Class Descriptions

Gainesville Circus Center offers empowering and fun classes in all things circus, including aerial dance and ground acrobatics. Plus, our selection of world dance classes helps you achieve grace and rhythm — plus a great cardio workout! We also have basic core conditioning and flexibility classes.

• Note: Not all classes are running at this time. Please visit our Schedule and Registration page to see current offerings.

Circus Kids Aerial & Non-Aerial Classes: Let your tiny acrobat explore the world of circus in a fun, colorful and safe environment. Our students practice basic concepts of balance and fine motor coordination on the ground and in the air, preparing them for more advanced skills as they grow! In our aerial classes, students will stretch, condition, and soar through the air on the trapeze, lyra, and silks. We also offer fun non-aerial classes where kids can learn to dance, walk on stilts, juggle, or be a clown!

Intro to Aerial: This class teaches foundations of aerial dance on silks, trapeze, and lyra. Students warm up with a mixture of yoga, dance and gymnastics before practicing on the aerial equipment. This is the best choice for first time students, and a good class to keep returning to until you have mastered the foundations of aerial.

Level 1 Silks, Lyra, or Dance Trapeze: Level 1 technique courses refine foundations learned from Intro to Aerial, and explore beginner level skills and combinations on the apparatus specific to each class. Prerequisite: Intro to Aerial checkout.

Level 1.5 Silks: Make the leap from Level 1 into Level 2 with confidence by stopping off at Level 1.5. Condition inversions and wraps for air awareness. Prerequisites: Silks 1 checkout.

Level 2/3 Silks Explore advanced climbs and momentum on aerial silks. Prerequisites: Silks 1.5 checkout.

Level 1.5/2 Lyra: This intermediate lyra class focuses on combinations and choreography. Prerequisites: Lyra 1 checkout.

Level 1.5/2 Trapeze: This intermediate trapeze class focuses on combinations and choreography. Prerequisites: Trapeze 1 checkout.

Flying Trapeze: This classic circus skill is for the adrenaline junkies. Learn to fly through the air as our instructors guide you from take-off to landing safely in the net. This demanding activity requires participants to climb a 20 foot ladder in order to reach the take-off platform. Students must be at least 40" tall with a maximum weight limit of 250lbs.

Handstands 101: Learn everything you need to develop a straight, stable, freestanding handstand in a clear step by step manner. Class covers many different skills and drills for participants to take home and build a solid foundation for freestanding handstand development.

Toddler Time: Class for parents and their minis. Come climb, roll, romp and play the circus way! Class for parents and their kids ages 2-4. First class free!

Acro-Buddies: This class is for parents/guardians and their school-age children to play together with circus! No experience necessary. Registration is valid for one adult-child pair. First class free!

Samba: This Brazilian dance class is full of sassy hip swivels and fast foot work. Samba will open your heart, make you sweat, and teach you to flow with confidence across any dance floor, catwalk or conference room.

Ballet: Former bun-heads rejoice! Come join our open level adult ballet class.

Belly Dance: Learn this incredible art form through the technique and choreography of Karen Muratti. All levels welcome!

Juggling: Juggling is one of the best skills to master during isolated times! We will covre mainly ball skills, but possibly clubs or other props as well if you have access to them. From foundational patterns, to delving into unique creative body throws/catches, to practice strategy, prepare for a fun, comprehensive juggling education.

Balancing-Stilts, unicycle, rola-bola & rolling globe: Finding the perfect balance in life is hard. Circus is not the exception, but you can find your balance and have fun by trying riding a unicycle, standing on a rolling globe, walking on stilts, or standing on a rola-bola. Notes: close toe shoes are necessary for unicycles, rola-bola, and stilts. Thick socks to protect toes and ankles are encouraged.

Open Gym: Students must have instructor permission and adhere to open gym guidelines. Open Gym allows students to train skills they have learned in class. Students must work on skills at their level. Open Gym monitors reserve the right to refuse anyone to practice if they are not working safely. Students must pay close attention to pulley systems and mats while working in open gym. The only teaching that can take place during open gym is regarding the proper use of pulleys & mats. Students may not request instructors for technical skill training. Students may not co-teach one-another in open gym.