New England Center for Circus Arts

What New England Center for Circus Arts does

New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit circus school founded in 2007 in Brattleboro, Vermont (EIN: 26-0495118). It operates as the longest-running professional circus training program in the United States, anchored by the Trapezium — a custom-built, 40-foot-ceiling training facility with in-ground foam pit, trampoline, 40' and 24' rigging points, and heated floors — and a secondary studio at the Cotton Mill. The organization serves five customer segments: youth and families (ages 1.5 to teen), adult recreational learners (including a SilverCircus program for adults 60+), aspiring professional circus artists (via the three-year ProTrack Program and Fly Team), corporate groups (team-building), and performance audiences.

NECCA's product portfolio spans weekly session classes, youth and seasonal camps, multi-week seasonal intensives (Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall priced $2,700-$4,000), weekend immersions, single-day workshops, Summer Circus Skills Retreats, private lessons, open training, birthday parties ($175-$550), corporate team-building ($300-$750), and ticketed performances including the Circus Spectacular, Vermont Circus Festival, Rope Meeting, and Pole-a-Palooza!. Going Pro virtual workshops extend the professional curriculum online at $40 per session. Revenue is generated through program tuition, event tickets, merchandise (via Spreadshop), donations and monthly giving (via Zeffy), and corporate/grant sponsorships (Vermont Arts Council, Vermont Children's Trust Foundation, Vermont Community Foundation, Vermont Humanities, Ben & Jerry's Foundation, VSAC).

Distribution is direct-to-consumer, primarily through the Brattleboro campus with off-site delivery at community partner sites (Brooks Memorial Library, The Gathering Place, Bradley House) for the SilverCircus program. Online registration runs on ASAP Connected; marketing leverages the NECCA website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and a Destination NECCA Facebook group for visitor pipeline development. The organization is led by founder Elsie Smith, an award-winning aerialist with Cirque du Soleil credits, alongside a coaching staff drawn from Cirque du Soleil and Les 7 Doigts, with the longest-running graduate pipeline placing students into those same major companies.

Name

New England Center for Circus Arts

Legal name

New England Center for Circus Arts, Inc.

Website

https://necenterforcircusarts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit circus school in Brattleboro, Vermont, operating the longest-running professional circus training program in the U.S. from a custom-built 40-foot-ceiling facility and serving youth, adults, seniors, and aspiring professional circus artists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Circus Arts Education and Training

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Instructor-Led Skills Academies (Climbing, Paddling, Mountaineering Schools) (THAAAOAI)

Keywords

• Circus arts training
• Aerial arts classes
• Flying trapeze lessons
• Professional circus program
• Youth circus camps

Headquarters

HQ city

Brattleboro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Recreational Classes: Weekly session classes for youth and adults across various circus disciplines including aerial fabric, trapeze, lyra, tumbling, and more. Sold as multi-week sessions.
2. Intensive Training Programs: Multi-week intensive programs (Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring) offering comprehensive circus training for intermediate to advanced students.
3. Youth Programs: Youth camps (including summer camps) and youth troupe programs for children and teenagers.
4. Professional Training: ProTrack Program - the longest running professional circus training program in the US, a three-year professional development program.
5. Private Lessons: One-on-one focused training sessions with skilled coaches.
6. Workshops and Immersions: Single-day workshops, weekend immersions, and week-long skills retreats focused on specific circus disciplines.
7. Events and Performances: Live performances including The Circus Spectacular, Vermont Circus Festival, and other community performances. Ticket sales for shows.
8. Parties and Experiences: Birthday parties (youth and adult), circus experiences, team building workshops for corporate groups.
9. Merchandise: Sale of NECCA branded merchandise through their online shop (Spreadshop).
10. Donations and Sponsorships: 501(c)(3) nonprofit relying on donations, monthly giving, and corporate sponsorships. Sponsorships include Spring, Fall, and Annual sponsorship packages.
11. Financial Support Services: Payment plans and financial aid programs for students needing assistance with program costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

NECCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit circus school that delivers in-person circus arts training and performance programming at its custom-built Trapezium facility in Brattleboro, Vermont. Core offerings include weekly recreational classes for youth and adults, multi-week seasonal intensives, year-round youth camps and troupes, the three-year ProTrack professional training program, the Fly Team flying trapeze program, workshops and immersions, private lessons, SilverCircus classes for adults 60+, plus birthday parties, corporate team-building experiences, and live performances/festivals.

Product overview

New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) is a nonprofit circus school offering a comprehensive suite of circus arts education programs. The portfolio includes weekly session classes for youth and adults, seasonal camps, youth troupes, and specialized programs like SilverCircus for seniors 60+. Professional training options include the three-year ProTrack Program and Fly Team Program for flying trapeze. NECCA offers multi-week seasonal intensives (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall), Summer Circus Skills Retreats, and weekend immersions/workshops in various disciplines. The organization provides performance opportunities through live shows, the Vermont Circus Festival, Circus Spectacular, and specialty events like Rope Meeting and Pole-a-Palooza!. Additional offerings include circus birthday parties, team building experiences, private lessons, open training, financial aid, and payment plans. Going Pro virtual workshops support professional career development. The Trapezium facility with 40-foot ceilings serves as the primary training center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Session Classes Weekly recreation-based circus classes for adults of all skill levels, taught across multiple apparatus including aerial fabric, trapeze, lyra, rope, tumbling, and more at the Trapezium facility.
• Youth Session Classes Weekly age-appropriate circus classes for children and teens covering various circus disciplines in a structured, age-segmented environment.
• Youth Camps Seasonal day camps for youth aged 1.5 to 18, including summer camps and school-break camps, teaching circus arts fundamentals in a fun, structured environment.
• Youth Troupes Advanced youth programs for young artists progressing beyond recreational classes toward performance-level circus training.
• Flying Trapeze Classes Group flying trapeze instruction including session classes, drop-in classes, and workshops for participants aged 7 through adult at all skill levels.
• ProTrack Program NECCA's three-year professional circus training program — the longest-running professional circus training program in the U.S. — designed to launch careers in professional circus arts.
• Fly Team Program Seasonal, professional-level flying trapeze training program with indoor rig, dedicated coaching, and performance opportunities for adults aged 18+.
• Seasonal Circus Intensives Multi-week intensive training programs across Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall for intermediate-to-advanced students, offered in General and Accelerated tiers with 22+ hours per week of training.
• Summer Circus Skills Retreats Week-long summer retreats in July and August featuring focused training in specific apparatus with NECCA coaches in Vermont, priced on a sliding scale.
• Workshops and Immersions Single-day and weekend workshops and immersions focusing on a specific circus discipline (e.g., Aerial Fabric, Aerial Sling, Lyra), taught by guest instructors and NECCA coaches.
• SilverCircus Classes Circus-inspired movement classes designed for adults aged 60+ focusing on balance, strength, and social connection, delivered on-site and at community partner locations.
• Circus Birthday Parties Circus-themed birthday parties for youth ages 1.5 and up, plus adult birthday and special-event packages, led by professional circus instructors in the Trapezium facility.
• Circus Experiences and Team Building Adult party experiences, bachelorette parties, and corporate retreats/team-building workshops using circus arts for group bonding, priced by group size and duration.
• Open Stage Showcase Performance-intensive workshop culminating in a live showcase with professional video, photos, and awards, offered in Basic Showcase and Going Pro Mentor tiers.
• Private Lessons One-on-one focused training sessions with NECCA coaches providing personalized skill development for adults and youth.
• Custom and Open Training Self-directed training time in the Trapezium facility for current students and members — including a Youth Open Gym option — with optional coaching add-on support.
• Live Performances Public ticketed circus performances throughout the year featuring NECCA students, professional artists, and guest performers.
• Vermont Circus Festival Week-long annual festival in November celebrating circus arts with family performances, free public events, and workshops for all ages.
• The Circus Spectacular Annual fundraising performance held in March featuring guest artists from circuses around the world.
• NECCA Rope Meeting Four-day participant-driven gathering for aerial rope practitioners including open training, mini workshops, and community jams.
• Pole-a-Palooza! Apparatus-focused meeting dedicated to Chinese pole, dance pole, and aerial pole disciplines with workshops and skill sharing.
• Going Pro Workshops (Online) Virtual online courses covering professional circus career topics including act construction, music selection, demo reels, rigging, and performance preparation, sold per-workshop or as a five-workshop bundle.
• NECCA Branded Merchandise NECCA-branded gear and apparel sold through the Spreadshop online storefront, supporting the nonprofit mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• ProTrack Program is the longest-running Professional training program in the US
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Holiday Inn Express (Brattleboro)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNECCA Sponsor offering special rates for visitors ($105/night for stays of 5+ days). Located 1 mile from NECCA.
• Brooks Memorial LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner hosting SilverCircus programming for seniors.
• The Gathering PlaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner hosting SilverCircus programming.
• Bradley HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner hosting SilverCircus programming.
• Fox Meadow FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC-based film company co-creating 'A Little Unwell' mental health awareness circus variety show with NECCA.
• Brattleboro RetreatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health facility partnering with NECCA for 'A Little Unwell' show to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• École nationale de cirque: Montreal-based national circus school offering professional training and is a recognized global standard for circus education. Comparable as a top-tier training institution but primarily serves a different geography and is government-affiliated.

Broad incumbents

• Sky Zone Trampoline Parks: National franchise of indoor trampoline parks serving family/recreational consumers seeking aerial and movement-based experiences. Adjacent in customer segment (families seeking active recreation) but operates at much broader scale and is not a direct instructor-led competitor.
• iFLY Indoor Skydiving: Operates indoor vertical wind tunnels delivering aerial flying experiences to consumers across locations globally. Overlaps with NECCA's flying trapeze experience and aerial adrenaline market but at much greater scale and via a different technology (skydiving vs. circus arts).

Emerging players

• Circadium: US-based professional circus training program focused on launching professional careers, overlapping with NECCA's ProTrack mission. Comparable in providing career-track programs but newer and emerging against NECCA's longer-running legacy.

Direct peers

• Aloft Circus Arts: Chicago circus and aerial arts studio offering classes, workshops, and intensives across apparatus (silks, trapeze, lyra, etc.). Comparable as a multi-discipline aerial/circus training business competing for similar adult recreational learners.
• Cirque School Los Angeles: LA-based circus school offering recreational and pre-professional training across aerial and ground disciplines. Directly competitive in serving adult learners and aspiring performers.
• Sky Candy: Austin-based circus and aerial studio offering beginner-to-advanced classes, intensives, and performances. Directly comparable in adult/circus instruction model and customer mix.
• Circus Center: San Francisco-based circus school offering recreational and professional training, youth programs, and performance opportunities. Mirrors NECCA's mission of full-lifecycle circus instruction from beginner to professional and is a closely aligned nonprofit-style operation.
• Nimble Arts: Sister circus instruction organization co-founded by the same twin founders (Elsie and Serenity Smith). Offers similar circus and aerial arts training programs and is the most directly comparable instruction-focused peer to NECCA.

Others

• Club Med Circus/Acrobatic Programs: Existing NECCA employer/partner (Patrick Sullivan worked there); operates circus/acrobatic experiences at its resorts. Related as a destination employer for NECCA-trained coaches and creator of circus-as-tourism programming, but not a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NECCAbrattleboro
• Facebookfacebook.com/NECCAcircus
• Instagraminstagram.com/neccacircus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-england-center-for-circus-arts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New England Center for Circus Arts