Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance

What Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance does

Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance (legal entity Frequent Flyers Productions, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1987 and headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, operating a 4,500 sq.ft. dual-studio aerial dance training facility. It delivers weekly aerial dance instruction in fabric (silks), sling, low-flying and static trapeze, lyra (aerial hoop), rope, straps, bungee, traveling rings, dance trapeze, and invented apparatus, serving youth (ages 5+), teens, adults, and aspiring professional aerialists through a tiered curriculum. Beyond classes, the organization runs summer day camps for ages 5-17, a Youth/Teen Student Company and Adult Student Company, an Intensive Training Program, a 9-Month Professional Training Program, and the Professional Company that performs locally and nationally.

The business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue stack combining session-based class registration, multi-day summer camps, ticketed performances at regional venues (Dairy Arts Center, Macky Auditorium, Lakewood Cultural Center), the annual two-week Aerial Dance Festival (in its 27th year), private lessons and party bookings, studio space rentals, corporate/event bookings, and individual/corporate/foundation donations supplemented by federal (NEA), state (Colorado Creative Industries, SCFD), and municipal (City of Boulder, Boulder Arts Commission) arts grants. Pricing is unit-based or session-based: youth/teen camps at $198-$330 per week, kinesiology classes at $500 per 10-week session, performance tickets at $16-$30, and a freemium first-class offer for new students with scholarships for youth and BIPOC artists.

Distribution and go-to-market are primarily direct-to-consumer via the owned Boulder studio, complemented by regional performance venue partnerships and a flagship annual festival that draws a national aerialist audience. Marketing relies on organic social (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Vimeo), email newsletter, open houses, and word-of-mouth. The organization is led by founder and artistic director Nancy Smith, supported by a small management team (e.g., Student Company Manager Casey Pottle) and a founding board member (Charlie Papazian). Notable artistic collaborations include Boulder Phil, Flight Collaborative (SciDance), Block 1750 (break dance), Chimney Choir, and Spinphony, and the company earned a 2017 Kennedy Center SHIFT Festival selection and a GuideStar Gold Seal of Transparency.

Name

Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance

Legal name

Frequent Flyers Productions, Inc.

Website

https://frequentflyers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance is a Boulder, Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 that teaches and performs aerial dance across multiple apparatus for youth, teens, adults, and aspiring professionals, supported by classes, camps, a professional company, and an annual national festival.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Education

NAICS

Dance Companies (71112), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (71399)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Dance Performances (THAJAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dance Festivals & Dance Series (MPAGADAJ)

Keywords

• Aerial dance instruction
• Dance education programs
• Performing arts training
• Youth dance camps
• Dance performance company

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Class Registration: Session-based aerial dance classes for youth, teens, and adults across multiple skill levels. Classes run in multi-week sessions (typically 5-9 weeks).
2. Summer Camps: Week-long and multi-day summer camps for youth and teens ages 5-18. Pricing varies by camp type and duration.
3. Performance Tickets: Ticketed performances at venues like Dairy Arts Center and Macky Auditorium. Professional Company, Student Company, and Intensive Training Program showcases.
4. Professional Training Program: 9-month intensive professional training program for aspiring aerial dance artists.
5. Aerial Dance Festival: Annual festival with early bird packages, a la carte classes, immersions, and performances attracting aerialists from across the country.
6. Parties and Private Lessons: Private lessons and party bookings for individuals or groups.
7. Space Rental: Rental of studio space to other aerial practitioners or organizations.
8. Donations: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, receives donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to support programming and scholarships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance is a nonprofit performing arts organization that teaches and performs aerial dance across a wide range of apparatus including fabric (silks), sling, static and low-flying trapeze, lyra, rope, and straps. It operates weekly classes for ages 5 through adult, summer camps, student and professional performance companies, an annual Aerial Dance Festival, and a 9-month professional training program from its 4,500 sq.ft. studio in Boulder, CO.

Product overview

Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance is a nonprofit aerial dance organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs built around its core aerial arts education and performance mission. The main offerings include weekly aerial dance classes (Fabric, Sling, Trapeze, Lyra, Rope, Straps) for ages 5 to adult across youth, teen, and adult segments; seasonal summer camps for ages 5-17; and multiple performance ensembles including Youth/Teen Student Company, Adult Student Company, and the Professional Company. The organization runs an Intensive Training Program for advanced students and a 9-Month Professional Training Program for aspiring professional aerialists. The annual Aerial Dance Festival (ADF) is a flagship two-week international event featuring classes, workshops, and performances. Supporting services include private lessons, studio rentals, and community outreach with scholarship programs. All programs culminate in performances at partner venues like the Dairy Arts Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aerial Dance Festival (ADF): Annual international aerial dance festival bringing together aerialists from across the country and beyond for classes, performances, workshops, and networking.
• Student Company (StudCo)
• Professional Company
• Intensive Training Program

Products and services

• Aerial Dance Classes Weekly aerial dance instruction across multiple apparatus including Fabric, Sling, Low-Flying and Static Trapeze, Lyra, Rope, Straps, and more for ages 5 to adult, beginner to advanced levels. Classes meet weekly for three to five weeks per session.
• Aerial Dance Summer Camps Week-long summer day camps for youth ages 5-17 teaching aerial arts, dance, and theater skills on trapeze, aerial fabric, and aerial sling, with end-of-week informal performances for family and friends.
• Youth & Teen Student Company Performance opportunity program for ages 8-18 requiring minimum Level 2 completion. Members attend weekly company class (Wednesdays 4:30-6:30pm), one aerial technique class per session, and participate in professional-quality productions at the Dairy Arts Center.
• Adult Student Company Performance ensemble for adult students who have completed one full season or three sessions of classes prior to joining, offering opportunities to perform in original choreography.
• Professional Company Elite performance troupe under artistic direction of Nancy Smith, performing locally in Colorado and nationally. Available for collaborations, touring, teaching residencies, and corporate events.
• Intensive Training Program Advanced training program for students showcasing original choreography created on invented apparatus, aerial silks, lyra, static trapeze, aerial loops, and more. Performs annually at the Dairy Arts Center.
• Aerial Dance Festival (ADF) Annual international aerial dance festival bringing aerialists from across the country to Boulder each summer. Features two weeks of immersive classes, performances, workshops, and networking. Currently in its 27th year (2025).
• 9-Month Professional Training Program Comprehensive professional training program for aerial dancers aspiring to a professional career, offering a transformative 9-month journey to become a versatile aerial dance artist.
• Private Lessons & Parties Personalized one-on-one instruction and party packages for individuals or groups seeking custom aerial experiences.
• Studio Rentals Rental of studio space at 3022 E. Sterling Circle #150, Boulder, CO for aerial practice, rehearsals, or events.
• Community Outreach Programs Community engagement initiatives including scholarships for at-risk youth through the Kids Who Fly program, bringing aerial dance education to underserved populations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35+ years of continuous operation as an aerial dance organization
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Colorado Creative IndustriesminorOthersState arts funding organization providing grant support. Listed as a sponsor on the website.
• Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD)minorOthersRegional cultural funding district supporting arts organizations in the Denver/Boulder metro area.
• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)minorOthersFederal arts agency providing grant support. Listed as a sponsor on the website.
• City of BoulderminorOthersMunicipal government providing arts funding support.
• Boulder Arts CommissionminorOthersLocal arts advisory body providing funding and support to Boulder arts organizations.
• Flight CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for SciDance - a project combining scientists and aerial dancers to translate scientific work into aerial choreography. Features female CU Boulder scientists Megan Cattau (fire), Chelsea Nagy (forest), and Valerie Morris (ice).
• Block 1750minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBreak dance studio collaborating on Aerial Street View production, combining aerial dance with break dancing and live music.
• Chimney ChoirminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPsychedelic folk band providing live music for Aerial Street View production.
• SpinphonyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerElectric string quartet providing live music for Flight Path retrospective performance.
• Boulder PhilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional orchestra collaboration for multiple productions including Butterfly Lovers Concerto at Macky Auditorium and performances with conductor Michael Butterman. Multi-year partnership.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• STREB Extreme Action: Brooklyn-based action and dance company performing physically extreme, apparatus-driven work — comparable in blending dance with specialized physical apparatus for live performance audiences.
• Momix: Long-established dance company known for visually spectacular acrobatic and aerial-style performances — comparable artistic mission of blending dance with aerial apparatus in touring professional productions.
• Pilobolus: Internationally touring dance company with a long history of physically innovative, often aerial-acrobatic choreography — comparable as an established nonprofit dance organization with educational outreach programs.
• Cirque du Soleil: Global commercial entertainment leader in circus arts including extensive aerial performance content — comparable in aerial apparatus expertise and audience demand for aerial performance, though operating at vastly larger commercial scale.
• Diavolo | Architecture in Motion: Dance company using large-scale architectural apparatus and acrobatic movement in touring productions — comparable in fusing dance performance with custom-built physical structures for ticketed live shows.

Direct peers

• The Circus Project: Portland, OR nonprofit combining social circus outreach with professional-level aerial and circus arts training and performances — parallels Frequent Flyers' combination of community outreach programs and professional company work.
• SANCA (School of Acrobatics & New Circus Arts): Seattle-based nonprofit circus school providing aerial, acrobatics, and performance training across ages and skill levels with a professional performance troupe — directly comparable in nonprofit structure, program breadth, and community engagement model.
• New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA): A nonprofit circus and aerial arts training center in Brattleboro, VT offering multi-apparatus instruction, professional training programs, and community performances — directly comparable to Frequent Flyers in mission, programming structure, and target audience.
• Esh Circus Arts: A New York-based circus and aerial arts studio offering classes, camps, and performances for youth and adults across multiple apparatus — closely mirrors Frequent Flyers' multi-apparatus instruction and youth/adult programming model.

Regional players

• Aerial Arts NYC: New York City aerial dance and circus arts studio offering multi-apparatus classes, professional training, and performances — comparable programming model serving a different major-metro geography than Frequent Flyers' Boulder base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/freqflyers
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCtd3MHQDU1MNW75g6ALNn7A
• Facebookfacebook.com/FrequentFlyersAerial
• Instagraminstagram.com/freqflyers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/frequent-flyers-productions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance