About Pulsate

Pulsate: a dance film project for every passionate mover

Pulsate is a hybrid dance and film project created to help passionate dancers grow in their art, feel empowered, and share the experience with their community.
From first video submission to the movie theater premiere, the journey is designed to be fun, supportive, and open to all levels, ages, and styles.

What is Pulsate?

Pulsate is a dance film competition, a creative lab, and a community project in one. Dancers of all ages, levels, and styles submit a video to join a cinematic journey. Finalists are invited to a professional film shoot, while every other dancer appears in a collective piece created with the same care.

The story ends in a real cinema. A family-friendly premiere where dancers, families, and friends see their work on the big screen. The focus is growth, courage, and pride, not just trophies.

Learn more about the concept

The Pulsate journey

Each phase is designed to feel different — from the first leap into submission to the moment you see yourself on the big screen.

01

Submission – anticipation & courage

You choreograph, film, and send in your piece. For many dancers, it’s a first time stepping in front of the camera with intention. It’s a bold move out of the comfort zone.

02

Selection – pride without “game over”

Finalists are chosen by a jury, but the story doesn’t end for anyone. Selected dancers move into filming, while others stay part of the project through the collective video and the same premiere weekend.

03

Filming – togetherness & growth

Film days bring different studios, ages, and styles together. You feel the energy of a real set, support each other, and see how much you’ve grown since that first submission.

04

Premiere – empowerment & accomplishment

The cinema is the payoff: lights down, screen up, and your work in the film. A family-friendly gala or chill night where the feeling is the same for everyone: “We did this. We belong here.”

View key dates & deadlines

Who Pulsate is for

Pulsate is built so that everyone around dance can benefit from the same project: dancers, studios, sponsors, judges, and the wider community.

Dancers

All ages, all levels, all styles. From kids and teens to adults and seniors, from beginners to professionals — if you love to move and are ready to try, you belong here.

  • Kids, Teens, Adults, Seniors
  • Solo, duo, and groups
  • Any style — fully open

Studios & choreographers

Studios and teachers can turn Pulsate into a full-year project for their dancers, with a clear goal and a cinematic result that lives far beyond one competition weekend.

  • Feature your choreography on the big screen
  • Give students a powerful “why” to train
  • Be credited and highlighted in the film

Sponsors, collaborators & judges

In-kind sponsors, brand partners, and judges bring Pulsate to life. Many collaborators can also be participants — teaching, dancing, or appearing on screen themselves.

  • In-kind and financial partnerships
  • Co-created events and activations
  • Judging, mentoring, and community support
Explore how you can get involved

Our mission & values

Pulsate exists to help passionate dancers grow in their passion, feel empowered, and share that journey with others. We want dancers to see their art treated with the same respect as cinema — with storytelling, care, and a real audience.

  • Empowerment – every dancer, at any level, deserves to feel seen and proud.
  • Storytelling – movement is a language; we want your story, not just your tricks.
  • Community – different ages, cultures, and studios sharing one project.
  • Innovation – a hybrid of competition, film, and community event.
  • Creativity – space to experiment, mix styles, and try something new.

Our team

Behind Pulsate is a small, dedicated team that loves dance, storytelling, and building projects where everyone feels welcome on and off the screen.

Patty Isabelle Jean Baptiste

Creative Direction & Founder

Patty is a nurse, lifelong dancer, and aspiring author who loves bringing meaningful projects to life. She is driven by kindness, inclusion, and the belief that every culture and every dancer deserves space to be seen. Always open to trying new ideas, she creates environments where people feel welcomed, supported, and inspired.

Carlos Alejandro

Vision & Community Partnerships

Carlos is a businessman, visionary, and founder of Dance Alejandro, active since March 2011. Born in Mexico and a dedicated father, he brings years of experience building a strong dance community. He helps shape the long-term vision of Pulsate and connects the project with studios, dancers, and partners.

Bárbara Villavicencio

Choreography & Artistic Energy

Bárbara brings a happy, high-energy presence to Pulsate. A reggaeton lover who never refuses a challenge, she creates choreography that is bold, fun, and emotionally charged. Originally from Venezuela and very family-oriented, she embodies the vibrant spirit and diversity that Pulsate stands for.

Together with the Association Internationale de la Danse (AID) and a growing circle of partners and collaborators, the goal is simple: make Pulsate a place where dancers feel empowered, where diversity is normal, and where the big screen belongs to everyone.

Connect with the Pulsate team

Association Internationale de la Danse (AID)

AID is a non-profit organization dedicated to giving young dancers access to training, education, and opportunities regardless of financial limitations. Through its support, dancers can grow, explore creativity, and stay connected to the art they love.

Why AID Matters

AID believes every dancer deserves a fair chance. No young dancer should be stopped by money. Their programs remove barriers and open real pathways for future artists.

What AID Provides

  • Financial assistance for classes and workshops
  • Support for youth dancers facing economic challenges
  • Access to festivals, community events, and training
  • Programs that keep dance inclusive and accessible

Pulsate’s Contribution

A major portion of Pulsate’s profits are reinvested directly into AID initiatives. By joining Pulsate, dancers and families are not just participating in a film project — they are helping support the future of dance in Quebec.

Learn More About AID

Competition – Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to common questions about the Pulsate competition: how it works, age categories, judging criteria, and registration. If you still have questions after reading this, you can always reach out to us directly.

How is the Pulsate competition different from a regular dance competition?

Pulsate is built as a dance-for-camera competition that leads to a film, not a traditional stage event. You create and submit a video, finalists are selected for professional filming days, and the journey culminates in a cinema premiere instead of a single weekend on stage.

Who can enter the competition?

Pulsate is open to independent dancers, studio dancers, and crews of all ages and levels. Kids, teens, adults, and mature dancers (30+/40+) can participate, as long as they register in an appropriate category and respect the guidelines.

What age categories are available?

Age groupings typically include Kids (around 8–12), Teens (13–17), Adults (18+), and optional 30+ or 40+ categories for dancers who prefer to compete in a mature section. Final brackets may be adjusted depending on registrations.

How do levels work (beginner, intermediate, advanced)?

When registering, you select Recreational/Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced/Pre-professional. This is self-declared based on your training and performance history, and the Pulsate team may adjust if a piece is clearly placed in the wrong level to keep things fair.

What formats can I register in (solo, group, etc.)?

You can register as a Solo (1 dancer), Duo/Trio (2–3 dancers), Small Group (4–9 dancers), or Large Group/Team (10+ dancers). Studios can submit multiple pieces in different formats, and independent dancers can also register without a studio.

What dance styles are accepted?

Pulsate is multi-style. Commercial, contemporary, Latin, hip-hop, reggaeton, heels, jazz, fusion, experimental, and more are welcome. What matters most is how clearly your concept reads on camera and how it fits your chosen music and dancers.

How does the judging process work?

A jury reviews all submissions by age, level, and format. Pieces are evaluated on choreography, performance, technique (age/level appropriate), storytelling, camera awareness, and overall artistic impact. Finalists are then invited to professional filming days for the dance film.

What exactly are the judging criteria?

The main criteria include: choreography & structure, performance & presence, technique, concept & storytelling, camera awareness (how the piece reads on video), and global artistic impact. Registered dancers receive a more detailed scoring grid so they know what to focus on.

How do I register for the competition?

Registration is done online through the Pulsate website. You choose your category, fill in the dancer and piece information, upload your video (or link), and complete payment. Once you receive a confirmation email, your submission is officially entered.

What information do I need to have ready before registering?

You’ll need your choreography title, style, and duration, dancer names and ages, chosen level and format (solo, duo/trio, group), studio or independent details, a video that respects the Pulsate guidelines, and parent/guardian consent for minors.

Is there a limit on how many pieces a dancer or studio can submit?

Dancers and studios can usually submit more than one piece, as long as each entry is registered separately and respects the rules. However, some categories may have capacity limits. If a category is full, registrations may close early for that section.

What happens if my piece is not selected as a finalist?

Not being selected as a finalist does not end your Pulsate journey. Non-finalists can still be included in other parts of the project (for example, collective segments) and are invited to be part of the community, premiere experience, and education around the film.

Do I have to attend the filming days and premiere to compete?

You can enter the competition by submitting your video even if you’re not sure you can travel to filming days or the premiere. However, finalists will be invited for professional filming, and attending the premiere is strongly encouraged so you can fully live the Pulsate experience.

Still have questions? Contact us