The Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company Awarded $30,000

by the New York State Council on the Arts

Troy, NY - The Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company (ESDC) announced today a grant award totaling $30,000 from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) as part of its efforts to support the recovery of the nonprofit arts and culture sectors such as ESDC. Following New York State’s historic investment for the arts, NYSCA has awarded $90 million since Spring 2022 to a record number of artists and organizations across the state.

Ellen Sinopoli, ESDC Founder and Artistic Director, noted that ESDC’s grant award from NYSCA will play a critical role in the dance company’s goal to sustain fiscal stability while building upon its commitment to create, collaborate, educate and partner. By helping to offset the company’s operating expenses, this grant will enable the dance company’s pursuit of new artistic endeavors such as the Wells Project. An ambitious concept that expands upon ESDC’s artistic vision as never before, this collaboration between ESDC, sculptors John Van Alstine and Caroline Ramersdorfer and musicians Brian Melick and Maria Zemantauski will result in the creation and production of a film that is woven into a uniquely intertwined tapestry while revealing each artist’s creative process. In addition, this award will support existing educational works with schools such as the Abram Lansing Elementary School in Cohoes, NY and three elementary schools in the Gloversville, NY School District. ESDC is honored to receive this NYSCA award.

Governor Kathy Hochul said, “As a cultural capital of the world, New York State is strengthened by our expansive coverage of the arts across all 62 counties.  This year's historic commitment to the arts sector will spur our continuing recovery from the pandemic and set the course for a stronger future."

NYSCA Executive Director Mara Manus said, “We are immensely grateful to Governor Hochul and the Legislature for their unprecedented investment of $240 million to support arts organizations across the state. New York State arts organizations such as the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company are the cornerstone of our vibrant arts economy. As crucial drivers of our health and vitality, we are grateful to the unwavering dedication of arts workers across the state.”

NYSCA Chair Katherine Nicholls said, “On behalf of the entire Council, I congratulate the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company on this grant award. Their creative work provides the benefits of the arts to both their community and all of New York. Arts organizations are essential, leading our tourism economy and fueling sectors such as hospitality, transit, and Main Streets across our state. “ 

About the New York State Council on the Arts                                           

NYSCA preserves and advances the arts and culture that make New York State an exceptional place to live, work and visit. NYSCA upholds the right of all New Yorkers to experience the vital contributions the arts make to our communities, education, economic development, and quality of life. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, NYSCA will award record funding in FY 2023, providing support across the full breadth of the arts.

NYSCA further advances New York's creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, NYSCA is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit http://www.arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA's Facebook page, Twitter @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.

About ESDC: Sharing its work with diverse audiences through concerts, showcases, residencies, workshops, educational and community outreach, the company is led by Artistic Director Ellen Sinopoli who has created over 100 dances since forming the company in 1991. Her collaborations and artistic projects serve as a conduit to bring together talented artists (both regional and national) from varied genres that include visual artists, sculptors, architects, composers and musicians, poets and storytellers, videographers, photographers and physicists. As the resident company of The Egg Center for the Performing Arts in Albany for 31 years, ESDC is part of its highly successful dance season that presents many New York based companies as well as national and international dance ones. ESDC’s performances at professional, regional, and college theaters as well as community centers, art galleries, public playgrounds, public schools, libraries, museums, historic sites and storefronts include venues in Massachusetts, New York City and throughout 17 New York State counties. Past commissions include new work for Chesterwood Museum, The Egg, Hyde Museum, Olana Partnership, Opalka Gallery/Russell Sage College, Saratoga County Arts Council, Schenectady Symphony Orchestra, Schenectady Museum  and St Cecelia Orchestra. ESDC is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation.