OUR STORY

 

Quoted by The Guardian as“The Enterprising Company”, Eliot Smith Dance (ESD) is LGBT led, and is a North East England’s leading dance company dedicated to creating inclusive and high quality work, touring predominantly in villages, towns and cities across the North of England.

 

The Company operates from an office space at Dance City in Newcastle upon Tyne. Our mission is to create unforgettable contemporary dance experiences that inspire whilst fostering understanding between people, to enrich their lives, and to open their minds to different perspectives.

 

ESD's 13 year existence is fuelled by creative director Eliot Smith commitment on choreographing, commissioning and presenting contemporary dance for people with limited access to arts and culture, and to broaden opportunities for diverse children, young people and adults to access ESD's award-winning wellness dance workshops.

 

The Company was founded by Eliot Smith FRSA and has toured works beyond the British Isles at New York City (USA), Rome (Italy) and Paris (France) to much acclaim.

 

The Company has technically and theatrically accomplished dancers drawn from England and throughout the world. Dancers have come from as far afield as Italy, Germany, France, Colombia, New Zealand, Spain, and Cyprus. In light of the Covid pandemic, ESD refashioned its creative works into digital form including the production of Seacole + Nightingale "In the era of Black Lives Matter, and the tragic loss of many Bame NHS workers, it is apt to reclaim Seacole’s legacy." ★★★★ iNews

 

Since 2021, ESD shifted its focus on raising awareness of the climate emergency and the protection of the local environment driven by Smith’s passionate dance works, alongside ESD's extensive outreach work in schools and community groups highlighting the climate crisis. This led ESD to win the first-ever “Green Dance Award” at the One Dance UK Awards 2022.

 

Alongside this, the Company produces ESD Presents – a biennial dance event with the aim to inform, celebrate, and encourage creative debate behind the most influential dance makers. To date ESD has presented Martha Graham and Paul Taylor in partnership with the Martha Graham Dance Company and Paul Taylor Dance Company.