Experience ESD on stage
NEWS
ELIOT SMITH DANCE HAS APPOINTED A NEW CREATIVE ADMINISTRATOR
POSTED 10 AUGUST 2026
We are delighted to announce that Adianna Apodaca (she/her) has joined Eliot Smith Dance as our new Creative Administrator.
Following a strong response to the role, we were inspired by the diversity, passion and experience of everyone who applied. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to every applicant for taking the time to apply and share their interest in Eliot Smith Dance.
Adianna joins us at an exciting moment as we celebrate 15 years of Eliot Smith Dance and look towards the company’s next chapter. Her appointment marks an important step in strengthening our core team as we continue to grow and develop.
Adianna said: “Joining Eliot Smith Dance during the company’s 15th anniversary season is both a privilege and an exciting milestone. I am thrilled to be joining such a talented and dedicated team of artists and collaborators, and to be working alongside Eliot as ESD enters this next chapter. I look forward to contributing to the company’s continued growth, supporting its creative and community ambitions, and helping bring its upcoming projects to life.”
Creative Director Eliot Smith said:
“I am delighted to welcome Adianna to Eliot Smith Dance. This is a very special and significant moment for the company as we take an important step in developing our core team and strengthening the creative and administrative foundations of ESD. Having led and developed the company over the past 15 years, I am excited to be building this next chapter alongside Adianna, our Board, artists, partners and communities. Adianna brings a wealth of experience, enthusiasm and creativity, and I look forward to working together as we shape the future of ESD and continue to develop our artistic and community ambitions over the coming months."
This appointment has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Arts Council England through National Lottery Project Grants. Their investment is helping us develop our organisational capacity, support our growing team, and realise the next stage of our artistic and community ambitions.
Find out more about Adianna by clicking here.
JOIN OUR NEW COMMUNITY DANCE PROJECT INSPIRED BY THE ASHINGTON GROUP COLLECTION
POSTED 10 AUGUST 2026
Be part of a brand-new community dance work by Eliot Smith Dance.
Eliot Smith Dance is inviting adults from across Northumberland and the North East to take part in the creation of a new community dance performance.
Working alongside Eliot Smith, participants will collectively choose an illustration from the Ashington Group Collection at Woodhorn Museum as the inspiration for their new dance work. Through creative workshops, the group will explore the chosen artwork through movement, developing an original short performance that brings to life the illustration that celebrates the creativity, heritage and story of our region. No previous dance experience is needed, just a willingness to take part, be creative and enjoy moving together in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Who can take part?
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Open to all adults (18+)
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No dance experience necessary
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Suitable for complete beginners and experienced movers alike
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Meet new people and develop confidence
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Improve health and wellbeing through movement
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New and returning ESD community participants welcome.
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FREE to take part – places are limited
Rehearsals
Sundays | 10:30am – 12:30pm
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Sunday 27 September 2026
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Sunday 4 October 2026
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Sunday 11 October 2026
Venue: Woodhorn Museum, Northumberland
Performance
Sunday 18 October 2026
Performance: 1:00pm
Venue: Woodhorn Museum, Northumberland
The project will culminate in a special public performance at Woodhorn Museum, celebrating the Ashington Group and demonstrating how their work continues to inspire contemporary creativity through dance.
Places are free, but numbers are limited, so advance registration is essential. Register via the online form by clicking the button below.
What happens next?
Once you have submitted your registration, Eliot Smith Dance will confirm your place by email within three working days.
Travel stipends to help cover travel costs are available for participants. Further information, including eligibility and how to claim, will be shared by Eliot Smith Dance during the first workshop on Sunday 27 September 2026.
Deadline to register?
Friday 18 September 2026 at 12 noon.
This project has been developed in partnership with Woodhorn Museum | North East Museums, with the kind permission of the Ashington Group Trustees.
Funded by Arts Council England through a National Lottery Project Grant.
DANCE WITH PRIDE
POSTED 25 JULY 2026
Eliot Smith Dance was proud to take part in our fourth Newcastle Pride march— the City we call home.
To find out more please click here.
ANNOUNCING 2026 AUTUMN SEASON
POSTED 1 JULY 2026
To conclude its year-long 15th Anniversary celebrations, Eliot Smith Dance (ESD) returns this autumn with a season of performances, exhibitions and community projects across the North East.
Discover now by clicking here.
WORK WITH US: DANCE AUDITION - JULY 2026
POSTED 15 JULY 2026
Eliot Smith Dance (ESD) is seeking professional dancers and apprentices to join the company for its Autumn 2026 season.
Deadline to apply 17 July 2026.
For more information and apply please click here.
WORK WITH US: CREATIVE ADMINISTRATOR
POSTED 15 JULY 2026
As we celebrate our 15th anniversary and enter an exciting new phase of growth, Eliot Smith Dance is seeking its first employed team member to help deliver our ambitious future plans, including the Arts Council England-supported redevelopment of PITMAN.
Deadline to apply 5 July 2026
For more information and apply please click here.
OFFICIAL POSTER REVEALED FOR IN MOTION
POSTED 22 MAY 2026
Following the recent announcement of IN MOTION, Eliot Smith Dance is pleased to unveil the film’s official poster ahead of its online premiere on 24 June 2026. Directed by Elijah McDonnell, the documentary offers an intimate reflection on fifteen years of artistic work, collaboration, and regional storytelling through the journey of Creative Director Eliot Smithand the evolution of ESD. Set across striking locations throughout North East England, IN MOTION celebrates the people, places, and creative spirit that have shaped one of the region’s leading contemporary dance companies.
For Press Release please click here.
NEW YORK RESIDENCE: ELIOT SMITH RETURNS TO THE STUDIO AS A DANCER
POSTED 06 MAY 2026
From 27 April - 1 May 2026, Eliot Smith undertook a residency in New York at the Taylor Centre for Contemporary Dance, home to the Paul Taylor Dance Company. It was a period of research, development, and creative renewal that has become a significant moment in the company’s current trajectory.
Discover now by clicking here.
ANNOUNCING 2026 SUMMER SEASON
POSTED 13 MARCH 2026
Eliot Smith Dance (ESD) continues its 15th anniversary year with a dynamic Summer 2026 Season featuring international residency, new digital insights, guest choreography, and professional training.
Discover now by clicking here.
MASTERCLASS: GRAHAM TECHNIQUE WITH LORENZO PAGANO
POSTED 06 MARCH 2026
Eliot Smith Dance is delighted to welcome back Lorenzo Pagano of the Martha Graham Dance Company to the North East for the first time since 2016.
As part of the re-staging of Interrupted Souls, Lorenzo will lead a Graham Technique masterclass at Dance City, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Friday 3 July 2026
9:30–11:30am
Dance City, Newcastle upon Tyne
The class is open to professional dancers and dancers in training, and no previous Martha Graham technique experience is required. The session will also include a short Q&A with Lorenzo.
Spaces are limited, and thanks to the support of Dance City, we are able to offer this opportunity at a reduced price.
This is a rare opportunity to train with one of the leading performers of the Martha Graham Dance Company right here in the North East.
ESD AWARDED FOURTH ROUND OF ACCS FUNDING
POSTED 25 FEBRUARY 2026
Eliot Smith Dance (ESD) is delighted to announce that it has been awarded funding from the fourth round of The Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement (ACCS).
This support will contribute to Eliot Smith: Return, a one-night-only performance celebrating ESD’s 15th anniversary at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne, on 3 December 2026. The evening will feature the premiere of Smith’s new solo work, HUNTER.
The funding enables the development of HUNTER through an international residency at the Taylor Centre for Dance Education in New York, home of the Paul Taylor Dance Company.
Eliot Smith is the Founder and Creative Director of Eliot Smith Dance and has a long-standing association with the Paul Taylor organisation. This has included educational exchanges, licensing a Taylor work, and bringing two ESD dancers to New York to learn repertory from Carolyn Adams at the Taylor studios. Smith has recently received funding to choreograph a new work informed by his research into Paul Taylor’s creative life, which forms the basis of his upcoming residency in New York.
This latest award strengthens ESD’s ongoing international relationships and supports Smith’s continued artistic development on a global stage.
ESD extends its sincere thanks to The Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement and the Paul Taylor Dance Foundation for their continued trust and support.
To follow ESD’s 15th anniversary year, visit:
www.eliotsmithdance.com/15
Photo: Eliot Smith. Courtesy of ESD.
ESD ANNOUNCES 15th ANNIVERSARY EVENTS FOR 2026
POSTED 4 DECEMBER 2025
2026 marks a major milestone for Eliot Smith Dance (ESD) — the company celebrates 15 years since its founding in 2011. To mark the occasion, ESD is launching a full anniversary programme featuring performances, intensives, a photography exhibition, a documentary premiere, and a special anniversary event. From January through to December, audiences will have the opportunity to experience the company’s vibrant repertoire, engage with its creative community, and support its future growth.
To find out more please click here.
ESD SELECTED FOR ITER 4
POSTED 10 AUGUST 2025
Eliot Smith Dance is proud to be selected as a second-year participant in the International Touring & Environmental Responsibility (ITER) programme, now in its fourth year. This initiative is run by Julie’s Bicycle in partnership with In Futurum, supporting artists and arts organisations in the UK, Denmark, and Norway to develop sustainable, equitable, and innovative models of international touring.
This year marks a new chapter in our ongoing collaboration with Danish composer and sound artist Liv Vester Larsen, which began with Coalfield to Landscape. The next phase of this partnership, titled Merging, will premiere in Denmark in August 2025.
We are honoured to be part of a growing community dedicated to combining artistic creativity with environmental responsibility in international cultural exchange. As the programme unfolds, we’ll be sharing stories and reflections from our journey, exploring new touring models that care for both people and the planet.
To learn more and meet the other participants, visit:
To find out more please click here.
DANCE WITH PRIDE
POSTED 19 JULY 2025
Eliot Smith Dance was proud to take part in our third Northern Pride march—right here in Newcastle, the city we call home.
To find out more please click here.
ESD PERFORMS IN DENMARK
POSTED 16 APRIL 2025
In August 2025, Eliot Smith Dance (ESD) will collaborate with Danish-based artists Liv Vester Larsen (musician, composer, and sound artist) and visual artist Nanna Rosenfeldt-Olsen to create MERGING — a new cross-aesthetic performance exploring the intersection of dance, music, and visual art. The project is produced in partnership with Åsen Teater and Maskinhallen in Vendsyssel, Denmark.
Find out more by clicking here.
For Press Release, please click here.
