Big Pulse Dance Alliance announces new commissions and new initiatives
Oona Doherty (UK), Silvia Gribaudi (IT), Marco da Silva Ferreira (PT) and Amala Dianor (FR) are the first choreographers to be creating new work with support from Big Pulse Dance Alliance. The announcement was made during Sismògraf Dance Festival in Olot, Spain, on Thursday 8 April.
Big Pulse Dance Alliance is a network of twelve European dance festivals and organisations. With its newly introduced commissions and initiatives, the network aims to support dance makers, diversify dance programming, reach different audience groups and geographical regions, and to promote an active network of European dance festivals.
The new commissions and initiatives are part of the network’s four-year project to promote the development and strengthening of contemporary dance in Europe. They consist of:
Big Pulse Scaling Up: a programme to support dance makers’ careers through co-commissioning. Dance makers who create work for studio venues receive a commission for a work for the big stage. Four inspiring makers have been selected: Oona Doherty (UK), Silvia Gribaudi (IT), Marco da Silva Ferreira (PT), and Amala Dianor (FR). Their new works will be co-produced and presented by different partner festivals.
Big Pulse Open Air: an initiative to bring together dance makers and audiences. Dance makers who are interested in developing outdoor choreographies that respect the environment are invited to submit their ideas through an open call (deadline: 16 April).
The supplementary initiative Visiting Artist Programme offers dance makers opportunities to visit partner festivals. The aim, aside from offereing networking opportunities, is to boost artistic development and creative exchange.
Lastly, the Winter Intensives and Mentoring Programme focus on developing leadership and project management skills. It helps dance professionals create sustainable professional environments that take on board ecological and other urgent challenges in contemporary society.
Big Pulse Dance Alliance is co-financed by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. Partner festivals / organisations: Tanz im August/HAU Hebbel am Ufer (Germany), Dance Umbrella (UK), Dublin Dance Festival (Ireland), Julidans (Netherlands), New Baltic Dance (Lithuania), ONE Dance Week (Bulgaria), Torinodanza Festival (Italy), Zodiak – Side Step Festival (Finland), Sismògraf Dance Festival (Catalonia – Spain), International Dance Festival TANEC PRAHA (Czech Republic), CODA Oslo International Dance Festival (Norway) and Danscentrum Sverige (Sweden).