Our Mission
To create space for collaboration, empowerment and the joyful celebration of community using movement and ensemble theater traditions, imaginative play, and aerial arts to help people of all abilities discover their potential, encourage perseverance and embrace their humanity.
The ETC School encourages physical confidence, freedom, and grace in a creative, non-competitive atmosphere. Students of all ages and abilities develop strength, balance, flexibility, and creativity while working with others to explore the intersection of circus, movement, and storytelling. We support a faculty of teaching artists, who cultivate their students’ abilities, model through performance and are life-long learners themselves. Our faculty and youth performance groups create unique, professional performances aimed at bridging generational and cultural gaps while celebrating the collective potential of all people.
Email us: hello [at] echotheaterpdx [dot] org
Our History
In 2013, Echo Theater Company assumed management of the historic Echo Theater from DoJump, maintaining what has become an important hub of arts and culture in the iconic Hawthorne District of Portland. Education Director, Wendy Cohen, and Director of Operations and Community Engagement, Aaron Wheeler-Kay, are former Do Jump! Performers and have worked in this unique hybrid of performance styles for a combined 40 years.
You can learn more about who we are by listening to our podcast!
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This land has a story, and holds the stories of all who have lived on it. We recognize we are on the stolen land of the Cowlitz, Clackamas, Kathlamet, Multnomah, Tualatin, and the other Tribal Nations who were the original stewards of this land.
Despite centuries of colonial theft and violence, we are fortunate that this area is rich with descendants, who preserve cultural practices and continue to demonstrate talents and gifts amidst the backdrop of systemic oppression.