Year round, SANCA’s Artist in Residence (AIR) Program provides rehearsal space and support to circus artists creating new work. Usually, the artists develop a show to perform on stages around the US and beyond. Not this time! Recent Artists in Residence, Leah Jones, Emma Curtiss, Laura Burch and Danny Boulet took their vision not to the stage, but to the screen. With their video ready to be seen on small screens everywhere, Leah and Emma took some time from teaching, training and performing to tell us all about it. – Susie Williams, AIR Program Coordinator

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

How did this project come about?

Emma Curtiss: Leah calls me one day and is like, “Emma, here’s what’s going to happen. I have a vision. There’s going to be a video. We’re going to do it. You, me, and Laura. I see the color red. There’s a song.” And that was about it. 

Leah Jones: Yeah. That sounds about right!

So the song sparked the idea?

LJ: Originally, I had the idea to a different song. The first song was more hard hitting and intense. I was thinking about the fact that Emma and Laura have this natural intensity and power to them. The second song is much more playful and chill, and I love juxtaposition. So I thought, oh, this is much more interesting to me.

What made you think of it as a video and not as something you would perform live?

LJ: I have visions only in video editing.

EC: This is something I’ve learned about Leah—one of her art departments is purely from an editing mind.

You mean like an internal art department?

EC: Yeah, internal department. She’s got a few different departments. Some of them have escalators that cross-pollinate a little bit. But one is just editing. It’s all about how she can imagine putting something together in a video. For this you came with these ideas about, I think the phrase is ‘match cut’. 

LJ: I wanted it to almost feel like you couldn’t always tell . . . one woman cut into the next woman and . . . We were all representing the same kind of ferocity . . .

How much did you work with Emma and Laura before you started filming?

LJ: The prompt I gave them was to make a minute long sequence and it doesn’t really matter what it is.

EC: And I didn’t do that. I just improvised the whole time. 

LJ: To Celine Dion. 

On purpose? 

EC: I did. Yes. She inspires a lot of really solid movement out of me. It’s true. And Laura came in with a pretty fierce sequence.

Did you have the actual song in advance? 

EC: We definitely did. You’d think I’d improv to the song but Celine really brings it for me.

How many times did you repeat a sequence? Or were you improvising the whole time?

EC: There were a few things I repeated because I was hoping we would get them [on film] but so much of what I assumed we would take to use in editing, we didn’t. Leah is really looking for these very humanistic moments that I don’t know how to describe. 

LJ: It’s like a charcuterie board. I know I want this cheese, and I know I want this other thing, but I don’t know the specifics. In making the board, that’s when I realize—oh, this cheese is actually slightly too salty. As it’s happening, I have really strong opinions about what I want and don’t want. It’s totally intuition, and it just comes out through the process.

Leah, do you feel like what you know about circus skills and apparatus plays into your instincts about what will work on camera?

LJ: For me, it doesn’t feel so much about apparatus as knowing the artists’ work. Knowing how Emma moves, knowing how Laura moves . . . 

And knowing what [videographer] Danny can do. 

LJ: Which is limitless! Danny and I always have conversations ahead of time. I’ll rarely use technical terms. In this case, the only one I used was match cut. Other than that, I just say I want it to feel like this and he can always do it.

Leah, I know that you and Danny are married. How does everybody else know each other? 

EC: I met Laura through Leah very recently. I knew she was a circus person around. I’ve met her up at the [Bellingham Circus] Guild. I really dig her style and dig her tissu. Leah and I really got to know each other when we were at 12[th Avenue Arts], a year and a half ago for [Acrobatic Conundrum’s] Volume 9 show that we were in together. 

LJ: One fact that I want to get in is that Emma was Laura’s tissu idol. I think that’s a really sweet connection. Laura and I met because she came to my straps class at [Versatile Arts, now called New Moon Movement Arts] seven years ago or something like that. 

EC: And now you’re part of like this core group of people, four women. The pride of lions. 

Leah, Laura, Dream [Frohe] and PJ [Perry]. The lionesses. 

LJ: There’s a crew, there’s a strong crew up there [in Bellingham].

So then why’d you guys come [to SANCA] to film this?

EC: I really like the floor here. The floor is really good and familiar. Also, I’ve done projects at SANCA in the past, but not in a really long time. So it was an interesting experiment to see how the AIR Program was going to work out for us. 

LJ: And also the black backdrop. If we wanted to do more circular roaming stuff, we couldn’t have done that at the Guild without having a totally chaotic background.

So let’s talk about the residency program. How did the program support your project?

EC: It was amazing. It was super supportive. 

LJ: There weren’t too many hurdles. It was nice to have the green light.

EC: It felt effortless to make the idea happen. The issue isn’t coming up with an idea. It’s beginning to move forward and have momentum with that idea. It’s crucial to keep that momentum. Sometimes just collaborating with other artists can be a problem, just scheduling or you just lose steam . . . let alone figuring out a space and what kind of red tape could exist and all that. So it was really wonderful to come in exactly the way we wanted and the way that Leah envisioned and execute the vision without feeling impinged in any way. It was really awesome. 

I want to ask you both, with this project—what are you most happy with/proud of/excited about that happened on purpose? And what are you most happy with/proud of/excited about that happened on accident?

LJ: I guess the obvious answer is that the match cuts were so effective. I love the idea of taking three artists who each have their own style and then uniting them through the editing. I think it worked. It was a total through line and it wasn’t jarring to watch. It just felt fluid. Something that happened spontaneously was when Laura threw the fabric. Danny thought it was cool, and said let’s do it again. So she did it over and over again. It was perhaps, sorry Emma, but perhaps my favorite visual.

EC: That’s ok! I was the one filming it! In video, what’s really special is that you take these moments that we all can experience in live performance that are over so quickly—just the way that someone moves their head or the way someone tosses their apparatus. It’s something small. By playing with time and the angle of the camera, it’s almost like you get to suspend yourself in that really delicious place and luxuriate. 

LJ: You can see all the frames. In real life it would happen too fast. 

EC: In real life, we’d still be struck by this feeling and we’d enjoy it but we wouldn’t be able to feather it out into a fine detail like under a microscope. That’s what’s so cool about videos. You get to really indulge in things that light you up about circus. 

LJ: You also get to play outside the realm of physics. Like with the throws, I got to rewind them and punctuate them in the middle—which would never happen. You get to change the laws of movement.

It’s interesting because often people think circus artists can already resist physics. But as a circus artist you truly are very beholden to it. You’re trying to understand: how can I work with physics? 

LJ: You’re completely in a partnership with physics and to be liberated from that—but you still get to have this beautiful movement—it is just incredible.

Director, Emerald City Operations and Productions

GENERAL OVERVIEW

The Director of Emerald City Operations and Productions has a key role, responsible for overseeing the on site daily operations at Emerald City Trapeze Arts. Duties include directing facilities maintenance projects as well as acting as a point person for outside stakeholders (such as landlords or safety inspectors) and an escalation point for front desk and programs. 

In addition, as Director of Production, this person will oversee and coordinate all aspects of shows and  productions put on in the space, such as in-house shows, co-productions, rentals, and external events. Duties therein include budgeting and providing accounting for these events, keeping the calendar up to date, hiring and leading production staff, interfacing with the programs team as it pertains to production, and overseeing the space shifts between classroom and venue.  The Operations Director (Director Production) reports to the Executive Director of SANCA.

COMPENSATION:

Annual Salary:  $65,000-$75,000

FSLA: OT- Exempt position.
Benefits:  Benefits include free access to circus classes, free and/or discounted circus classes for immediate family, and free use of the gym for training and fitness.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills.  The list is illustrative only, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class.  Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Operations Management:

• • Directs daily operations of  ECTA, keeping an eye on facilities needs and requesting repairs or maintenance on a project basis.
  • Acts as a point person for outside stakeholders such as the landlord and safety inspectors.
  • Supervises front desk and class operations to ensure positive student services and solve employee issues as they arise.
  • Directs all operational functions for planning, scheduling and executing rentals and parties, collaborating across department lines to ensure success.
  • Oversees calendar and scheduling for space use to ensure most efficient use of the facilities while avoiding conflicts.
  • Creates a positive working atmosphere while maintaining accountability.
  • Communicates changes in policy to staff as needed. 
  • Models and supports the Mission and Values of Emerald City Trapeze by showing commitment to work toward diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, creating a space of belonging for all audiences and employees.
  • Participates in discussion around planning programming for efficient space use and success. 

• Production Oversight:

• • Manages production schedules, standards, policies, and expectations ensuring efficient use of facilities while in a production setting.
  • Creates financial plans, keeps track of accounting, and delivers reports to bookkeepers  to ensure projects stay within budget, and that employees and contractors get paid for event related work. 
  • In charge of hiring and managing all production and event related staff.
  • Collaborates with program managers to integrate production and program operations.
  • Provides input for production related programming.
  • Provides top level management of all technical aspects of assigned projects: monitors design process checkpoints and takes action as appropriate in order to facilitate timely design deliverables.
  • Oversees administrative systems such as annual budgeting for the Production Department and capital expenditure planning for the Production Department.
  • Sits on co-production panel to select Co-Production Partners

QUALIFICATIONS:

The ideal candidate will have a strong experiential knowledge base and/or education in technical theater and event planning, in addition to  knowledge of general circus arts. They will possess 5 plus years experience in project or team management as well as exceptional communication and leadership skills.  They will work well with others and have a strong ability to foster a creative, open-minded work environment; they will be open to new and different ideas, with a willingness to celebrate the successes of their team members. They are also able to work independently when necessary. 

Strong work experience in a related position would reflect a candidate likely to hit the ground running and be successful in this role. We will also consider candidates whose experiences and learning have come through non-traditional paths. 

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING CONDITIONS: 

This position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, kneeling, and bending in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires grasping and repetitive hand movement using a computer keyboard. The position requires near and far vision in reading correspondence, using a computer, and in the safe supervision of staff and students. The ability to communicate is required when providing phone and personal service. 

Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodations. 

To apply please send resume and cover letter to recruiter@sancaseattle.org

Finance – Full Charge Bookkeeper

Job Title: Full Charge Bookkeeper

Job Type: Part-Time (20-30 hours per week)

Compensation: $32- $45 pay range

Summary: The Finance assistant (Bookkeeper) is responsible for maintaining accurate financial records, processing transactions, and supporting the Executive Director, Human Resources Director and Board in day-to-day financial activities.

Responsibilities:

·  Accounts Payable and Receivable:

·  Process invoices, payments, and receipts

·  Manage accounts payable and receivable processes.

·  Ensure timely and accurate processing of invoices, payments, and receipts.

·  Audit and Compliance:

·  Coordinate the annual audit process and liaise with external auditors.

·  Ensure compliance with applicable financial regulations and reporting requirements.

·  Reconcile monthly bank statements.

·   Identify and resolve discrepancies.

·  Cash Flow Management:

·  Monitor and manage cash flow to ensure the organization’s financial stability.

·  Implement effective cash management procedures.

·  Data Entry:

·  Enter financial transactions into the accounting system.

·  Maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records.

·  Payroll Management:

·  Leave and payroll processing.

·  Ensure accurate recording of payroll transactions.

·  Financial Reporting:

·  Provide and prepare financial reports.

·  Provide necessary documentation for audits and reviews.

·  Recordkeeping:

·  Maintain organized and systematic financial records.

·  File and store financial documents appropriately.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, or a related field or relevant work experience.
• Proven experience as a finance assistant or bookkeeper, preferably in a nonprofit setting.
• Knowledge of nonprofit accounting principles and compliance.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient in financial software (Quickbooks ) and Google Suite.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

TO APPLY:
Please email your resume and cover letter to hr@sancaseattle.org

Description: SANCA’s Camp Program provides a fun, engaging, and safe experience for children between ages 6 and 15, with camps grouped by age. Coaches will instruct campers in trampoline, tumbling, aerial rope and fabric, static trapeze, partner acrobatics, German wheel, unicycle, juggling, and other circus skills. Coaches will help to create an exciting and fun experience that incorporates teamwork, a positive atmosphere, and the joy of circus, helping campers through the challenge of learning new things by breaking difficult or complex skills down into steps, and helping their students feel successful at their own pace.

Camp coaches are part-time, ranging from 5.75 to 36 hours per week. Camp coach shifts are 5.75-8 hours long and between 8:30 am and 5 pm on camp days. Camps coincide with Seattle Public School’s school breaks and in-service days, including Winter Holiday breaks, Mid-Winter break, Spring break, state in-service days, and Summer break. Winter Holiday break, Mid-Winter break, and Spring break are typically one week, Monday-Friday.  Summer Break Camps run for 10 weeks, Monday-Friday, starting June 24th and ending August 30th. In-service day camps tend to be single day camps.

Compensation and Benefits 

The starting rate for a Camp Coach is $21/hr. As an employee you will be eligible for all benefits listed within the Employee Handbook. Included in these benefits are: 

• Free tuition for regular session classes when space is available 
• Reduced tuition for most workshops 
• Limited free tuition for an immediate family member taking session classes 
• Free private training at SANCA during open hours and with specific requirements on closed days 

Job Duties and Responsibilities:
– Adhere to SANCA’s policies, objectives, and rules
– Support SANCA’s Mission and Vision
– Participate in SANCA Camp staff paid training
– Present a warm and welcoming demeanor towards campers and parents, and engage with campers in a fun and constructive manner
– Maintain a safe environment for the student, physically and emotionally
– Supervise campers in a variety of circus skills and apparatuses as assigned by SANCA’s camp management team
– Coach circus classes emphasizing safety, positivity, and small steps to success.
– Follow the curriculum and weekly rotation schedule
– Present a high level of professionalism as a teacher/representative of SANCA
– Communicate with other coaches teaching concurrently with you to maintain good flow throughout the gym and rotation of use of equipment
– Communicate with the camp management team about needs, challenges, and student progress
– Be present and ready to greet campers 30 minutes before camp starts and work with other coaches to clean up camp areas 30 minutes after camp ends (this is paid time)
– Manage social interactions in downtime, including transition moments, snack breaks, and lunches
– Provide motivational support and guidance to campers
– Communicate and enforce SANCA’s Health and Safety protocols

Qualifications:
The ideal candidate would:
– Have experience working with and/or instructing culturally diverse youth
– Have good class management skills
– Have a working knowledge of children’s physical and cognitive development
– Working knowledge in movement-based activities, especially circus or gymnastics, and willingness to learn additional movements and skills required
– Have the willingness to learn on the job
– Be able to lift equipment and spot students where appropriate
– Exercise mature judgment and sound decision-making
– Demonstrate an enthusiastic attitude and positive demeanor

CAMPS HEAD COACH
Position Description

General Overview
The Camp Head Coach is a seasonal position that leads the coaching staff for SANCA’s  camp programs during Camps that run in conjunction with Seattle Public School’s breaks. The Camps head coach adapts SANCA’s general circus curriculum for camp needs, trains the coaches for School Break Camps when needed, and creates the rotation schedule for each camp cohort. Each day during camps the Camps Head Coach is present to support the program and the staff. 

Hours: The standard work hours for this position are 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday for specific dates. Holiday Break Camp Dates are 12/18/23-12/22/23 and 12/26/23-12/29/23.

Mid-Winter Break Camp (2/19/24-2/23/24), Spring Break Camp (4/8/24-4/12/24), School’s Out Day Camps (dates TBD ), Turkey Camp (11/18/24-11/20/24). 

Seasonal Variation: Please note that due to the seasonal nature of our camps, there may be

periods during the year in 2024 where work demands fluctuate. During certain weeks in 2024,

the work hours for this position may be adjusted to 10-15 hours per week. These adjustments

will be communicated well in advance, and the employee is expected to plan accordingly

TO APPLY:
Please email your cover letter and resume to hr@sancaseattle.org.
The position is open until filled. Questions may be asked by email only to hr@sancaseattle.org

COMPENSATION:
Compensation is $26.00 – $28.00 hourly, with full time hours expected during school break camps. Part-time hours expected (5-15 hours) in the two weeks leading up to school break camps. Benefits:  Benefits include free circus classes for staff, free use of SANCA’s gym for training and fitness, and free and/or discounted circus classes for direct family of staff. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills.  The list is illustrative only, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class.  Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Trains school breaks camp coaches on an ongoing basis as needed in collaboration with Camp Manager
• Manage camp coaching staff of 10-14 camp coaches during daily operations of Camp
• Adapts SANCA’s general circus curriculum for camp needs
• Creates a rotating schedule of activities for campers in collaboration with Camp Manager
• Assigns coaches to appropriate teaching positions in collaboration with Camp Manager
• Is present each camp day to problem solve, provide support, and fill in as needed
• Works with and communicates effectively with other SANCA staff to support a positive environment. 
• Obtain some basic Coaching Theory training provided by our Head Coach
• Handles other camp related duties as assigned by the Camps Manager 

QUALIFICATIONS:

The ideal candidate will have at least 5 years of experience in coaching youth circus and/or camp program leadership. Excellent communication skills with coaches, parents, and campers are a must, as well as a positive attitude and willingness to be a part of a team. Required certifications: CPR/First Aid, Heads Up Concussion Training, SafeSport Sexual Misconduct Prevention, and able to pass a background check.

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING CONDITIONS: 

This position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, kneeling, and bending in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires grasping and repetitive hand movement using a computer keyboard. The position requires near and far vision in reading correspondence, using a computer, and in the safe supervision of staff and students. The ability to communicate is required when providing phone and personal service. 

Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodations. 

SASS

SANCA’s Annual Showcase Spectacular

One weekend a year SANCA presents a showcase of four unique circus performances featuring students, alumni, staff, and friends. Each show features a different line up of spectacular local and internationally renowned circus performers alongside SANCA’s tremendously talented student performers. Our students and staff spend months developing skills and acts in preparation for the showcase. Audiences will be treated to daring displays of acrobatics, high-flying aerials, juggling, and much, much more!

All ages are welcome!

Hurry! Tickets sell very fast for SASS!

DATES & TIMES

Friday, November 17th at 7pm, Doors at 6pm
Saturday, November 18th at 3pm & 7pm, Doors at 2:30pm & 6pm
Sunday, November 19th at 3pm, Doors at 2:30pm

LOCATION
Emerald City Trapeze Arts
2702 6th Ave South, Seattle, WA 98134

TICKETS

General Admission: $20 in advance, $25 at the door
Youth Admission: (17 and under) $15 in advance, $18 at the door

Buy Tickets & Learn More! 

Job Title: Circus Access Programs Administrative Assistant

FSLA: Part time, non-exempt

Reports to: Circus Access Programs Manager

Description: The Administrative Assistant (AA) is a member of the Circus Access Programs Staff and is responsible for providing administrative support to the Circus Access Programs Manager. Circus Access Programs refers to SANCA’s Social Circus and Every Body’s Circus (EBC) programs. These programs are created for underserved communities and differently abled communities, respectively. The AA position is currently part-time. Hours will vary depending on specific events occurring within the organization, but are currently estimated at 5-10 hours per week. Some work can be done remotely, however occasionally duties will be required on site.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

– Conducting a portion of intake interviews for prospective EBC students. Intake interviews entail meeting families, assessing  student needs, and determining whether the student would benefit most from group or 1:1 classes.

– Interacting with Social Circus and EBC students and parents show new students/families around the gym.

– Answering email inquiries about Social Circus and EBC

– Registering students for classes and/or assisting students to register themselves.

– Communicating with and billing the case managers of students that use DDA funding for respite care, communicating via email and billing through ProviderOne.

– Performing general clerical duties including, but not limited to: data entry, copying, faxing, mailing and filing.

– Creating and modifying documents using word processing, spreadsheet, database and/or other presentation software.

– Supervising volunteers and other support personnel.

– Assisting with special events, such as fundraising activities and productions.

– Maintaining a student database.

– Informing students/families of change in class placement if the student is/becomes a good fit for a rec class, EBC group class, or 1:1 class..

– Other various projects and tasks as assigned

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate would have:

– A background of working with underserved and/or differently-abled communities or enthusiasm and dedication to learn best practices for working with these communities.

– Comfort working with children and their families to create and communicate consistent systems of care.

-Ability to operate standard office equipment, including but not limited to computers, telephone systems,

calculators, copiers and facsimile machines.

– Good writing, analytical and problem-solving skills.

– Knowledge of principles & practices of organization, planning, records management & general administration.

– Ability to communicate effectively and professionally

– Ability to follow oral and written instructions.

– Ability to work well independently as well as on a team.

-Familiarity with Google Suite.

SANCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. www.sancaseattle.org

Previous administrative experience preferred.

Compensation: $23.00/hour

To apply, a resume and cover letter should be sent to hr@sancaseattle.org