009: Lead & Create: Redefining Leadership in the Arts with Neus Gil Cortes
"Leadership is about seeing people."
Neus Gil Cortes
In this episode, hosted by Stephen Moynihan, Neus Gil Cortes discusses her journey in the arts, the importance of leadership training, and the creation of her initiative, Lead and Create. She emphasizes the need for vulnerability, trust, and genuine connection in leadership roles, particularly within the arts. Neus shares insights on how to empower future generations and redefine leadership in traditional hierarchies, advocating for a more inclusive and collaborative approach to artistic processes.
About Neus Gil Cortes
Neus Gil Cortes is a choreographer, dramaturg, and teacher, working in the fields of dance and circus. She is the artistic director of Nua Dance, a project-based company regularly funded by Arts Council England. Her recent independent work includes NOISE, an immersive piece for deaf and hearing audiences commissioned by The Place and Dance East, which is also available as an interactive film, commissioned by One Dance UK and BBC Arts for Dance Passion. In February 2025 she will premiere a new circus piece commissioned by the National Centre for Circus Arts.
With over 20 years of experience in the dance sector, Neus has participated in more than 60 creative processes in a range of roles. As a dramaturg, she collaborates regularly with Autin Dance Theatre, Richard Chappell, and the collective Feet Off The Ground. As a dancer, she has worked with companies such as NDC Wales, Hofesh Shechter, and Dance Works Rotterdam, as well as in various freelance projects. Neus has also mentored numerous choreographers and dramaturgs, including 11 international choreographers from diverse backgrounds during the Dance OMI residency in New York in 2017.
Since 2022, Neus has focused on leadership training, participating in workshops such as Discover Your Leadership (Clore Leadership, 2024) and Coaching Skills for Cultural Leadership (Arts Connect/University of Wolverhampton, 2022). In 2024, she launched Lead & Create, a platform offering independent choreographers leadership tools to enhance their creative processes and collaborations. Lead & Create includes:
Chapters
The Genesis of Rethinking Leadership Conversations
Neus's Journey in Dance and Leadership
The Importance of Leadership Training in the Arts
Creating Lead and Create: A New Approach
The Impact of Leadership on Artistic Processes
Vulnerability and Trust in Leadership
Redefining Leadership in the Arts
Empowering Future Generations
Navigating Traditional Hierarchies in the Arts
The Role of Trust in Fast-Paced Environments
The Power of Presence and Attention
Final Thoughts on Leadership and Connection
To get in touch Neus Gil Cortes visit leadandcreate.uk
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadandcreate/ and https://www.instagram.com/nuadance/
To get in touch with Stephen visit www.stephenmoynihan.net and follow @stmoynihan on Instagram.
References
Lead & Create includes:
- A weekly podcast
- Rethinking Leadership Conversations- sector-wide consultations held twice a year
- An online leadership course tailored to independent choreographers, facilitated by guest coaches, artists, and Neus herself.