The hustle and bustle of a circus
conference is a unique experience. Sure, it
has many trappings of a usual professional
development conference, but it also comes
with a healthy dose of casual handstands,
athletic clothes, and a copious amount of
friends and colleagues who only see each
other once or twice a year. This October,
the American Circus Educators Conference
was held in Decatur, Georgia. Our host
organization—Circus Arts Institute—helped
arrange the event so that we had the entire
Decatur Recreation Center to ourselves,
which proved the perfect campus for four
days of circus networking, education, and
brainstorming.
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I’ve had the privilege and pleasure of attending nearly every AYCO and ACE
annual event since 2005, and each one brings its own unique perspectives
and conversations into the circus education zeitgeist. This year was no
exception, with a renewed and vigorous focus on circus as a therapeutic
tool, striving towards equity and accessibility across the whole circus sector,
and passionate discussions about safety, especially as it relates to social and
emotional safety within our classrooms and other environments where this
can be such a difficult issue.
It is wonderful to see the conversations at these gatherings progress
over the years to finally include so many important topics. Alisan Funk,
Programming Director for the conference, deserves a large share of the
credit for curating these conversations, but it wouldn’t be possible without
the community members who are passionate about these causes and who
bring these conversations and questions to the national stage. We are
experiencing some true growth in our community by holding each other to
higher standards while still being cordial enough to share our strategies and
perspectives with one another in pursuit of mutual growth.
Being in a community filled with artists, educators, activists, healers,
and leaders is a wonderful thing. And even more so when that group
gathers to have conversations about (but not limited to): LGBTQ inclusion,
equitable access to circus arts, physical therapy as a tool for understanding
biomechanics and self care, expanding access to social circus, game swaps,
and of course all the technical skill sharing and instruction that we have
come to expect from a circus conference.
I feel a deep sense of gratitude to the community who can make this
happen, and who show up to drive these conversations. If you were present,
or a contributor in any way, then I thank you. And if you were unable to join
us this time, know that the community is growing and thriving, and the next
one is sure to be just as rewarding. I hope to see you there!
BY JESSE ALFORD
President, ACE/AYCO Board
Head Coach, My Nose Turns Red Youth Circus
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