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July 5, 2020
Dear Cirque Roots Community,
We hope you and your loved ones are well! Since 2011 it has always been Cirque Roots’ mission to use circus arts and movement as a way to connect and bring joy to the community. It is important to us that we remain a resource for creativity and collaboration in Tucson while looking out for the safety and well-being of our members. At this time Cirque Roots remains closed to the public due to state mandates.
We are eternally grateful to our Cirque Roots members and thank you for your participation and passion, without you our doors would not be open. We look forward to building a brighter future, but it will take all of us to go beyond our comfort zone to make grassroots change happen.
With the continued racial injustices, COVID-19 pandemic, and corrupt politics, the three of us have been stewing over our civil duties and what kind of voice we can have to strengthen the solidarity in our community as time goes on.
Black Lives Matter
We stand as an organization to say Black Lives Matter. We hear the voices coming together to cry out for long-overdue corrections to unfair systems that too often and for too long have resulted in loss of income, opportunity, liberty, and life. We stand with our black, brown, indigenous, and LGBTQI+ community members for equal justice.
Please stand up for our fellow BIPOC, if you notice anything inappropriate at Cirque Roots or beyond, it is up to all of us to speak out. Treating people with any kind of disrespect is NOT OK, don’t do it and don’t allow it to happen in your presence. We are all empowered to enforce rules of respect, decency, and justice. This extends to who you choose to support, work with, and where you put your money. Please do not support/work with/take classes from/create opportunities etc. from known inequitable individuals.
We have a wonderful community and many of you are already doing important work and we are proud of you! Thank you for standing with our fellow BIPOC. We’d like to encourage everyone to take workshops from longtime social justice leaders in the acro scene: FemPower is leading the way with accessible, donation-based discussions on important issues such as “In Support of BLM”, “Being White in Acro”, and a lot more. I have personally attended FemPower and while I love the acro classes, the discussions are really special. I got a LOT out of the discussions, they are worth your time.
We understand not everyone has the means to support organizations taking a step forward. Here are other ways you can contribute:
If you have ideas on ways that Cirque Roots and members can get involved please let us know. OR, if you would like to share additional comments or resources we are all ears and here to listen & learn.
Studio Updates
As many of you know already, the home of CR's Splinter Brothers + Sisters Warehouse was recently purchased by our longtime friends, performers, and community builders Natalie and Keith before the pandemic. We're so excited to now be part of the newly renamed Splinter Warehouse Collective!
If you or someone you know is interested in donating to Cirque Roots studio, we have a donate button on our website.
Please feel free to reach out to us to continue this conversation or if you have other ideas to make the studio a safe place to practice. We don't have all the answers, but we're willing to be vulnerable and stay connected as we navigate through these unprecedented times.
Sincerely,
Zoë, Steph, and Brittany
Co-Founders
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