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Dear Friend,

Over the weekend, I was one of more than a thousand people who were awed and delighted by this year’s winter showcase, Circus Snowcase. Nearly 100 students, both youth and adults, showed the skills and artistry they’ve learned over months and years of training circus at our school. As a long-time community member, I’ve seen many of our shows. As the Board Chair of Circus Center, I’ve also seen how our organization changes lives with the power of circus arts education.

We believe in the extraordinary power of learning circus. It goes beyond physical development to encompass expressive creativity, emotional and social growth, and enhanced mental well-being. From balance and strength to agility and rhythm, the circus offers something truly unique for every individual.

We also have a steadfast commitment to equity. The gift of circus arts education should be available to everyone, and we are breaking down the barriers imposed by finances, race, gender, sexuality, nationality, or body type. Diversity is our strength, and our mission is to ensure that circus arts education is accessible to all.
 
Last year alone, we provided over $100,000 in need-based financial aid to families attending classes at our Frederick Street headquarters. Our Tenderloin satellite program, now in its 6th year, has become a beacon of inclusion and empowerment in one of the city’s most under-resourced and historically excluded communities. Between these two programs, we provide thousands of hours of circus arts education to hundreds of children every year at reduced or no cost.

Despite the tremendous support we receive from foundations, city agencies, and corporate philanthropies, it is the generosity of individuals like you that truly propels our mission forward. Your donations have been instrumental in launching and sustaining programs that bring the joy of circus arts to everybody.

To see the tangible impact of your support, I invite you to watch the video above showcasing our commitment to equity in action. Your contribution, no matter the amount—whether it's $100, $1,000, or $10—will make a significant difference. Your gift is an investment in making circus arts education accessible to everybody in San Francisco.

Click the DONATE button and become part of the movement that is breaking down barriers and opening doors to a world of possibilities. Your gift, your commitment, and your belief in the transformative power of circus arts are deeply appreciated.

Thank you for being an essential part of the Circus Center family.

With gratitude,

Sophie Turrell

Board Chair

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With a mix of sadness and deep gratitude, Circus Center announces that Felicity Hesed has stepped down from her position as Artistic Director. During her two years in the role, Felicity embraced the vision for our school and produced two years of artistic development opportunities (i.e., shows!) that were ambitious, diverse, and entertaining for audiences.

“Working with the students, staff, and community at Circus Center has been an incredible honor and joy!” says Felicity.  “It has been inspiring to help Circus Center’s students grow as performing artists. Personally, I have learned and grown so much as well.”  

“I am stepping down as AD in order to start my own circus theater company - People’s Circus Theatre,” says Felicity.  “I am excited to be taking this next step in my career, and I am confident that it will offer more opportunities for me to see – and work with – many of you!”

Felicity’s last day is today, but she isn’t disappearing. “Circus Center is still my community!” she says. “I am grateful that Circus Center is supporting me in this new venture; my company, People’s Circus Theatre, will be in residence at Circus Center. In addition, Giovanni will continue to train in SFYC.”

Please, if you’re one of the many people who have appreciated working with Felicity and seeing her work while our Artistic Director, take a moment to send her a thank you note! 

CLICK TO EMAIL FELICITY - felicity@peoplescircustheatre.org

CLICK TO LEARN ABOUT FELICITY’S NEW COMPANY: PEOPLE’S CIRCUS THEATRE - www.peoplescircustheatre.org

OUR TRIBUTE

Written by Executive Director Barry Kendall

On behalf of everyone at Circus Center, THANK YOU SO MUCH, Felicity, for everything that you have contributed to Circus Center over the years, especially during your 2+ years as Artistic Director.

You were essential in keeping the flame alive at Circus Center through the pandemic. (Your leadership here FAR predates COVID, but the pandemic certainly marked the start of a new chapter for all of us!) When lockdown happened in March 2020, you were already in rehearsal for Midsummer. You and your team decided to keep going, and pivoted the project to an online video series, complete with recaps and dance tutorials. During those terrible, bewildering weeks at the beginning of the crisis, Midsummer was our lifeline to circus as a lived, embodied, performed art.

The same spirit of perseverance and belief in art’s healing power animated your 2021 Circus Pop Ups series of site-specific outdoor performances. And not long after those began, you started your tenure as our Artistic Director. 

In this role, you embraced the vision of our school and produced two years of artistic development opportunities that were ambitious, diverse, and entertaining for audiences. As a reminder to everyone, here is a list of productions during Felicity’s tenure:

• Master Class with Lu Yi and Xiaohong Weng
• 2021 Trailblazers Gala - a celebration of Chinese Acrobatics
• Back from the Dead - Halloween Sideshow Cabaret
• Alice in Winterland - 2021 Winter Showcase
• Delkhii - co-production with Mongolian Contortion Center
• San Francisco’s Got Talent - Sideshow Cabaret
• Circus at the End of the World (SFYC Show)
• Circus Center at the GGP Bandshell
• Déjà Vu - “classic” Circus Center Cabaret
• The Secret Garden - summer show
• Unhing’d - Human Animation show
• 2022 Trailblazers Gala - celebrating Women in Circus
• My Body My Circus - Sideshow Cabaret
• Alice! - 2022 Winter Showcase
• Dropping the Ball - cabaret-style juggling show
• TRY/BE - SFYC show
• Sideshow Cabaret: 2BTru’s Terrific Time Trip - co-production with Bow & Arrow Circus
• The Secret Garden at Children’s Creativity Museum

ALL this, along with work-in-progress showings, artist residencies, and more, were just PART of your job. The realities of the pandemic meant that you and I also had to split the duties of rebuilding and running the training programs here! As part of our overall goal to “build back better,” you successfully led a collaborative effort by our coaches to overhaul the curriculum and structure of our youth program. You also, of course, then provided the management needed to see that new program implemented – and grow at an incredible rate.

It all adds up to an extraordinary legacy of vital contributions to Circus Center at one of the most challenging and pivotal times in its history (and we’ve seen a few!).

The many shows that you’ve directed in the last few years have also been an undeniable demonstration of your talent as a director and the uniqueness of your artistic vision. It was no surprise, then, when you and I began to talk about your need for a company to pursue that vision and make the kind of work you want to make. As you know, I’m so excited for this next chapter in your career, and I’m very happy that Circus Center can offer your new project our highest possible level of support as one of our two resident companies, alongside Serchmaa’s Mongolian Contortion Center. We are proud and honored to house you both.

I hope that everybody will take a moment to add your best wishes and expressions of gratitude to ours, and/or take a moment to speak with Felicity in person. Fortunately, as she said, this is far from goodbye, which is one more thing to be grateful for.