Diamond Family Circus

01/27/2026

Congrats to our amazing friend, social circus colleague, and sister-circus-mama Jessica Hentoff, founder & director of STL’s Circus Harmony! Please join us in donating to Circus Harmony’s social circus work in celebration of Jessica’s well-deserved honor!: https://circusharmony.org/support/donate/

Fun fact: DFC cofounder Marisa was a lead coach, camp director, and performer at CH & still does media production projects for CH!

Did you know… there are now two World Circus Federation Circus Ambassadors from North America?! On January 18, 2026, the World Circus Federation named Jessica Hentoff -– that’ s me, the writer of these American circus history posts- as their 2026 Circus Ambassador. Previously, the only other American Ambassador had been Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey’s Kenneth Feld. Being a World Circus Federation ambassador is a recognition bestowed by the Federation on individuals who have made exceptional contributions to promoting, preserving, and advancing circus arts and culture worldwide. They are honored for their leadership, artistic excellence, and dedication to the circus arts. Ambassadors are meant to inspire new generations of circus artists and supporters.

Fifty-two years ago, when I first told my first circus teacher, Warren Bacon, that circus was what I wanted to do the rest of my life and asked how I could repay him, he answered, “I’ll tell you what my teacher told me, ‘Pass it on.’” Which I have been doing ever since! I deeply appreciate the World Circus Federation naming me a Circus Ambassador and recognizing that promoting circus to children — many of whom have not been to a circus until they are in one — makes a difference. I believe it is the current students and alumni of Circus Harmony who are the actual ambassadors. In the hundreds of shows they present at City Museum, Circus Flora, the St. Louis Arch, and other venues, these flying children reach well over 75,000 people a year. Add to that the amount of people who see our alumni who are performing around the world, and we bring the joy and wonder that is circus to an incredible number of people. Thank you to the World Circus Federation for recognizing a circus teacher, especially one from a social circus, in this meaningful way!

From

01/21/2026

DFC cofounder Marci is honored to be to be teaching remote workshops with awesome kindergarteners in Teetl’it Gwich’in (aka Ft. McPherson, NWT) this week. Please join in solidarity by contacting U.S. Senators to stop the U.S. govt & oil company assaults on Gwich’in lands:
https://act.wilderness.org/a/protect-the-arctic-refuge-ask-senators?_ga=2.172328739.1068386504.1769007550-460627588.1769007550

If the Trump administration thinks that they can pursue an unlawful oil and gas leasing program in the Arctic Refuge, they are wrong. Yesterday, we filed an amended lawsuit challenging their careless plan to drill on the entire coastal plain, which would put the health of our communities, the survival of the caribou, and our way of life at risk. We have been fighting for generations to protect this sacred place, and we aren't stopping now.

As Kristen Moreland, our executive director, shared, “The Gwich’in have been fighting—and succeeding—for decades in protecting the calving grounds of the Porcupine Caribou herd. Today, we continue that fight and are grateful to our allies that stand with us. It is unconscionable that this administration is advancing an Arctic Refuge leasing plan, which is opposed by the majority of Americans, would violate our rights as Alaska Native people, and blatantly contains multiple legal deficiencies. This is yet another attempt by the administration to prioritize profits over people, and we say enough is enough.”

You can read more here:https://trustees.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026Jan.GwichinAlliedGroupsUpdateComplaint.UnlawfulArcticRefugeLeaseProgram-2.pdf

01/16/2026

CONGRATS to former DFC trouper Eva Lou Hoops - Circus Artist and all the incredible École nationale de cirque performers who will be opening this year’s Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain - Paris!
🎉❤️🎪

01/13/2026

The Circus International Film Festival, created and curated by American circus artist, educator, and filmmaker, , is entering its sixth season. focuses on bringing together filmmakers and circus artists through an online platform. Submissions an be made through FilmFreeway between now and March 1, 2026. Films will be shown and voted on April 18 - May 3, 2026. Categories include Short Shorts (under 5 min), Short Documentary, Short Non-Documentary, Feature Length, and Exhibition. More information- including how to submit and watch the movies- can be found at https://www.circusinternationalfilmfest.com/.

From Jessica Hentoff

01/04/2026

12/19/2025

A few years ago, DFC cofounder Marci Diamond had the honor of performing on aerial silks & hoop (lyra) at the Opening Ceremonies of the 100th U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the Td Garden Boston. A fan just shared these videos today, and we hope you enjoy them as much as Marci enjoyed sharing the arena with so many awesome artists & atheletes. ⛸️

12/17/2025

So much fun sharing circus arts & creative movement yesterday with students at Quqshuun Ilihakvik School in Gjoa Haven, Nunavut AND Elijah Smith School in Whitehorse, Yukon yesterday; THANK YOU to the super students, educators & TakingITGlobal/Connected North coordinators - and to the wonders of the World Wide Web!

12/17/2025

Submissions are OPEN for the 6th annual online Circus International Film Festival, founded by DFC’s Marisa Diamond! Details, deadlines, & tix for the fest that will run April 18-May 3, 2026 can all be found at https://filmfreeway.com/CircusInternationalFilmFestival

11/25/2025

Circus principles of the day: be flexible, work as a team, and have fun!

1) The Nunavut elementary school where DFC cofounder Marci Diamond was zooming in to share her creative movement workshop (with Opal cat & Ghost dog of course) could only connect without their camera & mic due to bandwith issues. The TakingITGlobal/Connected North coordinator & teacher stayed in touch via chat to let Marci know that the kids were engaging with imagination & joy, as they were a team of sled dogs, wild geese sharing leadership in migration, and their own imaginary animals on land, sea & air.

2) The Long Island high school - where Marci zoomed in bright & early today for a couple of solo shows of “Witness: The Salem “Witch” Trials & Miller’s Crucible - started their day with a lockdown drill (which no schoolchildren should have to do ). After trying Mary Parker as judge & witnesses & finding her “not guilty,” the students jumped into important discussions of lessons learned from the actual Salem trials & McCarthy hearings that can help us do better now (…and got a big kick out of Marci’s other 1600s performance in Hocus Pocus 2 as Billy Butcherson’s mom).

Thanks to all the educators and students who make it work, every day.

11/17/2025

Herrreeeeee we go!!! Mark your calendars because WE ARE BACK! CIFF 2026 dates are now set.
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Submissions open: December 15,2025
Early Bird Deadline: January 16, 2026
Regular Deadline: February 9, 2026
Late Deadline: March 1, 2026
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The festival will run April 18-May 3 2026
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Be sure to go to film freeway to see all the submissions details! 🎪🎬
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10/12/2025

Thank you to MassHousing TAP program & the rockin’ residents & super staff of this historic housing site that DFC’s Erin & Marci had the honor to share circus joy with last week!

Even Marci’s hair got swept away with the fun (last photo)!