Welcome to Circus Bella!
“Classical circus reimagined for a modern world”
WHAT WE DO
A modern twist on one-ring circus
…overflowing with heart and soul
With gusto and daring, humanity and heart, we connect with our audiences by way of thrilling feats, engaging camaraderie and the heartbeat of a live band!
We delight in showing audiences what people can do, in ways they haven’t seen before. Audiences are bedazzled, lifted up, and join in the celebration of the heart and soul of circus: community, joy, and achieving the impossible. We are the Bay Area’s premiere one-ring circus, curated in the traditions of earlier eras with forward-thinking sensibilities and flair.
Like the word Bella in our name, we celebrate the beauty of the circus art form and the beauty of what humans can do together. We take pride in unifying people by presenting an experience so joyous and magical that it keeps children of all ages coming back again and again.
Circus in the Parks-- A themed series of FREE summer performances in parks and open spaces in the Bay Area featuring an outdoor ring, our live Circus Bella All-Star Band, and the Circus Bella company. Performances are open to the community. Since 2008 this project has performed over 220 shows, in 40 locations reaching over 200,000 people.
Big Top Show--An original 90-minute circus spectacular, featuring international circus acts, local favorites and the Circus Bella All-Star band. This is the ultimate immersive experience that pleases all of the senses--from daring acts to feats of wonder, to the engaging delight of our clowns...and we even have popcorn, too!
Customized Classic Circus Experiences for Private/Corporate Occasions--Give us your vision, we’ll design your circus.
HISTORY
Circus Bella was founded in 2008 by David Hunt and Abigail Munn, with the vision of bringing the spirit of the beloved Pickle Family Circus back to San Francisco. In 2017, Circus Bella participated in the 50th anniversary of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C., where we presented our production Bay City Rhapsody to thousands of festival-goers on the National Mall.
In November 2018, Circus Bella offered its first winter showcase, Kaleidoscope, located in a big top circus tent on Treasure Island. In August 2019, we toured this production to Colorado. In 2023, the company remounted its holiday show at The Crossing at East Cut in San Francisco.
Circus Bella is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. The board of directors consists of 12 community members. We receive funding from San Francisco Grants for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council, and other private family foundations.
