Last week was the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder. Last summer, world-wide protests erupted and calls for real, sustainable change that would address the root of systematic racism and policy brutality were made. Individuals, communities, companies, and nations have had to face the facts about upholding social structures built on white supremacy–including the global circus community. Circus Talk launched the Circus and Changing Realities 2020 series, part of which were a series of events titled Wake Up Call for Inclusion. I caught up with Noeli Acoba and Marco Motta, panelists in the very first iteration, hosted by Johnathan Lee Iverson. This article is a check in to see if and how things have shifted in the past twelve months. 

Motta was born in Salvador de Bahía in 1992, and trained in Brazil as a dancer and contortionist. These styles have become his true artistic expression. He chose b-boying/breakdancing as a channel toward other artistic languages and specializes in aerial straps. In 2020, he created, directed  Blackbird  in which he also plays the protagonist. Motta won the Special Jury Award at Mondial Du Cirque De Demain (2017), as well as Third Prize and CircusTalk’s Critic’s Choice Award at FIRCO Ibero-American Circus Festival. Motta has spent the majority of the past year in Spain.  ...