Meet Beth Baker, a Member of SANCA’s Board of Directors   

Beth Baker joined SANCA’s Board of Directors in June 2018. She is a Graphic Design and Marketing Specialist who works with clients on visual design and brand strategies for marketing and promotion. She has a bachelor’s degree of fine arts in graphic design from the Rochester Institute of Technology, in Rochester, New York. Beth flies in the SANCA Flying Trapeze Tent every week with the advanced adult flyers, and takes weekly static trapeze classes.

SANCA: How did you become involved with SANCA?

Beth: I moved to Seattle in 2005 from the East Coast (Upstate NY) and had a desire to get back into the performing arts. Back in high school, I used to dance, do musical theatre, and color guard. I had mentioned to my husband about wanting to get back into a creative activity like that. He came across a two-hour flying trapeze class on Living Social, and thought it might be the perfect fit for me.

SANCA: Was there a challenge or barrier that you faced?

Beth: I’m naturally an introvert. The first few classes I took at SANCA I brought friends with me to make taking fly classes more comfortable. Eventually, I wanted to come to SANCA more and more often, so I was forced to get comfortable talking to other students and attending classes alone, not knowing who might be in my class that day. As time went on and I became a regular flyer, I got to be friends with the other frequent flyers, and we established our own friend group, which always makes the SANCA experience more fun! SANCA helped me become more comfortable with meeting new people.

Flying Trapeze is really about getting out of your comfort zone, embracing the fear, and challenging yourself. Once you finally get comfortable with a trick or skill, you switch it up to learn something new, and go through the whole getting comfortable and confident process all over again. It’s a new experience every single class. I love the work out and mental and physical challenges of wanting to be better at something. The community we have in the fly tent is really encouraging. We push each other to do our best and to do the things that scare us when it comes to flying.

SANCA: How has SANCA impacted your life?

Beth: SANCA has given me so much. A place of common-minded community. A place to better my physical wellness. A place to volunteer to not only better SANCA, but to help better the greater Seattle community.

SANCA: Do you have a favorite circus discipline?

Beth: Flying trapeze! Getting out of safety lines on flying trapeze was a huge achievement for me, as was taking my first advanced trick, a pelicano, out of lines.Also performing in SASS last fall on the high static trapeze bar was a major accomplishment. It was really scary and took a lot of work to feel prepared to perform. Although I had performed in the past this felt different because I pushed myself in my act to try harder tricks, and to perform them higher in the air.

SANCA: What inspired you to serve SANCA’s community as a Board Member?

Beth: After being a student for several years, I became interested in how I could help give back to the community. I saw opportunities where SANCA could grow, and how I could be an advocate for that growth. I thought my skill set as a professional graphic designer in marketing could help expand SANCA’s reach in the broader Puget Sound area. Additionally, I thought I could offer a unique perspective from the view of a student and parent of students.

SANCA: We’re facing challenges now with the COVID-19 pandemic. How has your view of SANCA’s role as an arts organization in Seattle changed or been influenced by this challenge?

Beth: As much as this pandemic has been an extreme challenge for SANCA as an organization, I believe SANCA has made significant strategic moves to ensure SANCA’s survival and eventual re-emergence. I don’t think my view of SANCA has changed much. I think we have always been a shining example of inclusivity and ingenuity, and we continue to be. I also believe our organization has used this time wisely to re-evaluate organizational priorities, with the hope that we will come out the other side of this pandemic stronger financially, more equitable, and as a continued leader in the Seattle arts community.

SANCA: Given the recent incidents of injustice and racism, and long-standing inequities that are profoundly affecting black and brown people right now, do you have thoughts on how the arts in general, and SANCA in particular, can support efforts for justice and equity?

Beth: Education. Listen. Constructive Dialogue. SANCA is doing the work, but we do have a way to go, as do a lot of other organizations. This is not a problem that is going to be solved quickly. Support cannot be just temporary and for appearances. To have justice and equity be sustained long term, it’s how we as an organization respond to and grow from mistakes made by the larger global community, or internally within our own organization.

Interview by Jeff Deveaux, Development Director

Circus is Evolving in the COVID Era with Reopenings and Isolation

7 months into COVID closures we’ve learned how to teach and perform from home, over Zoom and social media, and in some cases it’s made the world smaller — connecting people to those you normally wouldn’t get to work with, or see shows that may not come to your area. We’re all finding our footing as we return to in-person training after breaks and as spaces reopen with various changes to capacity and extra safety precautions. 

Zoppe is back on the road with drive-in circus experiences in California. The whole show is viewable from inside the safety of personal vehicles. Seoul saw their first drive-in circus experiences also in September with a limit of 30 cars per show at the Seoul Street Art Creation Centre. 

Midnight Circus completed their yearly summer tour of Chicago parks without their tent to allow for more distancing to watch the action in the ring. Nimble Arts produced “Circus in Place,” a two-day outdoor festival last weekend, connecting circus performances to the land, including a narrative about how to read the land as told by a Vermont Land Trust Representative along the walk to the performance spaces. 

We’re starting to see shows with performers back in venues, streaming live video while it’s not yet safe to have audiences in the US. CircEsteem in Chicago live-streamed their gala of acts shot in the school, with all performers wearing masks and following safety protocols in mid-September. We can hope more shows like this will be announced as restrictions are lifted. In the past couple weeks, tours are being announced in countries with lower numbers of infections and performers have been called back to work. 

In other good news during the pandemic, Circus Smirkus ran all summer after having all participating families (60 campers for 5 weeks)  and coaches self-isolate before arrival and following safety precautions until the sealed bubble was certain it was COVID-free. By the later weeks they were able to relax distancing and masks to work on skills many people haven’t been able to since before the pandemic. Another silver lining of that bubble was the formation of the collective Search for Sumatra, a group of circus and theatre artists. They streamed their first production the first week of October and ticket sales were used to fund scholarships for minority students for Smirkus in 2021. The show will be rebroadcast via Circus Talk on October 31st.

article by Christine Denker

SANCA is changing its gym.  SANCA has made the decision to reduce our facility footprint to ensure our long-term sustainability and reduce operating overhead both during the pandemic and as we continue the reopening process and reinvent our business after the pandemic. While we will remain in the same location, we are moving out of the North Annex (the space with the Trampolines, tightwires, and more). The equipment in the North Annex will be relocated to the Main Gym and South Annex. SANCA will continue to operate its full slate of programming without interruption (see layout map below).

We will continue to strictly follow all King County guidelines for safe operations during the COVID pandemic. This includes staying well under the maximum number of students permitted in each space. Up to now, we have not come close to matching the maximum occupancy permitted in King County’s current reopen stage. Those guidelines allow us 18 students per bay, but we usually have five students to a bay on average but sometimes as many as ten students.

This move is considered, among staff and Board at SANCA, as a positive. It’s a much-needed reduction of expenses so that we can operate more efficiently in service to our students. During COVID, the reduction in rent cost is really important. The concern that many have had as we have considered this change over the past few months is: will this limit SANCA’s ability to grow once COVID is behind us?

The answer is that SANCA will be able to freely grow even beyond its busiest years prior to the pandemic. If anything, SANCA’s large space has been a luxury. It served its purpose of helping us find different levels of growth. However, it is simply more sustainable and smarter for SANCA to operate a little leaner. All of our budgets and plans for our new layout indicate that SANCA will grow bigger than ever before once we are out of the pandemic. We believe this is the best move to respect the resources SANCA has thanks to our students and many generous donors.

While the move means less physical space, it does not mean less circus. All disciplines of circus will remain at SANCA; we won’t lose any programming. The two best trampolines will move into the Main Gym. The tightwires will move into the South Annex (see map below). The third trampoline will move into the Flying Trapeze tent. Over the next year, we are raising funds to replace the exterior skin of the tent with a new insulated skin that will keep the space warmer and more comfortable in the winter months. That will allow the tent to host aerial, trampoline, and other circus classes when Flying Trapeze is not active. Click here to make a donation to support the Flying Trapeze tent upgrade.

Things will look different, but it will be the same SANCA. After all, the real magic at SANCA is about the people who make circus so joyful and addicting: our dedicated coaches, the phenomenal students, and our hardworking staff.

If you’d like to volunteer to help SANCA move equipment out of the North Annex, we need help on these dates and times:

SANCA is excited to announce a new grant from ArtsWA and the NEA. We are grateful for their support of circus arts and SANCA, especially during the COVID pandemic.

The Washington State Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts has awarded SANCA a $3,000 general support grant. This grant will support, in part, continuing Circus at Home online classes for our community in 2020 & 2021.

Student Sara Kostetzer- Intermediate Acro-Yoga Online

Partner work is an incredible way to work out, not just because you are using your own body and another person’s body to strengthen your muscles, but you are also learning to build strength in trust and communication through your practice. Sara and her partner Eduardo are perfect examples of two students who have built a beautiful foundation in partnership and have learned to strengthen themselves along the way. Sara says she had always wanted Eduardo to join her in her SANCA classes before the pandemic, but their physical distance from the SANCA gym, and work schedules always made it so difficult to get to the classes they wanted to take. But when the news came to shut down the gym, and quarantine orders were in place Sara and Eduardo found SANCA’s online offerings and the class they had always wanted to try together was now available in their own home. Now, three months later, they adore their online class. They have rearranged their weekly workouts, and business meetings so they can make it on time every time. “This is a class we enjoy so much, not only as a workout, but mostly as a couple. This is a moment to connect, work together, enjoy each other, build trust and more than ever, strengthen our relationship.”

Sara and Eduardo are so fun to have in class and to watch them grow is nothing short of amazing. They started out working on basic foundational skills, and trying new things with a bit of caution, but now they are in the advanced class nailing skills with beautiful grace and strong technique. “We need to get the good out of the bad and surely enough, your class has been a highlight of the times we live in.”

As their instructor, it’s impossible not to be impressed with their unwavering dedication to improving themselves and their relationship. Sara and Eduardo are truly an inspiration and a value to our online SANCA community.

article by Amanda Thornton

Meet Kevin Ruddell, SANCA’s Board President

Kevin joined SANCA’s Board of Directors in the fall of 2019, but he and his family have been a part of our SANCA community since our early days. Kevin retired from the world of writing software in 1997 to be an at-home dad. Kevin previously served on the Board of Northwest Girlchoir for seven years, including two years as Board President. He has degrees in Physics and Computer Science. During his twenties, his creative outlet was Modern Dance, and he is pleased to now find artistic expression in circus. Kevin also enjoys photography and took formal and performance photographs for Northwest Girlchoir for many years, and several of his photos from SANCA’s flying trapeze tent have appeared on the SANCA website. Other hobbies include Alpine skiing, open water swimming, martial arts, hiking, travelling, and languages (French, Italian; some Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese; a little Latin, Irish, Japanese, Icelandic, German, Greek, Esperanto).

SANCA: How did you become involved with SANCA?

Kevin: A friend told us about SANCA and we came to the first open house. There, we tried some wire walking and met the friendly people.

SANCA: How has SANCA impacted your life?

Kevin: Our kids did camps and classes for many years, including 6 years of weekly flying trapeze. They developed self-assurance through developing physical skills. My son did a year with the P3 program, which involved a lot of consistent work, culminating in a final performance, of which he was justifiably proud.

After watching my kids’ classes for many years, I signed up for an aerial class in 2013 and gradually began training more intensively, specializing in corde lisse. I have performed several times since, both with SANCA and with other groups. It has given me a means of creative expression which I had been missing for many years. I’ve also taken several trampoline classes and Cyr wheel lessons.

SANCA: Do you have a favorite circus discipline?

Kevin: Corde lisse.

SANCA:  What circus skill have you learned that you’re most proud of?

Kevin: A few years ago, my coach asked me what I wanted to work on. My answer was unclear, but he thought I wanted to work on the hipkey climb, so he demonstrated a beautiful, flowing hipkey climb. This seemed way beyond what I could do then and I was impressed that he thought me capable of such a thing. I studied the video of his demonstration and practiced, and a few weeks later I was able to do a rudimentary form of hipkey climb. This was a milestone for me. It seemed like walking into a wall and passing right through it.

SANCA: What inspired you to serve SANCA’s community as a Board Member?

Kevin: In 2019, Dan Bridge, then Interim Executive Director, asked me to join the Board. Dan and I knew each other from working together years before, so I listened when Dan told me he thought I could be of some help to SANCA. SANCA is a force for good in the community and I was more than happy to see if I could help it develop further.

SANCA: We’re facing challenges now with the COVID-19 pandemic. How has your view of SANCA’s role as an arts organization in Seattle changed or been influenced by this challenge?

Kevin: SANCA has been trying to continue to provide a place where people can experience the joys of circus arts, but it has been really difficult because of the dangers to staff and students from COVID. I’ve been very impressed by the creativity that SANCA has shown in launching the Circus at Home online classes series so that people still have access to their beloved circus classes. Our staff have also gone to tremendous effort to modify the facility so that we can offer limited, socially distant, small classes in our large facility. We’re following King County and the State’s guidelines for Phase 2 re-openings. Many people are anxious because of the pandemic, and SANCA helps by providing an environment for constructive growth for people, which is really good for our mental health.

SANCA: Given the recent incidents of injustice and racism, and long-standing inequities that are profoundly affecting black and brown people right now, do you have thoughts on how the arts in general, and SANCA in particular, can support efforts for justice and equity?

Kevin: Black people have experienced persecution for a very long time in this country, continuing to the present day. SANCA needs to make an environment where Black people feel safe, important, and included at SANCA. Prior to COVID, SANCA had already started new efforts to do this with the formation of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team. It’s led by staff members who are people of color, and they are developing action recommendations for SANCA — including a few that we’re already in the process of implementing, like sharing the stories of our BIPOC staff, students, and artists. We’ll start seeing those stories in the SANCA newsletter and with regular social media postings on Tuesdays.

Interview by Jeff Deveaux, Development Director

Circus Voices in BLM

We are still in the middle of so many things happening this year. We previously talked about some of the BIPOC voices in circus currently sharing their stories. This is a continuation of that prior article. It’s important for us to hear voices from varied backgrounds and insight into experiences different than our own. Here we look at 3 more voices of color currently speaking up in the circus industry. 

Paris the Hip Hop Juggler recently spoke with Jonathon Iverson on  In Center Ring. He joined an afterschool circus program at his school in Harlem at 9 years old and that was just the beginning. In 7th grade he joined a performing arts school where circus was part of the daytime curriculum. He originally didn’t like juggling, till he was inspired by the right teacher, and he was hooked. He got his moniker from appearing on The Today Show at 14 years old. They discuss both having parents who are immigrants who don’t see the point of non practical traditional careers. Paris lied and told his parents he wanted to be an accountant. He went a traditional route and then was inspired to follow his heart after going to watch a friend busk. He’s gone on to perform on the Daily Show, at the White House, on Sesame Street and follow his heart as an independent artist. They discuss his inspirations being Eddie Murphy and Magic Johnson who inspired him as a black youth. He approaches part of performing as ambassadorship in being himself to inspire other black youth to juggle. He’s adapting in pandemic in part by teaching an online outreach juggling program in the Bronx and performing in virtual shows including this act directly speaking about BLM. 

Being an ambassador can bring growth in terms of leadership. Noeli Acoba spoke to Vicki Amedume & Bill Forchion about their experiences as leaders of color in circus recently on her Youtube Channel.  They both have achieved many accolades but this interview focuses on Amedume’s experience as a female director of color and on Forchion’s experience with Cirque. Amedume says barriers in directing as a woman of color include we still tend to think of directors in this industry as white males especially as you get into bigger companies. She mentions even with all of her years and awards in the industry it’s hurtful to still be questioned if she should be in spaces. She was awarded a fellowship in the UK a few years ago that was very competitive and prestigious and had someone respond she only got it because she was black when she announced it. 

Forchion shares he’d auditioned 4 times and made it to the final rounds at Cirque each time but not being hired until 10 years after he saw his first of their shows. He later in a frank discussion with someone who had been at his auditions was told it hadn’t been possible to hire him before because they couldn’t recast as replace him if he left suggesting it would only be possible to replace him with another person of color that matched his skillset. He also says how valuable his experience was in being part of Cirque to his growth and development. 

In ways we could do better microaggressions being small but become heavy as they add up is addressed. Forchion said he was relieved when his thoughts were confirmed that he’d told people in the past Cirque didn’t hire Black people but it’s also such a narrow way of thinking about casting. Amedume touches on this too in terms of it’s not enough to be extremely talented when she sees many artists of color get less work.  It’s also pointed out that tokenism strips  away individuality as a complex human being and artist when one person is seen as a culture. A way we could address this is by casting with archetypes and make the best fit for the job all being looked at and scaled in a similar manner including artists with disabilities. It’s mentioned as part of the problem is companies and audiences look with a lens of what has been successful before. The more we invest in an endeavor it becomes more risk averse, maybe the industry needs to take more risks. Forchion started his career as a clown but found it didn’t work everywhere and transitioned to being an acrobat to work more. Amedume says she’s starting to see more professional performers of color in the UK  as well as more disabled performers being represented on stages. Forchion mentions as we see people from different backgrounds were going to hear new stories and have new experiences to touch on.  I for one am excited to see what the future holds in terms of diversity in representation and stories we may see when stage-lights return. 

article by Christine Denker

Arts & Culture

We all miss going to shows and live performances and I’m right there with you. Luckily there is still a way to watch circus performances from your couch! I was recently directed by a fellow circus colleague to a circus specific streaming service called Netflips. This service allows you to rent a recorded performance from independent circus companies from around the world, with productions being added to the site weekly. With more than 95% of the proceeds going straight to the companies and performers, Netflips is a great tool for you to stay connected with the circus at a distance, while also supporting the international circus community. 

I tried out Netflips recently and was not disappointed. I watched a performance called Elephant In The Room by a small French circus troupe called Cirque Le Roux. I recommend this amazing performance but I want to warn any parents that it might not be suitable for some families or children due to partial nudity and suggestive themes. For a description of the plot, visit the Cirque Le Roux at https://www.cirqueleroux.com/en/the-elephant-in-the-room/

First of all, the way this performance was recorded was phenomenal. It was recorded in such a way where I felt like I was watching a live performance but still had the benefit of being able to get close up views of the performers. I was blown away by this troupe’s ability to use a small theater set to convey a wide range of setting and emotion and the use of hand to hand and partner acrobatics to convey small scuffles and interpersonal relationships between characters was very innovative. I really enjoyed the music throughout the performance and the simple yet stunning film noir visuals were very aesthetically pleasing. 

It is hard to pick just one scene to call my favorite but I can only describe my favorite scene as some sort of dream sequence where time seems to slow down, and two of the characters are doing a very intimate hand to hand/handstand act together. The lighting is low and there are lit up lampshades all around them that look like they are floating, it was an incredible visual effect. The culmination of all of these features drew me in so much that I almost forgot I was still at home.

You can find this performance and many others on Netflips, and if you’re like me and are itching to have live performance back in your life again, I highly recommend perusing their catalog for other circus content. 

Article by Isaac McDonald

Meet Adam Noble, a Member of SANCA’s Board of Directors

Adam Noble joined SANCA’s Board of Directors in 2017 and currently chairs SANCA’s Development Committee. He works as a Business Development Executive for aerospace at Boyd Corporation, and has a degree in engineering from the United States Naval Academy. Adam served in the Navy as a nuclear-trained Surface Warfare Officer. Prior to having kids, Adam was an avid swing dance competitor, performer, teacher, and DJ. In addition to work, family, and SANCA, Adam is a zealous wine collector, a slow but enthusiastic runner, and an ardent Seattle Sounders supporter.

SANCA: How did you become involved with SANCA?

Adam: My wife Ammi took a trampoline class at SANCA before we were even married. After we had our daughter Leah, Ammi and Leah tried the Baby & Me class. Now Leah is 11 and she’s a performer in the Nimbus Circus troupe.

My first personal experience with SANCA was as parent with my son Cuyler when we took the Baby & Me class. Now I take the Adult General Circus where I work on my juggling. I also love trampoline and German Wheel, but I prefer to leave aerial arts to people with a higher pain threshold. Ammi and Leah are both still at SANCA multiple times a week, either in the fly tent or main space, or for Leah with Nimbus. I still intend to take a flying trapeze class one of these days.

SANCA: How has SANCA impacted your life?

Adam: My daughter Leah has experienced significant growth in confidence and physicality in learning to work hard as a circus artist and performer. She persisted in auditions for Nimbus after she didn’t get into the group the first time. For me, I’ve had an opportunity to try a lot of new skills and classes: trampoline, juggling, German Wheel, Strength & Flex, and wire walking are just a few.

SANCA means a lot to my family and it is my biggest commitment in giving back to the community through Board service and support. It is an enriching community for me and my family and we believe in the mission of SANCA.

SANCA: Do you have a favorite circus discipline?

Adam: I like juggling a lot, and I also enjoy balancing on the rolling globe — that is a lot of fun and I took to it more quickly than I thought I would.

SANCA: What inspired you to serve SANCA’s community as a Board Member?

Adam: I wanted to do more volunteering and community service. One day I was in SANCA’s observation room watching SANCA’s founder, Jo Montgomery, work with a young student who uses a wheelchair. He was practicing handbalancing with Jo’s guidance and it was so impressive!

I realized that SANCA was really making a difference through their Social Circus approach, the Every Body’s Circus program, and the ethos that CIRCUS IS FOR EVERY BODY. Ammi and I attended the annual Up with a Twist gala shortly after that, and the board president Gaye McNutt introduced me to another Board member, Nora, and we started talking about board service.

SANCA: We’re facing challenges now with the COVID-19 pandemic. How has your view of SANCA’s role as an arts organization in Seattle changed or been influenced by this challenge?

Adam: I am really pleased with the way SANCA has maintained a connection with the Seattle and circus community and the support these communities have provided to aid SANCA. Online classes and shows have been a very positive experience during this time. It’s really special.

SANCA: Given the recent incidents of injustice and racism, and long-standing inequities that are profoundly affecting black and brown people right now, do you have thoughts on how the arts in general, and SANCA in particular, can support efforts for justice and equity?

Adam: Shortly before the COVID pandemic started SANCA launched a new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee to advise and guide our organization’s actions in that area. It’s a good start, but we have so much work to do. It’s very important that we listen to and seek greater engagement with our BIPOC community and increase our diversity and inclusivity – among the Board and beyond. I feel like SANCA has done well in working with LGBTQ communities, but we have more work to do with racial equity.

SANCA: Add any additional information you’d like to share?

Adam: I like SANCA a lot and I want everybody else to like it too.

Interview by Jeff Deveaux, Development Director

SANCA Tent Hall Transcript

Wednesday, August 12, 2020, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Recording available on SANCA’s YouTube channel

Hosts: John Tannous, Executive Director & Jeff Deveaux, Development Director

SANCA’s COVID response (John Tannous)

– Spring: We received a PPP loan that helped us through the spring and we started online classes.
– Summer: We have been able to add small camps and classes. Online classes are successful and here to stay as they are introducing people to SANCA and helping us to connect with people all over the world.
– Fall: We will start online registration for the first time.
– THANK YOU to the many families, students, organizations, and supporters who have helped SANCA VID by making gifts of support and donating spring tuition payments to help us through the COVID pandemic.

COVID Safety

– Our mission has always been about health, so we are doing everything we can to make sure that circus is a safe as possible.
– We have gotten phenomenal feedback from parents and from students attending classes. People have said that it is safer than the grocery store. They feel that we have gone above and beyond.
– The coaches have come up with new, safe, fun ideas like virtual pajama parties.
– Our safety measures include:

• Remote registration
• Limited entry to the gym
• Temperature checks
• Social distancing and face masks
• Cleaning and sanitizing — by coaches and students after every lesson
• Large bay doors open for fresh air circulation

Interview with Jo Montgomery, SANCA Co-founder and a Nurse Practitioner

JT: Is it possible for us to do circus safely during COVID?
Jo: It is safe to go to THIS gym because SANCA has good air circulation, high ceiling height and SANCA is following the Governor's guidelines for social distancing and mask-wearing. The way you have changed the space to move people around, e.g. with arrows, is great.

JT: You are beloved for your role in creating an amazing space for the circus community. You had
an initial vision. How well is SANCA meeting that vision now?
Jo: From the beginning, we had three main goals: 1) To provide excellent circus coaching; 2) To make circus accessible to everybody, regardless of physical experience and ability to pay; and 3) To create a welcoming space and community.

I am impressed that you are continuing to do those things through COVID, including offering student scholarships. I am happy that you have the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and inclusion) group working on inclusivity. John has done a phenomenal job taking care of SANCA.

JT: Do you see us in King County getting to where SANCA can be back in full operation?
Jo: I don’t think we will be at full capacity soon. We can’t be in a crowded room until a certain percentage of people have been vaccinated. Maybe in a year, but SANCA has an edge because we have a large space, ceiling height, and loading doors. And we are doing such a good job at social distancing and mask-wearing.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Update

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee formed in April, then with George Floyd protests, the issues have become more visible on a global scale

Interview with DEI Committee members, Manjit Golden & Tara Adams

JT: In what ways can SANCA be an anti-racist organization that are appropriate to our mission and
our position in our community?
Tara: This is a conversation that we need to be happening. In our country we are at a turning point. At SANCA it is essential that we take a role in eliminating racism. We need to be open to learning and willing to admit that we’ve made mistakes and that we will make mistakes. We have started by trying to educate ourselves. Racism is all around us as individuals and in our organization. The first step that we want to take is to work on developing an action plan to address racism within our organization.

After education, we will evaluate the organization and structure to find ways to eliminate racism and ensure equity. For example, we need to look at our HR hiring, evaluation, and compensation practices. We also know that anti-racism training will be critical. It won’t end bias, but it’s a start. Mentorship of BIPOC employees will be an organizational priority to prepare them for leadership roles.
I came out of HR where we have talked about diversity for years and years, yet Black people have continued to be under-represented at the Board and leadership level in organizations. It’s important to have a genuinely inclusive workplace to be able to recruit diverse employees and to serve our community. Anti-racism is a life-long project. We are very committed to addressing racism on an individual and systemic basis, and justice is our ultimate goal.

Manjit (co-chair of DEI Committee): First, let’s start with two definitions:
– Anti-racism – Coined by Ibram X. Kendi who said that the opposite of racist is NOT “not racist.” That is upholding the status quo. The opposite of racist is “anti-racist” – opposing racism and the oppression of marginalized groups by actively dismantling the power structure.
– White supremacy is the culture that upholds the white power structure and disenfranchises BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities.
We need to be transparent about racial inequity in our organization and combat the inherent racism of the non-profit structure. SANCA has taken a big step in forming this team.

Actions we have taken so far:

1. #BlackOutTuesday where we amplify Black circus and performing artists on SANCA’s social media.
2. An Anti-racist book club is running throughout the year, so that people can read about how to be better allies.
3. The Power of Three – We’ll share three resources every Tuesday – books, podcasts, movies to learn how to be better allies to marginalized communities.
4. We are developing a land acknowledgement to honor the ancestral land of the Duwamish people where SANCA resides.

Flying Trapeze Tent Upgrades

Our financial reality: We made it through COVID in the spring fairly unscathed thanks to strong community support, but this summer we are bringing in about 10% of the earned revenues that we normally bring in. However, we are still keeping an eye fixed on the future and how to maintain the vibrancy that we had prior to the pandemic.

Interview with Katie Wagman, Flying Trapeze Program Co-Director

JT: What is the history of the tent and what does it need?
Katie: The flying trapeze tent was built in 2009. The tent was purchased from Big Top Shelters in Florida, and it has a life expectancy of 5-10 years. We have done maintenance over the years, and the tent has lasted a long time. The structure is sound, but in the future, we will need to replace the tent skin and add insulation. This will cost $60,000 for materials. Currently, the tent is like an outdoor environment, e.g. warm/hot in summer and cool/cold in winter. Insulation will regulate the temperature year-round.

JT: It’s going from camping to glamping.

JT: How have flying trapeze classes been this summer?
Katie: On the staff and student side, nobody knew what to expect, but the smaller class sizes and shorter classes have been great for getting fliers back in shape. We have had a cool mix of returning and new fliers. Everyone is more than happy to comply with mask-wearing. We’ve had many requests to keep some of the shorter classes even after we can return to normal service.

Audience Q&A

Q: Diversity – What does success look like? What will you be measuring?
A: More diversity on the board, in leadership, and the staff. It will be evident to the community. The process is that the DEI team will start to build a plan for SANCA with specific goals, action steps, and a timeline. The Board will review and sign off on it and then we will present it to the community. We are also going to start producing an annual report at SANCA each year that will include DEI reports.

Q: What was your DEI vision from the beginning?
A: We were being inclusive from the beginning, but at that time we were not doing true introspection on our racial bias. Having a formal committee looking at this with intelligence and education is wonderful.

Q: At the current burn rate, how long can SANCA stay afloat?
A: If the enrollment numbers we’ve seen in summer remain this low in the fall and going forward and we did nothing differently, we would still make it to December. However, if we do not increase tuition income this fall, we may have to cut expenses to go beyond. There is uncertainty for when people will feel comfortable coming back to the gym and Fall will be a test for us. We hope that people will return to their circus classes and training indoors.

Shout out: Mask portraits by John Cornicello! See them on Facebook.

SANCA is deeply grateful for the following institutions, donors, and supporters who have provided extra support during the COVID-19 pandemic or major annual support in 2020.

The Carla Y. DeVrieze Memorial Fund	D.V. & Ida J. McEachern Charitable Trust		The Growing Tree Foundation	Jimenez Family Fund

Kevin Ruddell & Heather Kroll, Libby Cunningham & Mike O’Leary, The Randles Family, David & Dana Taft, Jon & Melissa McClintock, Adam Noble & Ammi Spencer, Beth Heritage, Daniel Nidzgorski & Casey Peel, and John Cornicello Photography.

SANCA would especially like to thank all our many students and families who have made extra gifts of support, and who donated their spring tuition or camp tuition in support during the period that SANCA was closed due the COVID-19 pandemic.