Circus for Social Justice

The Circus Project is proud to invite you to Gravity Defiant, a touching circus-theatre production exploring themes of identity and the invisible forces that shape our lives.  

Saturday, Nov. 23 and Sunday, Nov. 24 at 7:00 pm
The Circus Project, 1420 NW 17th Ave #388

Gravity Defiant uses trapeze, tightwire, aerial fabric and dance to share the stories of The Voice Project, a circus ensemble of six performers with marginalized identities.  The Voice Project is comprised of performers who have experienced homelessness, queer and trans performers and performers of color, and they draw on their lived experiences to tell a story of connection and community.

This program, which is partially funded by Cirque du Soleil, is a circus training company interlaced with social justice.  Along with group rehearsals, and private and group circus lessons, participants also engage in workshops such as storytelling, the history of resistance movements, and Theatre of the Oppressed.

The Circus Project was founded in 2008 with the specific intention of using circus arts training as an intervention for youth experiencing homelessness.  Since then, the organization has grown to include a wide variety of public classes for all ages and abilities.

Circus arts are a unique and powerful medium for growth.

– Circus training is great physical exercise. Learning complex skills also engages one’s analytical brain, and it is also inherently creative and expressive.  In this sense, it unites the mind, body and creativity.

– Circus is non-competitive and collaborative. Students must work individually to improve their skills, but that work happens within a supportive team. Compared to other team-based sports, the culminating event in circus is a creative performance instead of competition.  

– There’s something for everyone! For someone who isn’t drawn to trapeze, maybe they will like juggling. If a student isn’t comfortable being the flyer in a partner acrobatics trick, maybe they would like to be the base.

Gravity Defiant will dazzle audiences on Saturday, November 23rd and Sunday, November 24th at 7:00pm. Tickets are a suggested donation of $5-$25 and proceeds to go support the Circus Project’s programming.  

Does your child want to spin, tumble and fly?  Registration is open for Winter term and Winter Break Camps.