GARLAND, Texas — Since 2021, Omnium Circus has been thrilling stages across the country, showing people of all abilities that they too have a seat at the table of entertainment, but not in Texas. Until now.
Lisa Lewis is the founder and executive director of Omnium Circus. It was launched in 2020 virtually when she realized there was a need for more inclusivity in this space.
“One of my earliest experiences was with Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, watching a huge arena full and seeing that one little row of really grumpy people. And when my partner went up to them and immediately started telling them jokes in sign language, I didn’t know they were deaf. He knew they were deaf, but their laughter was contagious and the entire room changed energy. And I knew at that moment that if you can include all of the people through access, through bridges, however you do it to welcome everybody, the joy magnifies exponentially,” said Lewis. “So, it became very important to me to create a show that it didn’t matter the body you inhabit, the skin you are in. However, you need to access joy. However, you show joy, that you can be the best you, that you can be.”
She said approximately 40% of the staff at the circus has a visible or invisible disability, from performers with autism to cerebral palsy, deafness and more.
On social media, Lewis said most of their fans are from Texas and they had plans to make it to the Lone Star State, but the City of Garland made it possible this year.
“Garland is having a cultural renaissance, and we’ve just formed an all-abilities committee. So, we want to make sure that we know that everyone knows that they belong and that everyone has something extraordinary to offer. So, what better way to do that than the Omnium Circus,” said Amy Rosenthal, cultural director for the City of Garland.
Omnium is Latin for “of all, for all,” and the Omnium Circus is for all Texans and Americans as it makes its debut this week during spring break.
After a two-day stay in North Texas from March 16-17, the circus does a Texas-two step to San Antonio on March 19 and 20.
For tickets and more information, go to omniumcircus.org.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source spectrumlocalnews.com ’
