A DANCE embodying the life of the cofounders of a County Durham museum is set to be performed in the very place they were so passionate about.

For the first time in The Bowes Museum’s history, Eliot Smith and the Eliot Smith Dance team (ESD) will perform a premier of a new duet called In Plain Movement, inspired by John and Josephine Bowes.

The Newcastle-based contemporary dance company has collaborated with the museum’s Bowes Centre on the project and is Mr Smith’s “response to the historic collections of the Bowes Museum, its buildings and environment, embodying the very spirit of its founders; John and Josephine Bowes”.

It is the first dance premiere ever to be staged at The Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle.

Mr Smith said: “The life of John and Josephine Bowes, their love for the arts, intertwined with the magnificent architecture, striking landscapes of the museum provide the inspiration for In Plain Movement.

“Through the medium of dance it is possible to bring visitors to the museum to experience at close hand the vitality and excitement of actual performance.”

The performance includes After the Rite – a restaging of Mr Smith’s contemporary dance solo originally created in 2013.

The solo is performed by Mr Smith himself and is set to Carl Nielsens’s A Rhapsody Overture Trip to the Faroe Islands.

The company acknowledges the support from Arts Council England, The Bowes Centre and The Bowes Museum alongside further support from Northumberland Arts Development, Woodhorn Museum and Newcastle College.

Mr Smith was recently shortlisted for Dance Personality of The Year in the One Dance UK 2018 Awards.

One Dance UK is the national body for dance in the UK and Mr Smith was the only nominee from the North East.

He was also one of ten successful artists out of over 200 applicant’s to be awarded artist-in-residence at The Bowes Centre in 2018.

The performance will take place today at 7pm at The Bowes Museum within the Blue Picture Gallery.

Tickets are limited and those interested are advised to book as soon as possible at eliotsmithdance.com/tickets

For more information about The Bowes Museum visit thebowesmuseum.org.uk