Eliot Smith Dance to Premiere Sir Robert Cohan’s Eclipse (1961)

Newcastle upon Tyne, UK – July 2025 — Eliot Smith Dance (ESD) proudly announces the highly anticipated ESD premiere of Sir Robert Cohan’s Eclipse (1961). The performance will headline the third edition of ESD Presents: A Celebration of Sir Robert Cohan CBE, taking place from 28 July – 02 August 2025 at Dance City, Newcastle upon Tyne.

First premiered in 1961, performed by Robert Cohan himself, Eclipse is one of his earliest and most enigmatic works—a striking portrait of inner solitude and emotional intensity. Long considered a lost gem of Cohan’s choreographic archive, Eclipse has been re-staged for Eliot Smith Dance in collaboration with the Sir Robert Cohan Dance Legacy and will be performed for the first time in Newcastle upon Tyne during the Gala Performance on Saturday 02 August 2025 at 19:00.

Eliot Smith, Creative Director of ESD, says: “Premiering Eclipse is more than a performance—it's the resurrection of a key piece of Cohan’s early artistry. It’s a rare and moving duet that reveals his emotional depth as a choreographer in his formative years. We are honoured to bring this extraordinary work to UK audiences for the first time.”

The performance of Eclipse will feature alongside a curated selection of Cohan’s masterworks, interpreted by a dynamic group of intergenerational dancers from the local and national dance community, including company dancers of Eliot Smith Dance.

Part of a biennial celebration of influential dance artists, ESD Presents 2025 coincides with the 100th anniversary of Sir Robert Cohan’s birth. A pioneer of British contemporary dance, Cohan’s groundbreaking leadership at The Place and the London Contemporary Dance Theatre laid the foundations for a new era of expressive and technically rich choreography in the UK.

Highlights of the week-long programme include:

Summer Intensive (28 July – 02 August)
A rigorous training programme for dancers aged 18+, focusing on the Cohan method (a Graham-based contemporary technique), repertory work, and creative exploration. Led by distinguished artists Anne Donnelly and Kenneth Tharp, both former Cohan dancers.

Lecture – “A Brief History of Robert Cohan”
28 July at 15:30, Dance City, Newcastle
A compelling introduction to Cohan’s life, influences, and revolutionary impact.

Open Forum Discussion
Following the Gala Performance on 02 August at 20:15
A community dialogue around Cohan’s legacy with invited panelists and artists.

The event is presented in partnership with the Sir Robert Cohan Dance Legacy, with generous support from The Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement, Dance City, Friends of ESD, and anonymous donors.

To find out more visit: www.eliotsmithdance.com/esdpresents