NEWS
Read the latest news about opportunities, announcements, auditions and much more...
ESD CELEBRATES PRIDE MONTH
Date posted - 01/06/2022
Every year, Pride Month is celebrated in June.
From June 1 – 30, members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies celebrate their identities, accomplishments, and reflect on the struggle for equality.
This year the UK marks 50 years of the Pride movement.
Across the globe, various events are held during this special month as a way of recognising the influence LGBTQ+ people have had around the world.
The reason why Pride Month is in June is that it marks the police raid that prompted the Stonewall riots – which in turn led to the establishment of LGBTQ+ rights.
The raid took place during the early morning on June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, Manhattan.
In the UK, the first official UK Gay Pride Rally was held in London on July 1, 1972 (chosen as the nearest Saturday to the anniversary of the Stonewall riots of 1969) – so 2022 marks the 50th year of the Pride movement on our shores.
On 01 June, ESD dancers take pride and reflect the ongoing pursuit of equality.
Help and Advice? Information and support for LGBT communities and their allies. Contact Stonewall's Information Service FREEPHONE 0800 0502020 Lines are open 9:30 - 4:30 Monday to Friday.
Visit: www.stonewall.org.uk
ANNOUNCING ESD SUMMER INTENSIVE 2022
Date posted - 29/04/2022
Eliot Smith Dance (ESD) presents a SUMMER INTENSIVE from 11 - 13 July 2022 in their home City of Newcastle upon Tyne.
This unique summer intensive is devised for professional dancers, including dance students in their final year of training who are looking to enrich their practice and training, centred around ESD's method.
Each day will comprise two in-depth technique classes (either Ballet, Contemporary (Graham based), and Commercial Jazz, followed by multiple creative sessions led by Eliot Smith.
This tailored intensive is open to a maximum of 20 dancers and must be 17 years of age minimum and welcomes all ages upwards of that. Whether you are new to Eliot's work, or you have already danced with ESD before, there will be something for everyone to discover during this intensive.
The intensive will take place in a specialist dance studio at Newcastle College based at their state-of-the-art Performance Academy near Newcastle's central station.
There is no audition to the intensive, just book your space and ESD will see you there!
Early booking is advised as there are limited spaces available.
To find out more and how to register please click here
JOIN OUR BOARD - CALL OUT FOR NEW DIRECTORS
Date posted - 04/04/2022
Following the celebration of its 10th Anniversary Eliot Smith Dance (ESD) is looking to the future with plans for growth and exciting developments. Eliot Smith stands down from his 10 year career as dancer to concentrate on leading the Company through this transition as Creative Director and as Board Director of ESD.
ESD is continuing to appoint new Board members including the role of Chair throughout 2022.
To find out more and to download Director's Recruitment Pack, please click here.
ANNOUNCING SPRING / SUMMER 2022 SEASON
Date posted - 23/03/2022
Download full Press Release
Eliot Smith Dance announces “LIFE”, its Spring / Summer 2022 Season tour, with four contemporary dance works that are filled with physical movement, passion, and excitement!
The tour takes place during June and July and will visit Newcastle (Gosforth), Northumberland (Berwick upon Tweed, Warkworth, Pegswood, and Hexham), County Durham (Barnard Castle), and Bradford.
The key piece LIFE, created by ESD’s creative director Eliot Smith, is a stirring performance with bold choreography performed by five cutting-edge dancers, original music by award-winning composer Adam Johnson, and stunning backdrops by renowned figurative artist Bernadette Koranteng. The work highlights the climate change crisis through powerful movement, encouraging awareness and the call for ACTion.
This ground-breaking performance includes works by award-winning guest choreographers Martin Hylton and Balbir Singh, and the emerging choreographer Yamit Salazar, who is also ESD’s Rehearsal Director.
“Last year, ESD celebrated its 10th anniversary, when the Company was able to return briefly to in-person performances, but we are delighted to announce that this season will mark a full return to live performances with our best-ever popular regional tour. I have never been more convinced that the powerful sense of movement that identifies this season’s performances will help our audiences make a more conscious connection to nature and the climate crisis, and that the dancers will draw inspiration from the personal and emotional connection that results from being in the physical presence of a live audience,” says Eliot Smith, the Company’s Creative Director.
There will also be opportunities to watch an ESD professional dance class taking place, where the company are put through their paces by Eliot Smith. The open Company Class will take place at every venue on the day of the performance. Viewing is free to ticket holders attending the performance, or for £2 to those attending only the Company Class.
In addition to their live performances, the Company will be delivering dance workshops in local primary and secondary schools, and community outreach work across the North East.
The Company’s season is funded by Arts Council England, with further support from Museums Northumberland / Woodhorn Museum and Northumberland Arts Development, as well as by public donations resulting from their recent successful Kickstarter campaign.
More information is available at www.eliotsmithdance.com/events
ANNOUNCING FREELANCE COMPANY DANCERS AND APPRENTICE DANCER FOR ESD'S 2022 SEASONS
Date posted - 20/04/2022
ESD welcomes new freelance Apprentice Dancer Nathan Keenoo, Company Dancers Niki Tsonopoulou, and Trace Yeames for their 2022 seasons.
The new dancers will perform in ESD's upcoming season, "LIFE & Other Stories" in June and July.
To find out more about Niki Tsonopoulou, click here.
To find out more about Nathan Keenoo, click here.
To find out more about Trace Yeames, click here.
WE STAND TO DENOUNCE RACISM IN ALL ITS FORMS
Date posted - 04/06/2020
We stand to denounce racism in all its forms.
We, the undersigned from the cultural sector of the North East, declare that silence is not ok and silence is seen as complicity. Racism has no place in a just and humane society.
Whilst we cannot undo pain and neglect, we are calling on all of us in the arts, cultural, heritage sectors; professional and voluntary to work together to address racism and its deep roots. We must listen, have conversations and most importantly act, we know we need to do better. Everyone is part of the solution - artists, staff, trustees, partners, promoters, audiences and communities.
We want to tackle this together in sharing better understanding and practices. We stand united to bring about change in our thinking and actions as a collective of organisations and individuals.
In the weeks and months to come we will collectively act to build on this statement with concrete steps and actions to demonstrate our commitment to bringing about real change. We ask you to stand with us.