Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Smith studied ballet and contemporary dance at London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS). During that time he became interested further in the Martha Graham Technique, a fascination that led him to be offered a place and part scholarship at The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in New York. Smith has had the pleasure to be taught by some of the world’s leading Graham practitioners including: – Penny Frank, Maher Benham, David Chase, Maggie Boogaart and Jennifer Conley. In February 2017, Smith returned back to The Martha Graham Centre part of his succesful project ‘Inviting Martha Graham back to the UK’ supported by Artists’ International Development Fund.

Before forming his own company, Eliot has danced many works for other choreographers including: – Neville Campbell, Tim Rubidge, Andile Sotiya including Richard Alston’s ‘Ceremony of Carol’s’ conceived by Martin Lawrence and Alston Dancers during his time at LCDS.

Smith’s first major work was premiered inside Westminster Cathedral in 2011, during his time at LCDS. Smith is unwilling to have his work defined. Although his current foucus has been on creating works which are emotional, real-life and dramatic.

Smith’s work, be it for stage or none traditional venues, has toured extensively across the North of England, including othe parts of the UK and Europe. The Company tour are supported by ESC self generated income which led Smith being titled a Business Ambassador for Northumberland County Council and he was awarded a small Grant from Northumberland Youth Enterprise Fund to purchase stage equipment.

In the last three years, Eliot has received four Grant for the Arts awards from Arts Council England for Eliot Smith Company, allowing the company to excel and for Eliot to be acknowledged as one of the UK’s contemporary dance choreographers ‘one to watch’.