ESD Presents 2025: A Celebration of Sir Robert Cohan CBE

Eliot Smith Dance (ESD) is proud to announce the third edition of ESD Presents, a biennial event that celebrates the work of influential dance makers. Taking place from 28 July to 03 August 2025 at Dance City’s purpose-built dance house in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne, this year’s event will honour the extraordinary legacy of Sir Robert Cohan CBE, the renowned choreographer and pioneer of British contemporary dance. The event is held in partnership with the Sir Robert Cohan Dance Legacy.

A towering figure in the dance world, Sir Robert Cohan was born in New York in 1925. He joined the Martha Graham Dance Company in 1947, later moving to London in 1968, where he became the founding Artistic Director of The Place and the London Contemporary Dance Theatre. His work reshaped the landscape of British dance and earned him the title of the “founding father of British contemporary dance.” Sir Robert’s tireless advocacy for contemporary dance and his commitment to nurturing new generations of dancers and choreographers continues to inspire and resonate across the global dance community.

2025 marks the 100th anniversary of Sir Robert’s birth, making this a timely celebration of his extraordinary contributions to the art form. Despite his passing in 2021, his legacy endures, with his works remaining a cornerstone of contemporary dance.

ESD Presents features a Summer Intensive and Gala Performance. Open to dancers aged 18 and older, the Summer Intensive is designed for dancers-in-training and professionals, and runs 28 July – 2 August. The program offers a deep dive into the Cohan method of Graham-based technique along with Cohan Repertory, Ballet, Performance, Lectures, and more. Classes will be taught by world-class dance professionals, including Anne Donnelly and Kenneth Tharp, both of whom were former dancers of Cohan and are leaders in their field.

The Gala Performance takes place on Saturday, 2 August at 7:00 pm. The grand finale of the week-long event, the Performance will feature a captivating collection of excerpts from Cohan’s masterworks, performed by a dynamic mix of intergenerational dancers, including professional dancers from Eliot Smith Dance. The performance will be a powerful tribute to Sir Robert Cohan’s lasting influence on the world of contemporary dance.

For more information and tickets, visit www.eliotsmithdance.com/esdpresents

Robert Cohan CBE, Aug 1987 I © Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement