Fern Street Circus is a nonprofit arts organization that’s been serving families in City Heights for 31 years.
They offer an after-school Circus Arts Program and public performances at neighborhood parks — both of which are free of charge.
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They’ve also been partnering with local schools to bring kids out to the circus during the school day.
Sandra Galindo is an acrobatic instructor with the circus. On a recent morning, she was teaching the basics of gymnastics to some of those children.
“This class for them is really important," Galindo said. "They get all their energy out, all their stress out. And it also teaches them to be part of a team, to communicate with their friends, to learn new things and to forget, forget the stress that is at home.”
Fern Street Circus Executive Director John Highkin said they use their arts education programs and performances to tackle important social issues like healthcare and immigration.
“We take on serious topics and try to approach them in a way that's light-hearted but doesn't diminish the importance or even the pain of things,” Highkin said.
The circus also offers community resources for the families with children in the program.
Ana Gonzalez’s daughter is one of those children. She said the organization gives her daughter a safe place to deal with the anxiety she’s been facing during the pandemic.
“During the pandemic everything was closed," Gonzalez said. "And when we had the opportunity to keep coming to the circus, even with the protection that we have, it was for her the most happy place because she can see her friends, she can do activities, she can be out of the house.”
Clown instructor Catalina Tapia said physical theater helps kids get around language barriers, and learn to be adaptable in all aspects of life.
“It doesn't matter if you want to be a clown, if you want to be an acrobat or in the circus. If you're a lawyer or a doctor and you know how to laugh at yourself and you know how to stay alert and stay present, that's very important,” she said.
Fern Street Circus’ Spring 2022 Neighborhood Tour kicks off this weekend at the Outdoor Circus Community Center in City Heights. Information about showtimes and programs is online at fernstreetcircus.com.
