Circus Day Foundation
NEWSLETTER
314.436.7676 * fax 314.645.4277 * cdfoundation@everydaycircus.net


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First and Foremost:

Thank You! Being a First Year Member of the Circus Day Foundation, you are the base of a new and exciting circus community pyramid! We are thrilled to invite you to our First Year Members' Party on Sunday July 28th at City Museum from 1 - 5 P.M. See information details at bottom of this newsletter.

 

Thoughtful Thank Yous

We would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to the following organizations who have granted us funding this year: Trio Foundation, Whitaker Foundation, Philppott Family Foundation, Sycamore Tree Trust, May Company and Regional Arts Commission.

 

St. Louis Arches

We hope you saw our fabulous youth circus troupe, the St. Louis Arches, performing with Circus Flora this year. As usual, they garnered rave reviews from audience, critics and the other performers! It was also a tremendous opportunity for our troupe to be on a show with the famous Flying Wallendas, real Russian Cossack riders and all the other sensational acts that appeared with Circus Flora this year. The Vice-President of Ringling Brothers (whose wife, the lovely Lisa Dufresne, was on the show with her horses) even talked to us about the Arches being part of the "Three Ring Adventure" when Ringling Bros. Circus comes to St. Louis this fall!

 

Meanwhile, you can see our hometown circus heroes performing every weekend throughout the summer at City Museum. (See www.everydaycircus.net for their City Museum performance schedule). Don't forget, the Arches are available to dazzle and amaze at your special event. Call us at 314-436-7676 for booking information.

 

Captive Audience

Two of the Arches, Chris and Rashad, along with everydaycircus magician, Steve Corbitt, entertained at St. Louis' medium security prison, the Work House, for Mother's Day. The inmates really appreciated the entertainment!

 

Circus Salaam Shalom

Circus Salaam Shalom was the first show performed by students from the first Circus Partnership Program of the Circus Day Foundation. This was a cooperative circus learning experience between 10 Jewish children from Central Reform Congregation and 10 Muslim children from Clara Muhammad School. Circus Salaam Shalom was performed at Central Reform Congregation on Saturday May 11 at 9:30 A.M. and at Clara Muhammad School on Sunday, May, 19 at 1 P.M. The next performances will be at City Museum on July 28th at 12 and 2.

 

Circus Day Foundation's Circus Partnership Program tangibly demonstrates that by focusing on a goal together, we concentrate on what unites us instead of what divides us. Especially because our country is now at war, we, as a nation, as a world, yearn for peace. The path to peace is a path of cooperation and communication. Teaching children from different neighborhoods how to stand on each other's shoulders may seem like a strange way to take this path. But it's the technique we use!

 

 

 

Far East Meets Midwest

 

Far East Meets Midwest is a concept for a show that the St. Louis Arches will perform along with local Chinese and Japanese artists. The Arches will present arts from the Chinese acrobatic tradition. Two Chinese master teachers will be coming this August to work with the Arches on these unique skills. This project will bring teachers whose first language is not English to work with children who rarely meet anyone from a different country. By cooperating with their new teachers, the St. Louis Arches will expand their knowledge of circus skills at the same time as they expand their knowledge of the world community. The young students will see that it is not who they are or where they are from but what they can DO that will matter. A person who starts out being perceived as a foreigner will become someone who shares a part of himself with them so that the "foreign-ness"' disappears.

 

When we say, "we teach the art of life through circus education", we really mean it. Circus and life are both about juggling your responsibilities and balancing your priorities. They are about cooperation and communication. They are about what we do rather than who we are. Circus and life are both about connecting with the world around us.

 

Be the First

There is a venerable tradition in academia of endowing chairs at Universities. We are looking for someone(s) to Step Right Up and Be the First on your block to endow a chair for a Master Circus Teacher here with the Circus Day Foundation. We have our eyes and hopes on several talented teachers who have professed an interest in moving to St. Louis. Please contact us if you are interested in taking advantage of this unusual opportunity.

 

Summer in the City_ and the County and Across the River

This summer, Circus Day Foundation is excited to be "teaching the art of life through circus education" in: seven St. Louis City public schools through the 21st Century program, in two county locations and in their Urban Arts location for COCA (Center of Contemporary Arts), at Bright Horizons Daycare Center, with Collinsville Parks and Recreation and for several area Vacation Bible Schools.

 

Separation of Church and Circus

One of the reasons we are teaching in so many Vacation Bible Schools this summer is that the St. Louis Arches are featured in Concordia Publishers 2002 Vacation Bible School Curriculum, "Godzwerkus Circus School."

 

Circus in the City

We have just started offering adult classes in circus skills at City Museum. Starting in September, we are proud to partner in a new way with COCA. They will handle registration for our new Circus in the City series of classes. We will offer Saturday morning beginner classes for children and Monday evening juggling classes for ages 12 to adult.

 

Donations Cheerfully Accepted

Please consider contributing to a particular program that you find meaningful: St. Louis Arches, Circus Partnerships or our in-the-works projects: Animal Education Outreach or Circus Band Music programs. Don't forget the one area where your donation may do the most good: the oft overlooked but ever necessary General Operating Expenses!

 

For Sale

The following items are all on sale and all proceeds benefit the St. Louis Arches. These items available at City Museum during Arches' performances or call 314-436-7676.

St. Louis Arches deluxe size postcard___.______.$2.00

Magnet Men Pyramid Desk Set__.._________..$10

Circus Music CDs_________________$10

St. Louis Arches and Circus Day Foundation T shirts___$6 and $12

Diablos._____________________ $25