joined the British Council’s Drama & Dance team in 2011, and subsequently was the British Council’s Head of Arts in Portugal before taking his current role in 2015. Ben now leads the British Council’s Arts & Disability programme across the European Union region, and he is Project Director of Europe Beyond Access.

Charlotte Engelkes

Charlotte Engelkes – Director, Choreographer, Artist ASTARTE production
Charlotte has been a member of Sasha Waltz & Guests since 2003, and has collaborated with composer Heiner Goebbels, Raimund Hoghe, and Ong Keng Sen. She has toured Hamlet with the Tiger Lillies since 2005. An unrestrained genre mix characterises her own works, including SWEET, Miss Very Wagner, Kahlo the Concert, My Mom: A Documentary Musical. GULDET (the Gold) for audiences from 5 years, inspired by Wagner, has played over 100 shows at Stockholm City Theater and Malmö Opera. Charlotte is a Sachefonden’s Fellow, 2017.

Delia Barker

Delia Barker – Cultural Sector Consultant – Freelance
Delia was a Director at Deeds and Words, who specialised in positive organisational culture change, working with BT and NHS to address organisational cultures and race equity. She was Programmes Director at ground-breaking venue the Roundhouse, Director of English National Ballet School and works as a consultant within the cultural sector with organisations such as Drake Music, Jasmin Vardimon Company, Brixton House and Avant Garde Dance Company. Delia was Senior Officer, Dance for Arts Council England for seven years and is Chair of Phoenix Dance Theatre and former Chair/continuing Trustee of Studio Wayne McGregor.

Eduardo Bonito

Eduardo Bonito – Project Manager, Big Pulse Dance Alliance (Germany)
Eduardo Bonito is a Brazilian producer, artist and curator, currently based in Berlin where he acts as Project Manager for Big Pulse Dance Alliance. Educated in Performing Arts and Public Relations at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, and in Performance at Middlesex University, England, he has led and consulted for various international festivals, projects, and networks across Europe and Latin America since 1990. His extensive experience and diverse expertise have significantly contributed to the global dance and performance arts landscape.

Elia Liloff

Elia Liloff – Director, ONE Dance Festival (Bulgaria)
Born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria, Elia is a culturologist and arts management specialist. She has been a member of the ONE Dance Festival team since its first edition in 2008. Elia is responsible for co-curating the artistic selection and leading the technical production and realisation of the festival programme, in addition to overseeing operational, financial and technical elements of the organisation.

Freddie Opoku-Addaie

Freddie Opoku-Addaie – Artistic Director and co-Chief Executive, Dance Umbrella Festival (United Kingdom)
Freddie Opoku-Addaie is Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Dance Umbrella Festival. A critically acclaimed choreographer, dancer, curator and lecturer, Freddie is the recipient of many choreographic awards and commissions. East London-born, his Ghanaian heritage has informed his artistic practices. Freddie is also founder of SystemsLAB, a platform responding to 21st century diverse artistic needs, and a regular speaker on industry panels both in the UK and internationally.

Jazmin Chiodi

Jazmin Chiodi – Artistic Director, Dublin Dance Festival (Ireland)
Born in Argentina and based in Ireland since 2005, Jazmín Chiodi boasts a rich dance career as both a dance artist and curator. Since 2021, she serves as the Artistic Director of the Dublin Dance Festival, steering a dynamic program that showcases the best of national and international dance companies each May placing dance at the forefront of the cultural agenda and nurturing the growth of an exciting emerging Irish dance sector. As a creator, she co-founded Tipperary Dance (formerly Tipperary Dance Platform) and co-directed Tipperary Dance International for twelve editions. Her choreographic work with the Iseli-Chiodi dance company has resulted in over a dozen pieces touring Europe, Asia, and America. Jazmín has contributed to academia as a guest lecturer at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick, for over a decade. She has collaborated on academic research and publications, including the UI research group for the Limerick 2020 European Capital of Culture bid. Holding a Master's degree in Festive Arts with honors from the University of Limerick, Ireland, Jazmín has an extensive career as a dance practitioner and teacher.

Jenni-Elina von Bagh

Jenni-Elina von Bagh – Artistic Director, Zodiak – Center for New Dance (Finland)
Jenni-Elina von Bagh is an Artistic Director of Zodiak – Center for New Dance and Side Step – festival since February 2023. She has worked as a choreographer and performer in Finland, Sweden and Central Europe for over 25 years. She graduated from MA programme in Choreography in May 2018 at Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki and worked mainly as a choreographer since then. She has been a board member of Zodiak during the years 2019-2022 and a member of the curation team of Zodiak years 2021 and 2022.

Jenny Månström

Jenny Månström – General Manager, Danscentrum Syd (Sweden)
With a background in Theatre and Fine Arts, Jenny has extensive experience in set design, props, and costume, later transitioning to roles in producing, audience development, and project leadership. She has founded a youth culture house, led audience development projects, served as a curator and pedagogue at art galleries, and produced theatre productions. Focused on growth, organization, and collaboration, Jenny excels at connecting people to foster new creative ventures.

Karl Svensson

Karl Svensson – Light and Set Designer SKIMRA Scendesign AB/ASTARTE Production
Graduating from Stockholm University of the Arts in 2007, Karl has spent the last decade and a half as a freelance light designer, while in recent years gaining additional experience in set design. Working mainly in Sweden’s larger theatre institutions, Karl’s experience spans diverse productions and genres. Karl’s main focus is the recurring collaborations with a few directors and choreographers, drawing on the strength of mutual experiences and common artistic development.

Line Rousseau

 – Director, Creative Agency A propic (France)
Line Rousseau is the founder of the Creative Agency A propic. Graduated from the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales Paris and the University of Montreal, she has always been very interested in cultural policies in Europe and North America and in the status of artists in France and in Quebec. In 1998, Line Rousseau moved to the Netherlands, where she discovered an innovative cultural system. After working at Productiehuis Brabant, she decided in 2005 to start her Creative Agency for International promotion for the Performing and Visual Arts (A propic). Since then, her agency has been organizing international tours, co-productions and residencies for artists and companies. A propic also develops international consultancy for cultural organizations. Since 2010, A propic is also a member of the IETM. In summer 2023, Line Rousseau decided to open her Agency also in France and created A propic France. A propic represents Ann Van den Broek, GRIP:Jan Martens-Steven Michel-Cherish Menzo-Femke Gyselinck, Liquid Loft, Clara Furey, Maud le Pladec | CCNO, François Chaignaud and Maguy Marin.

Maggie Clark

Maggie Clark – Director, XTRAX, Manchester; Manager, Without Walls
Maggie is the founder and Director of XTRAX, an organisation established in 2001 that develops and runs showcases, events and festivals in the UK and internationally, and specialises in outdoor work. Maggie is a founding member of Without Walls, a consortium of festivals in England that has commissioned and supported more than 200 new outdoor projects by UK artists. XTRAX has led the strategic management of Without Walls since 2011, and has seen its development from a project funded consortium of five festivals to a partnership of over 35 organisations, securing National Portfolio funding from Arts Council England in 2018.

Ricardo Carmona

Ricardo Carmona – Artistic Director, Festival Tanz im August (Germany)
Beginning his studies in Biology, he soon changed to Dance and Performance Studies in Lisbon, completing his degree in 2003. He went on to work as a producer and joined the residence centre O Espaço do Tempo between 2005 – 2009. From 2010 to 2012 he worked at Alkantara Festival (Lisbon) assisting in the artistic direction and later as part of the direction. In August 2012, Ricardo moved to Berlin, as Dance Curator of the theatre HAU Hebbel am Ufer where he worked until in September 2022. Since then is the Artistic Director of the festival Tanz im August.

Stine Nilsen

Stine Nilsen – Artistic Director, Dansens Hus (Norway)
Stine Nilsen is the CEO/Artistic Director of Dansens Hus in Oslo since August 2024. She trained at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Movement and Dance in London and holds an MA from Middlesex University. Stine worked as a freelance dancer and teacher before joining Candoco Dance Company as Artistic Co-Director from 2007 to 2017. She led CODA Oslo International Dance Festival from 2017 to 2024, where she was known for her innovative dance programming and international collaborations.

Tania Wilmer

Tania Wilmer – Executive Director, Dance Umbrella Festival
Tania works alongside the Artistic Director to provide strategic leadership for Dance Umbrella, with a particular focus on business development. An experienced leader in the cultural sector, Tania was previously CEO of Stratford Circus Arts Centre where she programmed ambitious and imaginative work by leading artists and companies such as Punchdrunk and Fevered Sleep, commissioning Akram Khan and Inua Ellams’ first works for young audiences. Under Tania’s realm the organisation built a reputation for its inclusive and participatory ethos and commitment to supporting emerging talent. She has previously worked for Arts Council England, Sadler’s Wells and the British Council.

Tena Busquets Costa

Tena Busquets Costa – Artistic Director, Sismògraf Festival (Catalonia / Spain)
With studies in arts and humanities, she specialises in cultural management, without ever completely abandoning the amateur practice of circus and dance. He has worked for companies, in management agencies and in large festivals, as well as having co-directed for many years the Master's Degree in Cultural Management at the UdG, but at one point he decided to return to her village, Olot, where she works as municipal head of performing arts for more than 20 years, designing both the regular season programs on theatre, dance, circus and new forms, and leading the artistic direction of festivals such as Panorama or Sismògraf. She is increasingly interested in generating live arts projects from an ecofeminist perspective and also in thinking on cultural proposals that generate shared prosperity and help increase the index of citizenship happiness. She likes a lot to live in a small village with her human and animal family, as well as she likes a lot to participate in international projects that allows her to be a permanent learner.

Virve Sutinen

Virve Sutinen – Freelance curator and consultant (Finland)
Virve Sutinen is a renowned freelance curator and consultant from Finland, known for her innovative approach in contemporary performing arts. With extensive experience, she has held significant positions such as the Artistic Director of Tanz im August in Berlin, Dansens Hus Stockholm and Kiasma Theatre at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki. Her several positions of trust include president of IETM, and Nordic Council’s chair of Expert Panel for Mobility and Networking. She is a founding member of EDN, and the initiator of ICE HOT Nordic Dance Platform and Big Pulse Dance Alliance. Sutinen’s work emphasises transnational collaboration and international exchange, making her a pivotal figure in the global performing arts’ community.

Willi Bopp

Willi Bopp – Sound Designer and Composer ASTARTE Production
Willi has been chief sound technician at the Mousonturm and chief of sound department at Theater am Turm both in Frankfurt. Since 1994, Willi has been an independent sound designer, working Heiner Goebbels, Saburo Teshigawara, Christian Möller, David Moss, Wanda Golonka, André Wilms, Diamanda Galas among others. Willi has worked as sound designer and composer with Charlotte Engelkes since 2006 in 15 different productions/ artistic projects.

Yvona Kreuzmannova

Yvona Kreuzmannova – Director, TANEC PRAHA International Dance Festival (Czech Republic)
Yvona founded Tanec Praha (NGO) in 1991. She is the director running TANEC PRAHA International Dance Festival, PONEC – dance venue and Czech Dance Platform in addition to many projects supported by Creative Europe. From 2006 to 2008, she worked as an advisor to the Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic. In 2004, she was awarded by the French President Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite National for her outstanding contribution to the development of European cultural cooperation.

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