About Us

The BIPOC Acro Collective Care Ecosystem (aka BACCES) is a collective that is passionate about radical inclusion. As part of our mission, we work with event organizers to improve accountability and inclusion practices so that acro spaces feel more welcome to BIPOC acrobats. Additionally, we support BIPOC attendance at acro events by providing free tickets and travel stipends, and someday hope to support BIPOC-led acro festivals, teacher trainings, and performances. One of the primary tenets of BACCES is centering BIPOC in decision making and strategizing for all development and outreach efforts. 

Why are we doing this?

What we call ‘acro’ (partner acrobatics, acroyoga) has long been an activity that is primarily White, heteronormative, class-privileged, and reinforces traditional binary gendered roles.  We have tried to create inroads for diversity and discussion on racial and social justice over the years, and there have been small amounts of progress.  Unfortunately BIPOC are still grossly underrepresented. Some of that is due to access (cost of entry, time needed off work, lack of childcare, etc), and some due to culture (spaces that don’t feel ‘safe’ or inclusive for BIPOC, leadership not aligned with inclusive values, lack of representation in teaching/organizing/performance spaces).  

BACCES was created by and for people of color. This was an idea that sparked for Ariel after a chat with Amanda many moons ago.  Many thanks to those who were part of the BACCES creation story (Ilana Blankman, Paula Bui, Amanda Dillon-Breary, Adi Firefly, Devon French, Ariel Mihic, Serena Tang), our POC Acro group, and those who have consulted along the way.

Additional gratitude to the many hours of work by the Racial Accountability for White Folks in Acro (RAWFA) group and our white allies (Sirus Bouchat, Jill Campbell, Danya Davis, Becky Miller, Christine Moonbeam, Lynne Moore, Travis Sigley, Liz Williams) to bring us to where we are today!