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NEWS
NEW DOCUMENTARY FROM ESD CELEBRATES THE NHS
Date posted - 1/07/2020
Mary Seacole and Florence Nightingale are centre stage in a new documentary, directed by British contemporary choreographer Eliot Smith, taking inspiration from and shining a light on the NHS medical staff serving on the front line in tackling Covid-19.
This interdisciplinary documentary, with newly-released music by multi award winning composer Adam Johnson, features original artwork by Bernadette Koranteng, a new poem written by children from Seaton Sluice Primary School, and real-life interviews with NHS medical personnel, all intertwined with contemporary dance performances.
Created around some of Britain’s most beautiful forests at a time when nature has flourished during isolation, this documentary reveals the similarities between the missions of Seacole and Nightingale and those of today’s medical staff, all caring selflessly for humanity, with courage, passion and devotion.
Seacole + Nightingale will be available to watch for free of charge on ESD's website via www.eliotsmithdance.com/seacoleandnightingale from 13 August 2020 at 7.30pm (BST), evening of the 110th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's anniversary death.
Funded and supported by Arts Council England emergency response funding, for which ESD is extremelygrateful.
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.
We contacted as many organisations and individuals we could in a short space of time.
If you would like to join us in these future conversations please contact any of the points of contacts listed below:
Alphabetti Theatre
Signee: Ali Pritchard, Artistic/Executive Director
Contact: Ali Pritchard,
The Angelou Centre
Signee: Rosie Lewis, Deputy Director & VAWG Services Manager
Anna Robinson
Sceneographer
Contact:
ARC Stockton
Signee: Annalbel Turpin
Contact:
Assembly Rooms Theatre Durham
Signee: Kate Barton
Contact:
BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art
Signee: Sarah Munro, Director
Contact: Caroline Murphy,
Ben Dickenson
Contact:
Executive Producer, City of Dreams / Associate Literary Producer Alphabetti
Beverley Prevatt Goldstein
Contact:
Camisado Club
Signee: Caroline Liversidge, Camisado Club
Contact:
Centre for Life, Newcastle
Signee: Linda Conlon
Contact: Louise Richardson,
Company of Others
Signee: Nadia Iftkhar, Artistic Director & CEO
Contact: Nadia Iftkhar,
Curious Arts
Signee: Phil Douglas, Director
Contact: Ellie Puckering,
Curious Monkey
Signee: Amy Golding
Contact:
Creative Seed
Contact: Sandy and Garner Harris, Founding Directors
Dance City
Signee: Phil Douglas
Contact: Phil Douglas,
Degna Stone
Poet and editor
Disconsortia
Signee: Lisette Auton, Co-founding Member
Contact:
Eliot Smith Dance (ESD)
Signee: Eliot Smith, Artistic Director
Contact:
Gateway Studio CIO
Signee: Martin Hylton, Artistic Director/CEO
Contact: Martin Hylton,
GemArts
Signee: Vikas Kumar MBE, Director
Contact: Vikas Kumar,
We Make Culture CIC
Signee: Laura Brewis, Project Director
Contact:
R.I.P FOUNDING GUEST DANCER AYMAN SAFIAH
Date posted - 28/05/2020
We recently learned the devastating news that former founding guest dancer of ESD Ayman Safiah has drowned whilst on a camping holiday in Israel.
Ayman (29) was a talented dancer originally from Kfar Yasif, Israel. His training at Rambert School was generously supported by the Clore Israel Foundation. Upon graduation in 2012, Ayman danced in "of Gods and Men" choreographed by Eliot Smith for Eliot Smith Dance's Opening Gala Performance at Dame Allan's School, Newcastle upon Tyne on 19 February. He went on to have a successful career, performing in 'Cats' in the West End and Les Ballet C de la B (Belgium) among other companies, before returning to Israel, where he was teaching, choreographing and performing.
Our thoughts are with his Family and Friends.
Friday's 29 May 2020 at 2pm, Live Tea & Talk on ESD's instagram will be dedicated to Ayman's memory.
ESD AWARDED EMERGENCY FUNDING FROM ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND
Date posted - 6/05/2020
We are pleased to announce that Eliot Smith Dance (ESD) has been awarded a grant from Arts Council England (ACE) Emergency Fund and this will enable:
1. A new artistic project created by Eliot Smith (to be announced soon) about which we are particularly excited. It takes ESD and its artists off in a new direction and the community possibilities are endless.
2. Operational costs at ESD to be met for the next 6 months.
This will enable ESD to emerge stronger, more confident and ready to meet the challenges posed by Covid-19.
ESD is very grateful for this support from ACE.
ESD PRESENTS: MARTHA GRAHAM POSTPONED
Date posted - 17/04/2020
As a result of the evolving Covid-19 situation, and following the Government's guidelines and working with the rolling advice from Public Health England and other organisations, it is no longer possible for Eliot Smith Dance (ESD) to hold ESD Presents: Martha Graham on 27 July - 1 August 2020.
The safety and wellbeing of our artists, staff, participants, audience, and partners is of the utmost importance at Eliot Smith Dance.
ESD are now looking to reschedule the event next year on 26 - 31 July 2021. More details will be announced in Autumn 2020.
All participants will of course be entitled to a full refund and you will be contacted directly by ESD.
Thank you for your ongoing support and please take care. ESD looks forward to presenting Martha Graham in the very near future.
ELIOT SMITH DANCE LAUNCHES ESD DIGITAL
Date posted - 1/04/2020
In light of the outbreak of Coronavirus (Covid-19), a top story in the news across the world. Eliot Smith Dance (ESD) has refashioned its current season of activities into a digital form, tailored to allow people to continue engaging in and benefiting from dance and culture during a period of self-isolation.
ESD will deliver a range of exciting and informative contemporary dance works on its website and social media, delivered by ESD company dancers from around the world which will also offer some financial support during these challenging times.
This innovative platform will include: pre-recorded live performances from its current season, exclusive dance performances created by world-renowned choreographers from ESD's diverse repertoire, live streamed daily dance classes (from their homes) in Contemporary, Ballet, Kathak, Hip-Hop and Yoga, for people who have access to the internet, Q&A sessions and much, much, more!
As you will all be aware the outbreak of Coronavirus (Covid-19) is a top story in the news across the world.
The safety and well-being of our customers, our members, collaborators and our staff is of utmost importance at Eliot Smith Dance, and we're continuing to follow official guidance carefully from the UK Government, Public Health England and funders i.e Arts Council England.
With this guidance in mind, we have postponed all upcoming performances and events until further notice.
For ticket holders, if you would like to;
Donate your ticket money to Eliot Smith Dance
Receive a credit note for a future performance
Receive a refund
Please contact us at for the following performances below:
Dovecote Centre – Amble
Fri 24 April (7.30pm)
Bowes Museum – Barnard Castle
Thur 14 May (7pm)
Bamburgh Pavilion – Bamburgh
Sat 16 May (7pm)
Pegswood Community Hub
Fri 29 May (7.30pm)
If you have purchased tickets for the following performances:
Gosforth Civic Theatre – Newcastle
Sat 18 April (7.30pm)
The Maltings – Berwick upon Tweed
Fri 08 May (7.00pm)
