Links



Questions! So many of them!

"Do you know of any training facilities in my area?" "Where can I take aerial classes?" "When are you guys going to be in Podunk?" "What's Spike's shoe size?"

In order to help you find answers to these questions, we've compiled links to equipment sources, camps, classes and training facilities, with descriptions from their own websites. Please note that unless specifically stated, none of these companies are affiliated with Aerial Angels, and we generally don't have additional information - you should directly contact the places that interest you.

Our Most Recommended Links

For the Kidz Gym in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is the Aerial Angels home base for training. Contact us for information on drop-in training. Note that we are primarily a performance group, and we are on the road enough that we generally do not offer organized classes.

New England Center for Circus Arts in Brattleboro, Vermont hosts weekend workshops and a strong, year-long professional training program.

Dube Juggling in New York City is an excellent source for juggling and circus props, including poi.

Circus Smirkus in Vermont hosts weeklong summer circus camps for ages 6-18 as well as a kids' circus touring show.

Aloft Aerial Dance in Chicago offers year-round classes in aerial and acrobatics, aimed primarily at adults.

Starfish Circus is the Aerial Angels' school residency program, in which we cast 50 kids K-12 and put up a circus in 2 weeks.


TRAINING

(Schools & Gyms are listed alphabetically by state)

USA/California

888 Monkeys ASAP Almaden Summer Arts Program - San Jose, CA
Experienced educators team up with drama, art, circus, and movement professionals to offer kids aged 9-16 an opportunity to create and perform their own show. Juggling, Chinese yo-yo, Partner Acrobatics, Tumbling, Equilibristics

San Francisco Circus Center San Francisco, CA
Circus Center encompasses a professional performing company, a student performing troupe, and a school with programs and classes ar all levels in acrobatics, flying trapeze, hand-balancing, contortion, juggling, teeterboard, wire-walking, clowning, and anything in the air, upside down, backwards and seemingly impossible.

The Dell'Arte School of Physical Theatre offers a certificate and an MFA in physical theatre in year-long and two-year programs. They also host the Mad River festival of physical and ensemble theatre shows, and terrific summer workshops in material creation, commedia, clown, physical theatre, mask, women's theatre, and much more. Highly recommended.

Dream Circus Hollywood, CA
Dream Circus offers a full indoor aerial arts training and performance facility right in the center of Hollywood.Our training centers around the Flying Trapeze with other skills such as Static Trapeze, Aerial Tissu, Teeterboard, Contortion/Acrobatics, Spanish Web, and Aerial Hoop rounding out their indoor programs.

Richie Gaona Flying Trapeze School Woodland Hills, CA
Come train with us and learn to walk a high wire, bounce on a trampoline or learn circus acrobatic skills! That and so much more!

The Secret Circus North Hills, CA (LA area)
The Secret Circus offers beginners through advanced flyers the chance to experience and learn aerial and other circus arts in a safe, supportive and non competitive environment. It's a perfect place to practice existing technique or learn from the start. Located minutes from Los Angeles, the Secret Circus resides in a beautiful wooded lot at the home of trapeze aficionados Roger & Vicky Roberge. We offer Flying Trapeze, Single & Double Static Trapeze, Lyra, Spanish Web, Aerial Cradle and Low Wire.

Trapeze Arts Circus School Lake Tahoe & Oakland, CA
Our classes are unique and exciting and while most of our students are taking classes for fun, we can and do train those who aspire to a professional career. Trapeze Arts has shared the art of the Flying Trapeze with many corporate groups including Microsoft, Pixar, Clif Bar, Wells Fargo, KPMG, YMCA, American Express, and Trefethen Winery. Trapeze Arts has been featured on television shows including Bay Area Backroads, CBS Morning Show, Evening Magazine, MSNBC and Univision.

Trapeze High LLC San Diego, CA
Trapeze High LLC is a training facility for people of all ages, abilities and skill levels. Come experience the thrill of circus style flying trapeze! Swing yourself to new limits in a safe, supportive and exciting environment.

USA/Colorado

Aerial Fabric Denver, CO
Classes in aerial fabric, hoop, and dance trapeze are offered year round. Bungee trapeze offered from March to October, where we practice outside, so practice and classes are weather dependent.

Aircat Aerial Arts Boulder, CO
Classes & Workshops, On Going Weekly Classes, Aerial Fabric & Mixed Apparatus Classes, Ages 12 Adult

Imagination Circus Arts Eire, CO
Beginning Circus Arts, Intro to Aerial Arts, Inter/Adv mixed Aerial Arts, Circus Factory, Adagio, Technique, Adult mixed Aerial Arts, Adult Theatrics and Production I and II.

The Imperial Flyers Westminster, CO
The Imperial Flyers is an amateur Flying Trapeze and Circus Arts club operating a rig in Westminster, Colorado. We were founded sometime around 1928 and are probably the oldest continuously operating flying trapeze group in the world. All visiting flyers and lovers of trapeze are very welcome to fly with us! We love visitors and people interested in trying and learning flying trapeze and other Circus Arts.

USA/Florida
The FSU Flying High Circus - Florida
The FSU Flying High Circus is always looking for new members to be a part of the Greatest Collegiate Show on Earth. If you are an FSU Student, then you are eligible to be a part of our show. Florida State University is the only major university in the world with a traditional American 3-ring circus staged under its own Big Top circus tent.

PAL Sailor Circus - Sarasota, FL
The mission of Sailor Circus is to keep the family tradition of the circus alive while using the circus arts as an alternative teaching method and intervention program for youth at risk in the community.

Rainbow Tiger Circus, RTC Productions, LLC - Gainesville, Florida
Director Lynn Polke can be reached at DLPolke@aol.com
Call gym at 352-262-9432 for more information.

USA/Georgia
Canopy Studio - Athens, GA
Canopy Studio is a trapeze, movement arts and performance center offering:classes in Low-to-the-Floor Flying Dance Trapeze, Modern Dance, Belly Dance, Afro-Haitian dance, Improvisation and Pilates.

Carrie Heller's Circus Camp Atlanta, GA
A day-camp experience designed to introduce children to circus, performing, and visual arts in a safe and noncompetitive environment. Camper age begins at 5 years old and includes teens.

USA/Illinois
Actors Gymnasium - Evanston & Chicago, IL
Adult classes: Popular circus skills are introduced by professionals in the field. Unicycling, juggling, stilt-walking, tightrope, trapeze, and Spanish Web are among the skills offered. Child classes: Acro-Dance, Circus Arts, Imaginistics Juggling, Magic Class, Parent-Tot Circus, Parent-Tot Gymnastics, Tumbling

Aloft Aerial Dance - Chicago, IL
Aloft Aerial Dance provides the most cutting edge training in the aerial arts available in the Midwest. We now offer an expanded class schedule in our beautiful new training facility, The Aloft Loft. The Loft features state-of-of-the-art rigging, a spring floor, a vertical dance wall, and a circus and aerial dance library. Classes are now being offered in Trapeze, Aerial Dance, Rope, Harness and Bungee, Spanish Web, Corde Lisse, Fabric, Conditioning, Hula Hoops and more!

Midnight Circus/Circus Factory Chicago, IL
The Midnight Circus has been at the forefront of the new circus movement for nearly a decade. This eclectic ensemble has been creating and performing their unique style of theatrical circus nationally and internationally to audiences of all ages and overwhelming critical acclaim. Now with the creation of the Circus Factory, the Midnight Circus offers an exciting opportunity for professionals and aspiring performers to train and create in a one of a kind environment.

USA/Massachusetts
The Flying Trapeze Academy & Flying Fantasy Circus Boston, MA
Unique, thrilling & exciting classes in the Flying Trapeze & Circus Arts programs for adults, children, groups, corporations and more! Don't Just SEE the Circus ... BE the Circus!

USA/Minnesota
Circus Juventas - St. Paul, MN
We offer youth circus arts training and performance opportunities for children and youth ages 3 to 21 in a safe and noncompetitive environment. While encouraging and helping to develop individual strengths and abilities, the professional staff at Circus Juventas gives every child the opportunity to be in the spotlight.

USA/Missouri
Circus Harmony/Circus Day Foundation St. Louis, MO
Real Circus Performers teach you tumbling, juggling, partner acrobatics, stilt-walking, rolling globe, wire-walking, pyramids, trapeze, clowning and more. Optional classes on animal training are also available. We've taught children of all ages (well, from 5 - 75) the joy and art of the circus! Teachers can come to you or you can come to our facility on the third floor of the fantastic City Museum in downtown St. Louis.

The St. Louis School of Circus Arts- St. Louis, MO
The St. Louis School of Circus Arts was started in the Summer of 2003 by Alexandre Sacha Pavlata as a place where people of all ages can learn REAL circus skills from REAL circus professionals. The school teaches students the joy of living. Both children and adults can achieve self-esteem, confidence, and optimism through overcoming fears and mastering new skills.

USA/New Mexico
AirDance New Mexico - Albuquerque, NM
AirDance New Mexico is a company of talented artists who collaborate with each other to create exciting and innovative performances. The results range from multi-media movement theater to their critically acclaimed aerial dances.. The company is available for performances and residencies.

USA/New York
Circus Camp at French Woods - Hancock, NY
It's true, French Woods has been a model for circus programs 
springing up throughout camping. No where else in the 
world is our program equaled. Our staff has provided training for many other camp counselors, but nowhere 
can the fun, thrills and facilities be equaled. Here 
the "Big Top" provides unlimited opportunity for 
new experiences in a safe circus environment.

USA/Pennsylvania
Camp Lohikan - Pocono Mts, PA
Imagine flying on the Trapeze! Or starring with Lohikan's Amazing Acrobats! Or walking on the High Wire! Maybe you'd rather be a clown or a juggler or learn to ride the unicycle! Well, now's your chance because the Super Circus is appearing everyday this summer! ...And it's awesome!

Independent Lake Camp - Orson, PA
Circus gives kids, from the littlest newbies to the coolest of long-time pro campers, thrilling experiences, impressive new abilities and agilities, and a fresh, original forum for the creative and performing arts. Every two weeks we all - parents included - get it back triple on Performance Day. For those campers who can not get enough of our unique circus program, consider attending our Circus Elite Camp.


Island Lake - Starrucca, PA
Picture yourself flying on a trapeze or balancing on a high wire. Perhaps you prefer hanging from your ankle doing acrobatics on the Spanish web or riding a unicycle If silly is more your style, try clowning. There is no limit to what you can do here.

Lindemere Sports and Arts Center - Henryville, PA
Circus Acts: Flying Trapeze, Static Trapeze, Spanish Web, Tight Rope, Clowning, Juggling, Unicycling, Stilt Walking

USA/Texas
Drama Kids - Rowlett, TX
Get ready for a spectacular week of fun with Drama Kids International's world-renowned curriculum! Our international drama program is offered in 14 countries with over 40,000 children enrolled worldwide.

USA/Vermont
Circus Smirkus - Craftsbury Common, VT
Ages 10-18 for performance and camp; get trained in circus skills; go to camp at one of the most prestigious youth circuses in the nation! Smirkus Camp uses European Big Top tents, professional circus equipment and top circus performers. It's a great way to spend summer vacation.

New England Center for Circus Arts - Brattleboro, VT
Offers instruction to the beginner through advanced acrobat & aerialist from ages 1 1/2 to 106! We offer intensive private training, workshops & ongoing lessons. teach at host organizations around the world & intensive private instruction & act creation for the aspiring professional or enthusiast. Instruction is offered in many disciplines including solo, duo, swinging & flying trapeze, web, fabric, cerceau (hoop) & rope as well as partner acrobatics, contortion, handstands, Chinese pole & clowning/character development.

USA/Virginia
The Ballet Academy of Warrenton Warrenton, VA
Acrobatics teaches flexibility, balance, strength, muscle control, and above all, discipline and concentration. The high degree of discipline and concentration required for acrobatics carries over to many aspects of a student's life, including academics and other athletic performance.

Camp Curtain Call - Carroll County, VA
We'll have you unicycling, swallowing fire (well supervised, of course!), performing close-up and stage magic, or juggling anything you can hold! Camp Curtain Call is THE place to clown around!

Timber Ridge Camp - High View, West VA
Campers Can Join the Circus Without Running Away! Our trained Club Med instructors teach the skills behind the trapeze, trampoline, Spanish Web, clowning, makeup art, magic and juggling. At the end of each camp session, circus students will put their skills to the test in a big-top performance.


USA/MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

Trapeze-Experience
The purpose of Trapeze-Experience , the premier service of International Transition Services, LLC, is to assist individuals with the process of their transitionings to having healthful relationships - with their higher-self, their emotions, with their family and friends, their communities, and in their professional lives - while having a great-time on the flying trapeze. We provide flying-trapeze classes with instruction for individuals at all levels; especially beginners, in Florida, Texas, Chicago, New York, and beyond.

Trapeze School New York, Baltimore & Beantown
Everything you need to know and everything you need to do (besides actually taking the bar and flying) is on each school's site, so go ahead and take your pick! New York, Baltimore, Beantown


CANADA

CirKids - Vancouver, British Columbia
Youth programming and performance remain the central focus of the CirKids School of Circus Arts but the new space has allowed for the introduction of specialty teen and adult classes. CirKids is a non-profit, parent-run organization and remains true to its original values of collaboration and inclusiveness. We hold a special place in the performing arts community of Vancouver and we welcome you to join us.

Camp Clearview - Stayner, Ontario
The art to perform gymnastics and dance on the back of a moving horse! Featuring all equestrian co-ed activities. No previous experience required.

Toronto School of Circus Arts Toronto, Ontario
offers programs and classes for all levels, ages and interests. The school's mission is to extend circus arts to the general public on a recreational and professional level. The school's training facility is home to individuals interested in pursuing an alternative to everyday fitness, as well as Toronto's world renowned performance company Cirque Sublime.

Ecole Nationale du Cirque/National Circus School Montreal, Quebec
Prestigious circus school in Canada, widely viewed as a feeder school for Cirque du Soleil. There is also a summer program in the form of a two-week intensive summer camp that allows young people ages 13 to 17 to experience professional training in circus arts. During their stay, participants receive a solid grounding in the demands of the various disciplines, and begin to learn effective training and personal motivation skills.

EUROPE
Ecole du Cirque in Chambery, France, runs workshops and courses from age 4 recreation programs all the way to serious professional training including a diploma in circus studies. From their site: "The Circus Arts training centre is meant for young people who are looking for vocational training : Education courses include all circus technical skills: high-level acrobatic techniques and performance, aerial awareness and techniques, juggling and manipulation, equilibristics ; along with artistic exploration : dance, body rhythmics, body language, theatre, manners of playing ; and courses in anatomy, physiology, social and labour law, History of Circus, History of Music and Dance, son et lumi re technics, making-up arts, search for employment technics, personal life investigation."

Circommedia in Bristol, England, is an advanced training school that offers a diploma and professional programs. From their site: "Circomedia is the leading centre in Britain for circus with physical theatre. It is the only centre of its kind in Britain where the core staff are qualified teachers. It has developed its own Diploma in Circus and Physical Theatre and is the only centre offering this qualification. We run intensive training courses for people who want to develop an imaginative and innovative approach to circus and physical theatre, balancing technique training with the nurturing of creativity and expression. At Circomedia, our training approach recognises the needs of a new generation of performers wanting to combine circus with dance, theatre, cabaret and street theatre and to ground them in physical technique and skill."

Femke teaches workshops at Circuswerkplaats Boost, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Boost also offers open training times and workspace.

Equipment and Suppliers
Dube, in New York, has basic bullwhips suitable for learning, top-of-the-line diabolos, poi, and all the juggling equipment you could ever want.

Barry is a great place for stock items and custom-built. You can buy silks, hoops, and all the rigging you could ever want to hang it. Plus, if you're planning on staging an Alpine rescue mission, this is the place!

Custom Built Equipment in Xenia, Ohio, you can get everything from a big-cat performance ring cage to the handloops used in the Aerial Angels show. Tell 'em we sent you!

CAN'T GET ENOUGH?
The following sites have their own comprehensive lists of circus-related links:
http://www.damnhot.com/trapeze/trapezelinks2.html
http://www.mysummercamps.com/camps/circus-camps.html
http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/circus/circus3.html:
"Thanks for putting on such a f***ing amazing show!"
Apocalypse Kow, Edmonton