Year: 2026-2027
DanceForce Member: Jim Self
Artists: Rik Daniels; Troy Lingelbach; Jim Self
Community Partners: Cherry Arts Space; Circus Culture; Cornell University Outdoor Education; Hupstate Circus Festival
Audience: 490
County: Tompkins

‘REALIZATIONS’ Project has three parts: 1) Troy Lingelbach’s new work, “Smilla,” will premiere at HupState Circus Festival 2026; 2) Rik Daniels will receive rehearsal support and preparation time for Jamestown Dance Festival 2026; and 3) June Dance 2027 will once again be at the Cherry Art Space in Ithaca for the seventh year since its inception.

1)On Labor Day Weekend 2026 Brooklyn based artist Troy Lingelbach will premiere ‘Semilla,’ a new outdoor work, at Hupstate Circus Festival in Ithaca. Troy has been working on this new project since a 2025 creative residency in Ithaca. With masterful skill at trapeze, burlesque, and performance-art, Troy has mesmerized Ithaca audiences since 2024. This highly anticipated new solo work promises to carry on that tradition. Literally “breaking out,” ‘Semilla’ is this artist’s first time performing aerial dance of this scale in the great outdoors. The new project is described by Amy Cohen, director of HupState Circus, as: “an exciting collaboration with Cornell outdoor education that includes a community picnic in the woods prior to the show.” DanceForce support will help Troy in the final stages of getting the performance ready and performing two outdoor shows (exact times tbd). There will also be open rehearsals and showings, and two workshops led by Troy. The audiences/participants are estimated at 340.

2) Rik Daniels, chair dancer, circus and burlesque artist, is developing new work to be presented at the Jamestown Dance Festival -September 10-12, 2026 (exact times TBA). Rik, who is known for his surprising and moving autobiographically-based performances, will be rehearsing, showing informal ‘in-progress’ work, and finalizing technical details in Ithaca prior to traveling to the Jamestown festival. Estimated audience for these showings is 25 people.

3) Continuing into its 7th year, June Dance at the Cherry 2027 will showcase Tompkins County movement artists working with the theme, ‘REALIZATIONS.’ As Troy and Rik are realizing and completing new work, so too will 4 -5 local performer/choreographers present work in June Dance 2027 at the Cherry – June 11 and 12. Choreographers and artists of different genres, and a wide range of ages and demographics ,will be invited to present pieces based on the subject of “Realizations”. June Dance has had great success with participants from all age decades (20’s though 70’s). The exact lineup will be finalized by February of 2027. Two performances will host up to 130 attendees.

‘REALIZATIONS’ Project continues an active strategy of celebrating and supporting Tompkins County artists, while hosting guest movement artists of exceptional quality. Having Troy as a multiple-time visiting artist, and supporting Rik’s ongoing development are two of the best embodiments of this strategy. It allows for real, lasting, and valuable relationships with the dance, circus, and performance-art communities that cannot be overstated.