Dorrie announced her retirement at AcroSports’s 30th Anniversary Gala in December 2023. She officially retires on July 31st. In case you missed her letter to AcroSports in our July Zipline, please check out the link here: Thank You AcroSports for 30 Unforgettable Years
Thank You for 30 Years of Leadership
Dear Dorrie,
It is a tall order to express the AcroSports community’s gratitude to you for more than 30 years of tireless efforts as an advocate for movement arts. Your visionary leadership over the years has transformed the facility on Frederick Street, the landscape of the San Francisco circus and gymnastics community, and most importantly, the lives of the students and families that have passed through the doors of AcroSports over the many fortunate years you have led the organization. There are not just one or two stories about how AcroSports and you have changed the lives of students, and there are plenty of stories about how AcroSports has changed the course of someone’s life for the better. Whether that was creating a community where people felt they could be and express themselves, finding a new talent that became a future career, or putting on performances that entertained and brought joy to so many, you have left your mark on the lives of many and the culture of San Francisco.
Even the facility’s physical space and gym on Frederick Street reflect the transformation of AcroSports over the years. You took what was an abandoned 1930s high school gymnasium and transformed it into a state-of-the-art facility that serves students of all ages, from 10 months old to adults. AcroSports now offers a broad range of classes and disciplines, including circus arts, gymnastics, acrobatics, breaking, and parkour, and engages over 2,500 youth and adult students per week and reaches over 15,000 students across our programs annually. Your commitment to excellence was the magic ingredient that helped make the renaissance of the gym possible.
Your commitment to AcroSports’ success never waivered, even during difficult times. During the COVID pandemic, you found funding to keep artists and staff employed during very challenging times for our community. Your ability to navigate through such unprecedented times speaks to your resilience and commitment to our team and the community we serve.
Besides growing AcroSports in its hometown of San Francisco, you also made the organization’s impact felt internationally. Since 2006, AcroSports has been dedicated to supporting disadvantaged youth on the island of Zanzibar, off the coast of Tanzania, Africa. You started it all off when you visited the island and saw local boys performing impressive acrobatic feats on the beach. Recognizing their talent, you reach out to the Ministry of Culture and local organizations to discuss opportunities for these boys to train and perform for tourists.
In 2008, two years after your initial visit, a group was formed, incorporating some of the original acrobats. AcroSports has since sponsored multiple trips, sending instructors to provide formal training in acrobatics, capoeira, breakdancing, and more. These organizing efforts culminated in the group’s naming to the Zanzibar School of AcroSports in 2017, which now hosts public workshops and continues to engage youth in the transformative power of movement and performance arts.
As you look to your next adventure after 31 years as a founding member and Executive Director of AcroSports, you pass on a legacy of passion, dedication, and community service. Your career and achievements inspire and motivate all of us to carry on with the same vision and sense of purpose that you have demonstrated. When others saw gymnastics and movement arts for their competitive value, you saw the opportunity to share them as a practice to foster recreation, creativity, and joy. We take it upon ourselves to ensure the spirit of movement, community, performance and fun endures.
Forever grateful,
The AcroSports community 🥹💙
Dorrie’s Legacy: Highlights and Achievements
- Dorrie co-founded AcroSports in 1993 as a non-profit school. It has been thriving for over 31 years.
- As AcroSports Executive Director, Dorrie has guided us through 3 decades of changes, challenges, and celebrations.
- Dorrie led the renovation and revitalization of the 1930s gymnasium into the space we know and love today.
- Dorrie and the team developed an outreach program that has served many schools and community-based organizations throughout the city, providing access to the benefits of movement and performance arts for those who might not otherwise have had the chance to participate.
- Dorrie cultivated opportunities for artistic expression with Bay Area artists and the community through AcroSports CityCircus and numerous other performances and partnerships with local arts organizations.
- Dorrie is also deeply involved in her community. She has sat on the board of directors of HANC (Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council), the UCSF Community Advisory Group, is a member of the Leadership Team of the Golden Gate Park CommUNITY garden, and sits on the San Francisco Park & Rec Kezar Stadium Advisory Committee.
- Her dedication to her community and her vision for the power of movement and performance arts have made a difference in the lives of thousands of people.
