NEW SERIES CELEBRATING 35TH ANNIVERSARY
CONCLUDES WITH JUNE PERFORMANCES
(Troy, NY): In celebration of its 35th anniversary season, the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company (ESDC) has been offering free performances around the Capital Region and throughout the 2025-26 season. The series commenced in September 2025 and will culminate in June 2026 for a total of 35 performances.
“We’ve done about two thirds of the performances so far,” explains Artistic Director Ellen Sinopoli, “and we’ve reached well over a thousand people, from young children to senior citizens, who have been treated to a free performance in parks, libraries, community centers, campuses, galleries, coffee shops, art centers, museums and more.” She continued by saying, “these presentations celebrate dance in its most elemental form and we have been so delighted to provide audiences with an up-close, personal experience with our art form.”
Featuring a rotating repertory, the performances showcase works from the company’s collection of dances over the past 35 years. The remaining performances will take place in June as follows:
- Armory Studios NY in Schenectady (as part of Art Night Schenectady) on Friday, June 19 at 7:30pm
- High Rock Park in Saratoga (as part of the Saratoga Farmers Market) on Wednesday, June 24 at 4pm
- Saratoga Public Library in Saratoga on Wednesday, June 24 at 6:30pm
- Albany Public Library – Arbor Hill/West Hill Branch on Monday, June 29 at 5:30pm
Putting Out the Welcome Mat is so named because of the piece of equipment that allows these performances to happen in locations without a stage. ESDC uses interlocking mat squares to easily create a danceable surface at each site. The mat flooring not only protects the dancers’ bodies but creates a central focal point for audience members to gather around and view the action. Its significance also comes from the ability to reach out and welcome audiences to experience dance without encountering a major time commitment, the restriction of cost and the potential barrier of going to a theatre and paying admission.
A full list of performance locations, dates and times is posted on the company’s website throughout the season here.
Performances are free but donations from audience members are welcome and will help support the series.
The 35 performances in the Putting Out the Welcome Mat series are made possible with funds from the New York State DanceForce, a partnership program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul & the New York State Legislature; Stewart’s Shops; Dance Alliance, Inc.; Howard & Bush Foundation; and the Upstate Theater Coalition for a Fairgame Grant Program as well as many individual donors to the company in honor of the milestone anniversary.
For further information, visit the company’s web site here or email ESDC at info@sinopolidances.org.