Join Artistic Director Arthur Yorinks and choreographer Ellen Sinopoli for an evening of performance, celebration, and artistic discovery as The Big Top Group honors two extraordinary figures whose work has shaped the cultural life of our region and expanded the possibilities of contemporary performance: Ronnye Shamam and Elizabeth Streb.

Through an immersive program of movement, music, circus, and physical theater, the evening will celebrate Ronnye Shamam’s enduring commitment to artists and community and Elizabeth Streb’s fearless, groundbreaking exploration of action, risk, and human potential.

Arthur Yorinks - Artistic Director

Arthur Yorinks is an acclaimed writer, director, and creative collaborator whose career spans theater, opera, dance, film, radio, and children’s literature. The author of more than forty books, including the Caldecott Medal–winning Hey, Al, he has collaborated with such leading artists as Philip Glass, Bill Irwin, Maurice Sendak, and André Serban. In 2024, he founded the New York–based American Physical Theater, a company devoted to creating bold new work through acting, movement, music, sound, and visual design.

Ellen Sinopoli - Choreography

Ellen Sinopoli is an acclaimed choreographer, artistic director, and master teacher whose work has shaped contemporary dance in New York’s Capital Region for more than three decades. As founder and artistic director of the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company, the resident dance company of The Egg in Albany, she has created more than 100 works and collaborated with artists across music, visual art, architecture, literature, film, and science. Through her choreography, teaching, and community engagement, Sinopoli has built a distinctive body of work grounded in curiosity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a commitment to making modern dance accessible.

Ronnye Shamam — Civic Leadership Honoree

Ronnye Shamam is a dedicated advocate for artists and a vital champion of the Capital Region’s cultural community. Through her leadership, generosity, and longstanding commitment to the arts and institutions, she has helped create opportunities for artists and strengthened the organizations that bring creative work to our region.

Elizabeth Streb — Artistic Honoree

Elizabeth Streb is a visionary choreographer, performer, and founder of STREB Extreme Action. Known for her fearless exploration of movement, risk, gravity, and human potential, she has transformed the boundaries of dance and physical performance and inspired generations of artists to imagine what the body can do.

Summer Soiree

An Evening of Performance and Celebration | Proceeds support The Big Top Group’s artists, performances, education programs, and community initiatives.

Team Members