A²D² Charitable Initiatives

It is extremely important to the founders and fellow troupe members of A²D² to help raise funds for people living with spinal cord injuries.

In 2005, Carolyn Pioro, a dear friend and talented member of the Toronto circus industry, fell from the flying trapeze while rehearsing for a national tour with an unnamed circus troupe. Her accident resulted in a severe spinal cord injury and permanent paralysis. Cirque-tacular Productions was created as benefit shows to help raise funds for Carolyn and for spinal research.

About Cirque-tacular Productions

Cirque-tacular & the Seven Deadly Sins,  Polson Pier, March 29, 2009

Cirque-tacular & the Seven Deadly Sins charity showcase took place at the beautiful Polson Pier's Sound Academy. General admission as well as VIP tickets were sold to the public. Both ticket types secured a seat for guests to watch A²D²'s 1.5 hour presentation "Cirque-tacular and the Seven Deadly Sins" (read more about this production on our SHOWS page). VIP's arrived two hours earlier then general admission ticket holders to eat a delicious three course lunch provided by the Village Bistro, Caledon. VIPs also were able to meet characters from the show and be entertained with live music and other fabulous pre-show entertainment!

Cirque-tacular & the Seven Deadly Sins raised $7000 with a sold out house! A great success for our inaugural year!

Cirque Tea Party,  Renaissance by the Creek, June 27, 2010,

Cirque Tea Party was also performed to a sold out crowd! Taking a very different approach, A²D² developed a dinner theatre experience for all attendees! From the moment guests walked through the doors they were greeted with photo booth fun, interactive characters, roaming tables, singing archways and so much more. Once inside our "wonderful wonderland" guests were entertained by high flying acrobats, served a fabulous four course dinner and were even served tea from the ceilings!

Cirque Tea Party raised $3700 which was donated directly to the CPA (Canadian Paraplegic Association).

Show Program Excerpt authored by Carolyn Pioro:

Those of us who have fallen, both literally and figuratively, have done so with far more intensity than dear Alice did. The early days of living with a spinal cord injury are dizzying, confusing and most of all very bleak. Thoughts become crowded by the impossibilities of life ahead, a life perhaps devoid of wonder and whimsy and anything lovely at all.

But thankfully an organization like CPA Ontario exists. An incomparable team of individuals who work tirelessly to not only lift the spirits of the fallen but to inform and inspire the SCI-individual to repair, to re-evaluate and to rejoin life. Granted, it is a life very different from before, but one that nonetheless may still show flickers and beams of loveliness and possibility.

CPA Ontario, I thank you (and I'm only one of hundreds who feel the same way) for supporting me and for helping me find my spirit again, which in the early days, I believed, had fallen farther than I did.

And I'm also so delighted that the generous and talented performers of A²D², led by their fearless leaders --- the sisters DeAngelis --- have decided to host today's marvellous Cirque Tea Party. These acrobats and aerialists are not only bringing us along on a topsy-turvy, Cirque-tacular adventure, but while perfecting their circus disciplines they have also been working diligently to raise awareness and to raise funds that will go to CPA Ontario and will in turn better the lives of many living with a spinal cord injury.

I am so very, very grateful for both A²D²and CPA Ontario.

Sincerely,

Carolyn Pioro

Cupcake Connoisseur and Wonderland Super-Fan!

A very special thanks to our fabulous Cirque Tea Party Sponsors:

DeAngelis Entertainment
www.deangelisentertainment.com

bb Blanc
www.bbblanc.com

Event Fusion
www.eventfusion.net

Canadian Event Perspective
www.canadianspecialevents.com

Designing Trendz
wwww.designingtrendz.com/blog

Special Event Boot Camp
www.specialeventbootcamp.com

The George Kash Experience
www.georgekash.com

Entertainment Ontario
www.entertainmentontario.com

Illagraphics
www.illagraphics.com

Balloon Corporate Events
www.ballooncorporateevents.com

Maple Academy of Dance
www.mapleacademyofdance.com

O SNAP!
www.osnap-photography.com

Esolaria Systems and Solutions
www.esolaria.ca

* 2011 Charitable Show Announced!  "Christmas Cabaret"~  Embassy Grand, December 4, 2011,

Life really is a "Cabaret Old Chum" so come and join our sassy performers, both in the sky and on the ground,  for this fun-filled afternoon of CIRQUE-TACULAR entertainment! More information on Christmas Cabaret can be found HERE. This is a show you do not want to miss!