Founded in 2008 by circus performer & Process Work therapist, Jenn Cohen, The Circus Project was created with the mission of empowering homeless and traditionally underserved youth. and young adults—physically, mentally, and emotionally—through the development of innovative, skilled circus productions.
When founding The Circus Project, Jenn Cohen believed that the unique appeal of circus arts would benefit homeless and marginalized youth in unprecedented ways—and that they in turn, would propel the growing field of new circus arts, with their unique perspectives and fervent passion, to new heights.
In 2009, The Circus Project expanded programming to include classes available to the general public, so that children and adults from all walks of life could experience the profound effects of circus arts with the option of pursuing either a recreational or professional track. Later that year, The Circus Project formed our Professional Performance Troupe with the intention of creating bold new works that challenge our assumptions of human potential and offer cutting-edge, contemporary circus performances to the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
The Circus Project has since established itself as one of the premiere performance companies and circus training programs in the Pacific Northwest, bringing in internationally acclaimed guest artists, creating new opportunities for collaboration with local and international performance companies, and running the only circus training programs designed specifically for homeless youth in the country.
Jenn Cohen, Founding Director
Jenn has worked as a professional circus performer and coach for over two decades. Her training includes The Circus Space in London, Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre, sacred clown & buffoon with Sue Morrison, and Chinese acrobatics with Master Lu Yi. Jenn performed extensively in ensemble theaters throughout the US, and as a solo aerial artist in Europe. She was a tenured instructor at the San Francisco Circus Center and worked as a choreography consultant for Teatro ZinZanni. Jenn also served as vice-president of the American Youth Circus Organization, and on the resource council of Circus Now. Jenn holds a master’s degree in Process Oriented Psychology and uses that work’s unique approach to individual and collective change to create innovative choreography. In 2011, Jenn received the Skidmore Prize, a recognition for young nonprofit leaders. She spoke at TEDx which features short talks by “Portland’s most innovative and inspiring minds,” and was featured on “Turning Point,” a nationally-syndicated public broadcasting program. Jenn can be contacted at zenkoan7@gmail.com