Ashe is the best teacher I've ever had, in circus, aerial , fitness, and all over health and wellness. She has been my private teacher for five years now, and I'm finally writing a review. She is so knowledgeable about the body, the skeleton, the muscles, it's like medical school in the best way! I have gained so much strength, flexibility, and just wonderful enjoyment from her amazing lessons. There is no better private teacher for me! read more

It is one of the professional circus education in USA, the circus education starts from 30 years ago, two founders are from the most professional and experienced circus background, one of the founders from China, his name is Luyi, he brought Chinese traditional acrobatics training and teaching style to USA, it is good choice for people to start and experience circus education and life at Circus Center. read more

See all

Worth the trip--don't give up! The Circus Center's website is tricky, but their front desk team is amazing. They helped me find the perfect class, and the courses themselves are exceptional--creative, challenging, and so rewarding. If you're stuck online, just go in person. You won't regret it! read more

Circus Center admin is truly a clown show. I have taken class here before. Let me preface by saying the instructors, classgoers, and general circus community are wonderful. The admin and whoever else is responsible for running this place are complete idiots. My partner, a long time customer of Circus Center, drove an HOUR and 30 mins to get to this place on time for a class that they PAID for, and without any warning or notice ahead of time, when they got there the class was canceled. Why? Because they rented out the straps and acrobatics practice areas to an a'capella group. And pushed the acrobatics practice into the kids' room, and canceled the straps class. No hate to the a'capella group either, this is 1000% admin's fault and there was no accountability, no reimbursement of 3 hours wasted in commute time. They constantly beg for donations and support yet somehow can't manage to run their schedule properly. They are a nonprofit and don't even pay rent on the building. This place is either run by people who have no idea what they are doing or who are deliberately putting funds into their own wallets. Instructors and class community are the only redeeming parts of this operation, but everything else is an absolute circus (derogatory). read more

I love Circus Center! Circus arts workouts help to build strength and flexibility while feeling like play. A lot of the instructors at Circus Center are tough in a way that I find awesome. They do thorough warm ups and have low tolerance for poor technique. I really appreciate both of these things, to prevent injury, and to really advance skills. I highly recommend Circus Center! read more

I took online contortion one a few times. Ashley is great, she is descriptive and attentive. Serchyma, the department director of their contortion program, made me feel ashamed and unseen. Overall, I didn't feel accepted where I was at skill wise and felt that I was being pushed beyond my limits/preferences without care. read more

I love this place! Super down to earth, everyone is approachable and friendly. The level of instruction here is very high with several world renowned performers teaching. Despite that, it is accessible to all - adults and children alike! Maybe I can finally conquer my fear of heights here read more

Straps 1 & 2 increased price from $350 to $480 with no communication/justification, changes in course length, or ratio of students to instructors. Deeply disappointing read more

Circus Center - Wow what a price hike!! - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

I've been taking Intro to Tumbling classes at Circus Center for about a year and have loved them! Landyn is a great instructor and makes you feel welcomed. He's super knowledgeable about the specifics of tumbling and how to become a little better every week. Each class is curated to what you want to work on and I have fun every class! read more

Circus center was great! "Thwan" Michael, and Nan?? were all fantastic. Came with a group of 7th and 8th graders and had a wonderful exciting time. They had three stations consisting of juggling and balancing tools, acrobatics, and the highlight of the day, the trapeze! I even got to try a few times and the crew was so encouraging! Both of my kids are already bugging me to come back and I'm sure we will. They even shared an encouraging message at the end of our time. *****! read more

have been coming here for a few weeks and enjoy it a ton! it's super wide open and the staff and teachers are all really nice EXCEPT ONE PERSON who I will not name but actually made the experience really awful for me and would not take classes with her again tbh. Basically criticized my form and was extremely critical and not supportive the entire time. so I guess wanted to flag that one experience here somewhere as this felt not warm and welcoming but having gone to a different instructor I've enjoyed it a lot more. NORMALLY 4.5/5 stars, but putting this here as a flag / indication read more

The kids classes here are a hidden gem. My son, who's 7, hasn't found other gymnastics classes he's liked but he loves the beginning tumbling class he's in at circus center. It's very small so he gets lots of individualized attention and in just a few months has learned to do handstands and multiple kinds of rolls. read more

The teachers/ circus artists who work here are the real deal. My teenaged daughter takes flying trapeze and aerial arts here. The community is kind and authentic, and the teachers are experts. My daughter would live at this place if she could. I am so inspired by everything I have seen here, that I am plucking up the courage to also do flying trapeze, and will certainly be taking a silks class. We are so grateful for the presence of Circus Center in our lives. Massive shout out to Austin and Hurdlyn; two very amazing, inspiring young men. read more

Circus Center is in an old gymnasium near Kezar stadium. It's near Ashbury Heights. This center has circus and gymnastics activities for kids and adults. It's fun and they have shows for circus. Maybe it's fun to try sometimes. read more

This is first and foremost a legit school for the performing arts. Just have a look at their main hall where they fly. Take a long, good look at the skills they demonstrate, then consider the amount of hard work and training they undertook to acquire said skills. Then fall back into wonder again. For me. Nope--I have grown portly and lazy when once flying through the air on the trapeze might have been a thrill. For my teen son--bliss. Could not peel him away from the Friday night taster. So, I had to buy a pack of classes to let him return. Did you know he was 1/3 monkey? The staff are uber happy and wonderful people people. Yes, I know they are doing their job. But it was an exemplary demonstration of how to make guests feel welcome and belong. So begins the hard work... making time in our insanely busy schedules to drive my son to yet another activity, and letting him work out so he can fly. And for that, thank you Circus Center. read more

I have mixed feelings about this place, since my experience here seems to to vary so much depending on the day and who's around. Well, firstly, Circus Center is more of a school rather than a studio, so don't expect everything here to be super shiny and new like at some other studios around SF. It's clean enough, so I'm not complaining or anything, just wanted to mention it so it's not a surprise later when you get a waft of sweat. Also, don't get it confused with AcroSports which is just down the street in an almost identical building. Inner sunset isn't too close for those of us who come from downtown or something, but it's not too hard to get to. It's easy to hop on the N (muni) to get there. I don't have a car, so I'm unsure of the parking situation, but since it's mainly residential it probably isn't too bad. There are people here of all ages (they have classes for kids and adults!) and skills levels. I come here as a beginner and a drop-in student at that, but there are usually people around who are seriously practicing for performances and other stuff. Not to mention a lot of different skills! There's flying trapeze, acrobatics, Chinese pole, parkour, tissu / aerial silks, lyra / aerial hoop, corde lisse / aerial rope, static trapeze, etc. Definitely look at the full schedule if you want to see what else they have around. The staff and students here vary. Like I mentioned, I'm mainly a drop-in student (although I have done one full session too :D) To be honest, sometimes everyone is great from the time you walk in, throughout the class, then when you walk out after class. Sometimes they are super friendly and social, but other times they are more focused on efficiency and getting to work - it's a school after all, so they don't always walk you through things step by step if that's what you're always expecting. Just saying... Bonus: It's on a ClassPass and also has an intro package, which is great if you want to get little tastes of things. BUT the classes (ClassPass and even regular classes) tend to fill up fast so plan ahead if there's something you want to try that might be in high demand with the students. The limited classes are both a pro and con since it's hard to get in, but once you're in, it's nice to have the individualized attention read more

Circus Center - Basement studio - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

it has really advanced my circus skills and grow my passion for circus would recomend to all who enjoy creative movement

I KNOW I would take a class here if I lived here. This place is so great and the people are too! I came here to a Friday circus jam with my friend and we learned to juggle. It's free! We had Oscar and he was a great instructor! He was very encouraging and sincere even though I was pretty hopeless. He really breaks down the technique and is really helpful. Bonus: the next day, we did SF Trolley Dances and he was one of the performers! He is clearly a master of his craft. Another bonus: when we checked in for the jam, we realized there was a show that night so we got tickets for that. They were only $15! The show was more than worth the price. Some audience fun and some really entertaining acts! Maybe more clowning than was necessary for me personally, but everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy every act. All the performers seemed to be good friends with each other and casual, and after the show, they were happy to take pictures and talk to everyone in the audience. The whole place just felt like a fun-loving and friendly environment. If you're visiting and run out of touristy things to do, this is a really great choice! read more

I've been taking Acrobatics classes from Xiaohong for over five years. He is the real deal. He pushes me to my limit and spots me like a pro, so I never feel unsafe. There's really no workout quite like his Intro to Acro class, that must be experienced to appreciate. He's been teaching for over 20 years and performing his whole life. His peppy attitude and ability to make the class accessible for everyone is a rare skill to come by. He teaches advanced students but also is patient with beginners. Highly recommend! read more

Circus Center - Fancy stretching at Circus Center with Xiaohong! - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great classes for all ages, levels, and large variety of classes. Clean, friendly, inclusive community of students, teachers, and staff. I highly recommend to anyone wanting to learn a new skill, sharpen to deepen their practice or try something new. read more

Circus Center - Intermediate Contortion - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

I have enjoyed taking classes here over the years. They rule! The only thing i noticed is that the music degraded - it used to be instrumental and a really great vibe but now people blast destiny's child and top 40 music which doesn't go with the circus spirit. It's even hard to hear what the instructor is saying because the music is so loud and distracting! I guess it's a paid partnership ??? I'll mention it during my next class but it detracts heavily from the circus which is an art form! I'm a bit sad it got corporate like this but maybe people can pay extra to not have to strain over the top 40 music! Other than that it's great, I went midweek and expected a lot of rich stay at home moms like a yoga class which is ok but instead it was an assortment of a dancer cool male students (cord classes rule). The level is very challenging even for people who think they are physically fit and the instruction is always patient and chill read more

Pretty bad ass. We did a company offsite for a group of about 30 here and it worked out great. The staff was really patient and helped any scaredy cats through their fears gently. Everyone got the opportunity to take a few tries at flying around on a trapeze a good 20 feet or so in the air and about a third of the group was picked to attempt an in-the-air hand off. Everyone got their adrenaline levels pumped and will remember the experience for a long time. While we were learning the basics the gym was filled with the next generation of cirque du soleil performers doing all sorts of crazy shiz. Being here felt a little like you were part of a parallel universe or secret society... like that time on Seinfeld when George Costanza found his way into some secret models-only parties in NYC only to have them vanish as if they never existed upon his return... read more

I have a crush. Huge crush. On my Chinese pole instructor. What a badass. Ross Travis. Ugh, what a stud. What a gangsta!! Sooo, I've started taking Chinese pole, which I've dabbled in before, but never really taken to. I've observed Ross' class from afar, but didn't jump in until recently, when my friend urged me to take it with her. I loved it!! Despite it being a "general" (as opposed to an advanced class), this is some haaaaard sh*t right thur, let me tell you. Warm-ups are the basics: climbing with opposing and same-side grip, tick tock, aka monkey climb, fish sit climbs, and a basic combo of fish/superman, star. I really appreciate that we do these same things every week - my combo is getting better. The star isn't as hard as it used to be - it's not perfect, but it's getting better and I'm getting less and less rotation. Ross is an amazing instructor. Despite his doofy character look, he's 100% serious about his craft. He's incredibly strong, has a quiet and concentrated aura about him, and is committed to making you stronger/better. Ugh I love him - he's quiet, calm, intense and serious about his craft, all the thing that make me swoon. He's very good at explaining the tricks and how to engage the right part of your body, and has a constant flow of exercises happening so you're constantly working, even if you're not working with him. By dance pole standards, the moves we work on are very challenging - handstands are not a beginner move, but we do them. Because very few but the strongest men somewhat successfully execute the handstand, Ross is there spotting every single one of us, which takes a lot of energy on his part. I'm sure he's getting his work out on as well. While I find dance pole much prettier, Chinese pole is extremely strength based and I am getting a lot out of the class. I have experience on pole already, but the shapes and grip in Chinese Pole are different, so it's a completely different way of moving and I have to unlearn some of my prior training. After all that ass-kicking in class, we do some challenging conditioning exercises using sliders and wide-armed pull-ups at the end, just when you're ready to just curl up into the fetal position on the floor. The school has loaner shoes available, but if you come even 1x a week, just buy some for $20 on Amazon. On the other classes: I also really like Sylphie's Hoop class. She is also a gangster. That woman has active leg flexibility like you wouldn't believe. You can find her on FB under Sylphie Ariella and I'm sure you can find her on IG as well (but I don't dabble in that sh*t). She is a punk/rock/goth aerialist with beautiful lines and flexibility and like Ross, has a very thoughtful way of communicating how to improve. I feel really lucky that I get to take her classes, and often have a private with her on Wednesday nights since no one seems to sign up. Weird. I used to take Xiaohong's handstand and acro classes but have since fallen off of doing that regularly. He's also incredibly strong and has a very challenging class. He knows how to push you. I was hoping to get my aerial cartwheel, but stopped going regularly, so...oh well. Things I love about Xiaohong: 1) his demonstrations of a bad handstand (like...only a gangster could show you how to hold a bad handstand); 2) his ability to tell you straight up when you suck. Nicely! But honestly; and 3) When he has to get his back brace on to support us fat Americans in handstands and such. I also sometimes drop into Catie's contortion classes as well. They are very different than Xia's stretch class. Much more about micro movements and getting perfectly square (which I am bad at). Classes hurt and I wasn't seeing much progress so I stopped going regularly and then I wasn't seeing much progress, i.e. negative feedback loop. Sorry, couldn't stay committed... Overall, I have found new appreciation in the last month at Circus Center with Ross' class. I needed something different. But on the cons: 1) Some front staff people are not nice, especially that girl with the red hair. She ALWAYS seems to be working on something personal and is openly annoyed when I arrive to check-in. Or she does this other thing where, referring to the paper you sign when no one is at the desk, says rather brusquely, "Can you just sign here" without even looking up; 2) Classes are getting more and more expensive and depending on your instructor, can be boring, repetitive, or both; and 3) People are cliquey and not that friendly, though I have realized that people in ADVANCED classes are cliquey and not that friendly. I think that's why I like Chinese pole so much - people are so much friendlier!! So nice! They actually talk to you. And smile! I actually enjoy seeing people from week to week. But the class itself is not elementary at all. I heart Ross Travis so much and will genuinely miss him and the other students when I move. read more

Circus Center - Crushing so hard. - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

What a pleasant surprise. I saw a flyer posted at school and it looked like a good show. I asked a friend (well, my ex) if he'd like to go and he was up for it. We went to the Love Hangover show and it was amazing. I had never heard of this place before, maybe because I don't live in SF. The show was beautiful, entertaining, hypnotizing and sexy all at the same time. The aerial acrobatics was so gorgeous, there was a girl on a straight bar swing and then another girl on an elevated hula hoop. Plus there was comedy, a juggler, salsa dancing, a clown, and a stunning MC. Mistress Leann. We had a great time, left completely satisfied and felt like we got a peek into a subculture that we had never experienced before. I have never attended a circus or Las Vegas show, so this was a true first experience of the such. This place is so much more then just a school, support them and go see their shows. I will be back again. One complaint: the alcohol options were weak (Smirnoff is gross) and they only offered soda as a mixer, no juice, no fruit. I was disappointed in that considering the drinks were tiny and expensive. Other than that, great job! read more

If you've ever wanted to run away and join the circus, you don't have to quit your day job (if you do, they can help you with that too). Circus Center enables you to see what your niche is. I've always wanted to learn trapeze. I got the intro to aerial skills class (perfect present). This class is an intro to all things Aerial, Static Trapeze, Rope, Hoop and Tissu. You get the basics of each one and a great work out to boot. You warm up with jumping jacks, stretching and such and then get into the good stuff. It definitely helps you with strength training and flexibility. It's a mixed group of students that take the class for a variety of reasons. The teachers are nice and no one is judgmental. If I do pick up and run away for circus life, I now know that I prefer Tissu (silks) to the trapeze. The trapeze was rough on your hands and legs. Flying trapeze and trampoline also looked like fun and a good alternative workout as well. read more

I've only had 2 intro classes so maybe I will update in a couple months or so, but my first impressions were as follows... I was very* late to my first class. I was pretty sure they wouldn't allow me to attend, but the young lady at the front desk said it was OK. To address some of the other commenters - I didn't find her to be very friendly either but hey - I was the dummy tardy one so I didn't think anything of it. I was just glad that I was allowed to attend, being so late. I took "Intro to Acrobatics" class on Monday eve. Overall, I thought the teacher was patient and he tried to assist anytime someone was struggling, regardless of how well or poorly we were doing. The class had a distinct structure to it - conditioning warmup, stretching, handstands/headstands, tumbling, conditioning a little at the end. The pace of the class is fairly quick and I could see how if you are easily intimidated or are afraid of falling down - that you might feel uncomfortable. I think you just have to be OK with feeling lame and uncomfortable and maybe occasionally falling down! :D There's not whole a lot of slow verbal breakdown of the mechanics of each movement - more observe and follow. Whew! After the class I told the teacher it was the hardest intro class I ever tried! He said, "It's intro to acrobatics not intro to anyone can do it!" (lolol) Of course I went back. The second class felt actually a little more "intro" than the first class, even though we covered the same things. I'm guessing it was because the group of people could have been newer and the teacher was basing the pace on who was there. I also took public transport the 2nd time which was much easier to deal with. I really enjoye the class and figure if I continue going, I can get stronger and improve. read more

This is a FANTASTIC center for the performing arts! I have been a student here since March of 2019 and I absolutely love it! Intro to Mixed Aerials with Elena Panova is the most challenging and most rewarding fitness class I have ever taken! Elena is a tough instructor but she will push you to achieve movements you never thought possible! I began this class with NO (and I mean ZERO) circus experience. It took some adjustments, learning how my body moves, and a lot of hard work but I can see my progress! Stretch Class with Ash Rexford is the most intense and satisfying total body workout I have experienced! Ash is extremely knowledgeable about anatomy and physiology and doesn't hesitate to throw the formal muscle names around! In addition, Ash is an accepting teacher who works well with all levels of ability! I will definitely continue taking both of these classes as long as I can! read more

My very first Yelp Elite Event was held here. I was so impressed and had such a good time, I had to come back the very next week to check out their Incirculo show. There were seats on the ground level as well as in their second floor bleachers. My companion and I chose the bleachers and were able to see perfectly. All the performances were done up high, so being on the second floor put the performers all at eye level. The performers were all graduates of the school. What exactly were the performances like? There as a lot of rope climbing, spinning, dangling, swinging, balancing, contorting, juggling, acrobatics, and clowning around. Definitely worth checking out if you get the chance. read more

See all

I've been going to the Stretching class taught by Ash for a month now and already starting to notice a small increase in flexibility. It's a great class that really focuses on the stretch, and she gives you a good amount of time in each one to really feel it. Ash is great at helping you figure out the small adjustments that really make the stretch effective, and can help push you to go a little further. The class is great for all levels, beginners like me who can barely bend, all the way to the people who are bending in half, but the moves are all ones that work for anybody. Last but not least she is a very fun and friendly personality and helps keep your mind off the sometimes uncomfortable sensation of stretching to your limits. read more

I love coming here for the Stretching/Flexibility for Everybody classes. I had previously been to another Stretching class in San Carlos and the instructor was really mean to first-timers like me who had trouble following what was happening. I found Circus Center to be extremely welcoming to all levels. So what is a Stretching class? These classes are 90 mins and aren't just classes where you come in and get a nice, leisurely stretch and learn how to touch your toes. These classes are more like conditioning classes for people who want to do circus, so you get pushed to your max where it feels like your hamstrings are going to pop and you leave feeling very sore. I started coming to these classes when I decided that I wanted to be able to do a split. There are beginners like me, but there are also advanced people who both make you feel lame yet inspire you to become the limber god/goddess that you are deep inside.. very deep inside. Classes usually start with some kind of warm up and then progress into a series of leg flexibility exercises that end with (trying to) doing front and side splits. It's fine if you can't do any of those things, since the goal is to work towards that. It's also fine if you can already do those things, because the instructor will challenge you further (some people were practicing to be able to do splits upside-down in mid-air!). I would say the majority of class is focused on legs, but the remaining time is focused on chest and shoulders to be able to work into contortions. All of the instructors I've had were great, but I think only Christine is still teaching here. The gym itself is a little older, and it's questionable when the last time the carpets were cleaned. However, the friendly and dedicated people far outweigh any of that. read more

Circus Center is a breath of fresh air in what is usually a very smoggy part of The Sunset. It's an escape from the ordinary and a great way to spend a weekend day. It's been almost a week since I experienced the trapeze but I'm still talking about it around the office. I can't wait to go back and perfect my air somersault. I wouldn't say I was "scared" at any point but the adrenaline was in full force once I stepped on to that plat form and looked down...such a rush! There's very little thinking involved, in fact the less you think about what you're supposed to do, the better. Their goal is to turn you in to a trapeze robot for the 90 minutes you're there. As long as you listen to their commands and use the momentum of your swing when you're flying through the air it's very effortless and you don't have to be in top shape to master the moves either! There's a crew of 3 guys who make you feel comfortable and safe and they're nothing but positive and fun. I'm not sure if we just got lucky or if they're all like that but they made the experience that much more enjoyable. After I master the trapeze I think I'm going to move on to the silk ropes. readyyyy....HUP! read more

See all

I love this place so much. I recently got into flying trapeze because why not? I was visiting SF for 2 weeks and saw that the circus center was right by where I was staying. I bought myself a pack of classes and starting flying. The staff here is lovely. They help you improve and are super committed to watching you succeed. Truthfully, this place might be the best-kept secret in all of San Francisco. You will find happy, dedicated, passionate people at the circus center and will keep coming back for more! read more

I came here for a (31st) birthday party on a Sunday afternoon. We were a small group (6) and they had three instructors to assist. jennings and Leo had these quiet, low key voices that made you feel like everything would be alright-and then there was the loud guy. He made me anxious-the last thing anyone needs while standing on a tiny platform to plunge to your death. Seriously, things were totally professional, everyone seemed to be on their game-of critical importance-and all in attendence had a blast. They catch all of your trapezing on video, so they can show you what to do differently. I would do this again in a heartbeat, but preferably on a very quiet day-I would hate to be ousted by a flamboyant 8 year old. read more

See all

So my friend Lisa asked me one day if I was afraid of heights and attached a link to this gym. Of course, I was like what the heck are you talking about crazy woman, but then she explained further that the Circus Center has a drop-in trapeze class and you can learn how to trapeze. Now, we have all seen the Sex and the City episode where Carrie trapezes and since I am sorta adventurous, I was like, why not. So, we go on a Saturday morning. Mind you, I had gone out and partied every single night that week so I wasn't feeling 100% at 10:00 a.m. We walk into the gym and they have those funny mirrors and I see the net and the platform way up there and think to myself, hmmm, I think I might chicken out! But of course, we stay, listen to our instructions and learn how a pike is bad, arch is good and hep means let go. We had three cool instructors and Scott was super friendly and helpful. We did a few practice rounds and it really is frightening climbing up a ladder w/no safety net and standing on the platform. It is even more frightening grabbing the bar and trusting the instructor enough to let go of your other hand and grab the bar. I lost my stomach on the first swing, but gained enough courage to put my legs up, release my hands and finally drop down to the net. After several more tries I got the hang of it and I was even able to catch Scott on my last run at it....It was a total exhilirating experience. All of my friends that saw my pictures on FB were amazed and thought it was awesome. However, I was sore for the next few days, but I'd defn go back and do it again! read more

Circus Center - catching Scott! - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've been training in circus arts for about six years, and Circus Center is home to some of the best instructors in the nation. As a beginner who was a bit older, I always felt safe, supported, and encouraged. Teachers like the internationally-renowned Elena P helped me build a strong foundation and truly believes that anyone can keep improving as long as you show up. Chloe is another aerial master, sought out by students everywhere. Having grown up in SF -- and the Circus Center -- she understands the art, performance, and inspiration just as much as the skills needed to progress. I've also rounded out my training by improving my flexibility with masters like Serchmaa and Ash, and cross-training with handstand and biomechanic experts like Jeremy and Jim. Thanks to all of the incredible staff, at almost 40 I can safely say that I'm more fit than I was as a Division I athlete in my early 20s. The community overall is amazing, and you won't find safer rigging than what Jennings, the head rigger, has created. The only reason I can't rate this a full 5 stars is because administration (reserving space to train, registering for class, the way that classes often overlap one another by just enough that you can't take two in one evening) demonstrate that the Center can really improve the day-to-day experience for students, especially the more committed ones. But overall, the amazing training far outweighs the administrative challenges. If you're looking to train hard AND smart, look no further than the Circus Center. read more

I took flying trapeze classes pretty regularly for about a year pre-covid. The teachers are really nice and I always felt safe. I really miss it and can't wait for Circus Center to reopen. They are doing online classes now and it was pretty fun. read more

I've come to the circus center for about two years and only now I'm bringing up the guts to write a negative review (since I'm no longer going here). As most people have noted already, the circus center is extremely cliquey and there is plenty of drama and gossiping and that's just not my thing. I regret having tried to be so involved or train here regularly, the instructors aren't bad, they just aren't invested in you either. In other words, they don't care if/how much you progress. I've taken intro to acrobatics for over a year. Acro has always been a weakness and scary to me but I wanted to conquer that fear and get better. I took the class even though the instructor was very discouraging and looking down on me. This is an original quote: "You have no strength, talent, or coordination. You're never going to be any good so what are you trying to get out of this class?!". I told him I want to conquer my fears and just get as good as I can possibly be, he just shrugged his shoulders in response. I stopped going to this class after the instructor laughed at me for giving myself a black eye in his class (thanks dude!) and I'm getting my training on elsewhere now. I've also taken plenty of conditioning classes and some intro to aerial. I love silks and I have no interest in the other apparatuses which is why it's frustrating to train at the circus center because every class forces you to get on the trapeze and other apparatuses. Thanks but no thanks. I have no particular feedback about the instructors. Stretching. Their contortion coach has a serious attitude. This is the part I'm most frustrated about. I have SO MUCH LOVE for flexibility training and I spent SO MUCH MONEY on privates. Instead of adjusting and correcting she had almost no feedback for me and spent a lot of the time on her phone. I'm now working with another coach and I've progressed more in 6 months than over the last two years combined simply because she cares and the coach at the circus center doesn't. The only person I highly recommend at the center is Svetlana. Svetlana is the biggest sweetheart and teaches stretching in motion. She really wants to see you progress, she's respectful and doesn't look down on you like most other instructors. Summary: Go there, try out some classes, and if you feel like you get your money worth of attention and commitment then lucky you. If you don't feel safe, if you don't feel like you progress enough, or like the teacher doesn't care then STOP GOING! Don't think it's "your fault" or "you just have to try harder" to make the teacher care or like you because they want. I went looking for new instructors and let my classes here expire. Truth be told, I'm SO glad I've moved on. read more

Fun place to spend a few hours. These guys are truly professionals and take the cicus arts quite seriously. The instruction was great and I was flying and making catches in no time! Had a blast. We were also here to be a bit fun and silly, they kind of frown upon that a bit it seems. They asked us not to clap or cheer for eather which was a bit of a downer but understandable. Would definitely come here again. It was fun, safe, and we were doing great by the end of the class - they sure do know how to instruct and motivate. read more

Circus Center - My first class...my first catch! - Performing Arts Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

I love this place! If I lived in SF I would take classes there everyday, and even living far I drive there at least once a week. The instructors are so amazing! Very very knowledgeable and attentive to each student, doesn't matter your fitness level they will take good care of you. They offer so many different classes that are fun and help building flexibility, balance, coordination, strength. Love this place! read more

As a quasi-trapeze artist who likes to try out rigs wherever I go, I was a little scared when I first entered Circus Center. A big gymnasium? Nobody around warming up (admittedly I got there early)? No matter, the front desk gal was lovely. I will not be scared. First thing I do when I meet Christine is note how warm she is, and how well she handles the lines. She asks me what I want to work on (I was stuck on a backend straddle, and hadn't yet caught my pelicano after three months). Do I want to try a layout? That's a resounding HELLS YES. She understood where I came from (TSNY), and therefore what my limits were (held back due to a standardized progression), but pushed me anyway. And for a first couple of layouts, they were pretty amazing. Unfortunate they were squashed when I got back home, though. For semi-experienced flyers- the board is a little smaller than other places, and you may feel more slack in the lines, but it is definitely worth it!! Next time I'm in SF, I'm flying there again. read more