FutureNow! Circus Empowerment Educators

The Artists
Becky Renfrow and Melissa Knowles are inspired artists with infectious enthusiasm. They are multi-talented circus performers with skill in juggling, clowning, acrobalance, hula-hooping and more. They have performed with groups including Bellingham's Dream Science Circus and the New Old Time Chautauqua. They are co-founders of the innovative all-women's performance group Women of the Future and FutureNow! Productions.

The Educators
Melissa and Becky are passionate about sharing their circus-joy with young and old alike. They have taught juggling, hooping, acrobatics and clowning to groups of children, youth, and adults with Chautauqua, the Power of Hope, and as service work with local non-profit organizations. They create a safe, playful and supportive environment where participants can discover a great sense of personal power and mutual support as they learn circus arts. Not only do their students walk away from the experience with a neat new skill, they leave feeling a stronger sense of themselves and what they can accomplish in the world. Acrobalance classes are especially powerful opportunities for students to develop awareness of interdependence and the strength of community.

FutureNow! Workshops and Classes
With backgrounds in early education, youth work, theater and creative facilitation, Melissa and Becky design classes to meet the needs and interests of a specific group. Every session begins with fun warm-up ice-breakers and theater-based games that invite laughter and help the group get more comfortable with themselves and the instructors. Before moving on to any circus arts- even if it is just juggling scarves- clear safety agreements are made with the group. The rest of the session is shaped around a specific skill and includes detailed instruction and buckets of encouragement. It's all about fun!