Eliot Smith
Eliot Smith is a critically acclaimed British dancer and choreographer, and the Founder and Creative Director of Eliot Smith Dance. Trained at London Contemporary Dance School and the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in New York, his choreographic practice draws on Graham-based technique, combining powerful physicality with emotional depth. Eliot is committed to developing dance artists and championing contemporary dance across the North East and beyond. 

Angela Christie Reay
Angela Christie Reay ARAD QTLS ATS FSET CTeach CID trained at Northern Ballet School before embarking on a 12-year international career as a professional dancer, performing extensively in Germany across classical and neoclassical ballet, contemporary dance, musical theatre and opera. She subsequently qualified as a specialist classical ballet teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance and spent 21 years teaching at Newcastle College’s Performing Arts Academy. Angela also teaches on Dance City’s MA in Advanced Dance Performance and delivers professional ballet classes for dance artists across the region.

Yamit Salazar
Yamit Salazar is a dancer, choreographer and Rehearsal Director for Eliot Smith Dance, having joined the company in 2013. Trained at the BRIT School and Bird College, he has performed leading roles in works by acclaimed choreographers including Eliot Smith, Sir Robert Cohan, Paul Taylor and Mark Baldwin. Alongside his performance career, Yamit supports the development of dancers and the delivery of ESD’s repertoire, ensuring choreographic integrity and performance quality. His choreographic work for the company includes Bloom, commissioned in 2021.