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The Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company offers a striking collection of dance works by Artistic Director Ellen Sinopoli. Her choreography spans the spectrum from brilliant transient gems to stunning full evening works
Current Repertory:
Brink - This dance ingeniously dives into the disparate and compelling music of Dave Douglas, American trumpeter and two-time Grammy nominated jazz musician. "Thisis a cool, ultra-hip work that devoured space while expending gobs of energy..." Sepia - Set to Aaron Copland's "Music for the Theater" this ensemble work is at times reflective or exuberant, nuanced or bold, goofy or grand. "The dancers are a band of faries or a Grecian frieze come to life..." |
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Contrapuntal Fling - Leonard Bernstein's "Prelude, Fugue and Riffs" drives this energetic piece as the dancers scat, syncopate, shadow and swing to a truly extraordinary array of sound.
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Compas – A dance delightfully filled with the singular energy and dynamic of the “compas” (groove) for Flamenco: Tango, Siguiriya, Farruca, Rumba and Bulerias. Maria Zemantauski’s stunning musical composition is fused with an array of jazz and funk that takes the dancers and audience on a most enticing ride.
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Oh My… - A whimsical suite of five mood swinging dances, inspired by snippets of prose collected by Sinopoli and the music from the classical crossover disc “Appalachia Waltz” by Edgar Meyer, Mark O’Connor and Yo-Yo Ma.
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The Walk - A solo choreographed to music by Cornelius Duffalo of the string quartet Ethel that explores the styles of walking, but with a flair.
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Into Dark Moods - An ensemble for five dancers that explores the sense of disconnect, so much a part of the world today. The work is choreographed to “Pottery Shards” composed by Münir Beken for string orchestra after a visit to Western Asia Minor.
“a gripping portrayal of the desperate and lonely” ~ Daily Gazette
Spill Out! - Challenging the limits of movement and space, ESDC goes to the extreme edge of discovery as the dance, music, video and lighting create an evening of visual enchantment.
“not only intrigues, but also transports us to somewhere we’ve never been before” ~ Times Union
Vooz-é-la - Set to four songs by Zap Mama whose eclectic mixture of styles hovers somewhere between soul, gospel, pygmy song and Afro-Cuban rhythms, ESDC’s dancers are propelled and inspired by the acrobatic female voices of these extraordinary singers.
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Ream - Drawn to the twists, turns, suspensions and rhythms of Maria Zemantauski’s classical guitar, Sinopoli conjures images of reams of paper being released from high above. As she watched the fascinating journey of descent, her solo work for a female dancer gracefully drifted into being. |
Jammin’ - Sinopoli makes a sizzling connection with Laurel Masse (one of the premiere jazz and cabaret artists of her generation and co-founder of the Grammy award-winning vocal group Manhattan Transfer) and Adrian Warnock-Graham (a cool, cool swing dancer whose improvisational shenanigans dazzle).
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Animal Rhythms - ESDC partners with composer/percussionist Brian Melick to create a fascinating exploration of animal movement through original live music. This dance puts forth the fun and engaging movements and images of animals moving across the veldt - noble and graceful giraffes, laughing and mocking gibbons and elegant gazelles that run like the wind.
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Falling – Commissioned by The Egg for its 25th anniversary, this dance features music composed and performed by percussionist Brian Melick and guitarist Maria Zemantauski.
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Becoming – Based on a Rainer Maria Rilke poem, this dance for a solo female pulsates with longing, questioning and beauty to Zoe B. Zak’s music for voice and accordion that brings a captivating combination of tonalities that are tied to her Jewish-American roots.
“the dance simmered with uncertain longing…” ~ Times Union
Rising Low – Choreographed to music by Otis Taylor (blues) and Iris DeMent (country), Sinopoli tells a poignant tale of loss and loneliness.
“Rising Low is one of those works that resonates into the deepest recesses of the heart and mind.” ~ Daily Gazette
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Winged – Commissioned by The Egg for its 25th anniversary, this dance features vocalist Siobhan Quinn and is inspired by the imagery of birds – free and soaring as well as still and flightless, bound to the earth.
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Coming & Going – Dancing to music by “Junkman” Don Knaack, the entire company blasts it way onto the stage with high-flying energy and fearless athleticism.
“Knaack’s one-man gamelan orchestra of oil drums, fly swatters, pot lids and plastic drainage tubing, fuelled the split-leg jumps, runs, crashed and rolls of [the dancers]” ~ Metroland
From the mind, of a single, long vine, one hundred opening lives - Bold spirited choreography intertwines with Jim Lewis’ finely crafted sculptures to carve a landscape of vivacity and intimacy. A full evening work, the dance unearths and delves into the legends, secrets and anecdotes emanating from these African influenced designs.
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Regalis – A lush ensemble work set to a cello score by Gideon Freudmann. Truly, music in motion.
“rich with sensual texture of draping arms, long extensions, soft rolls” ~ Times Union
Dreams– A passionate duet that explores dreams and sleep, set to the haunting music of Arvo Paert.
...arrested the intangible state of sleep and the mysteries of a dream - in moments of fear and those of fancy... ~ Daily Gazette
Vain Endeavors – A spoof that offers a witty and satirical look at the world of high society and all of its false pretensions.
"..a clever trio that satirizes narcissism, envy and one-upmanship…a dance of madness, obsessiveness disguised as fine manners ..." ~ Metroland
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Tiamat – Provocative and primitive. Finely detailed moves, from compressed shapes to splayed extensions to quirky arrangements and isolations, capture the audience.
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Clusters - A mesmerizing ensemble work involving patterns of groupings and clusters that combine crystallizing stillness and sculpted form with the shattering effect of loose driving energy.
“a mature work of art that was seductive, ritualistic and completely mesmerizing ” ~ Daily Gazette
Pierre ’s Words - A multi-layered work with dancers, musicians and a poet responding to and guided by the electronic orchestration of composer Joel Chadabe.
“abstract and expressionistic...shape, motion, balance and velocity on their own terms” ~ Metroland
Segue – witty, playful, surprising with music by Brian Melick
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