Circus Bella is an open air, one-ring circus featuring contemporary, high-level acts set to an original score performed by live musicians. David Hunt and Abigail Munn created Circus Bella in the spring of 2008 to respond to a shared dream for accessible and high quality circus in the San Francisco Bay Area. Together, with band director / composer, Rob Reich, they assembled themselves into an ensemble company of 9 performing artists and a quartet of musicians. That fall, Circus Bella performed three dates in San Francisco. The success of these performances gave the company the steam and encouragement to press on.
Since 2009, Circus Bella has produced an annual free performance series, Circus in the Parks, in San Francisco Bay Area neighborhood parks and open spaces.
Our mission is to create a one-ring circus that uplifts diverse audiences, engages community, and challenges its artists. We put homegrown circus back into the ring, creating productions that are accessible, festive, and inspiring. The company operates as a director led ensemble that strives to uphold leadership practices that maintain business, creative, and interpersonal integrity. Circus Bella values the work of its artists and believes this should be reflected in respect and monetary compensation. Circus Bella values the public, our audience, as the ultimate reason for why we exist.