San Diego Circus Center
San Diego Circus Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2011 that delivers contemporary and traditional circus arts training, summer camps, professional academy programs, and talent booking for youth, adults, and enterprise clients from its San Diego facility.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What San Diego Circus Center does
San Diego Circus Center (SDCC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit circus arts training and performance organization founded in 2011 by Jean-Luc Martin, a former Cirque du Soleil and École Nationale de Cirque alumnus, and headquartered at a single 25-foot-rigging, 150+ seat facility at 2050 Hancock Street, Suite A, San Diego, CA 92110. It operates four interlocking lines of business: (1) recreational classes and youth programs for ages 5-18 sold direct-to-consumer at $35/drop-in or via class packs ($150-$440) through the third-party GoTeamUp registration platform; (2) a Professional Academy comprising a Preparatory Program (9 months, ages 17-23) and ProTrack (up to 2 years, ages 18-28), both at $1,100/month tuition with J-1 visa sponsorship via the International Arts Alliance; (3) seasonal summer camps for ages 7-17 at $475 per week across 11 weeks; and (4) the SDCC Represents B2B talent-booking division supplying vetted performers to corporate events, theme parks, and venues on budgets ranging from $1,000 to $10,000+.
The institution employs 11-50 staff (25+ dedicated circus arts instructors) credentialed from Cirque du Soleil, École Nationale de Cirque, Le Reve (Wynn Las Vegas), Moscow State Academy of Physical Culture, and international festivals, including a Doctor of Physical Therapy (Lexii Alcaraz) embedded in artistic and athletic programming. Customer segments split between long-tail individual/family learners (primary revenue), a small cohort of career-track academy students (highest LTV), and enterprise B2B clients such as Knotts Berry Farm, SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego Zoo, Marriott, La Jolla Playhouse (WOW Festival), and the San Diego Natural History Museum. Pricing is pay-as-you-go for classes/camps, monthly subscription for the Academy, and project-based for bookings. There is no proprietary technology platform; registrations run on GoTeamUp, and distribution combines direct website, Instagram, Facebook, email newsletter, and event-driven community showcases including the annual San Diego Circus Festival (4th edition in 2026, May 21-24) and monthly Friday Night Live: Melange cabaret.
San Diego Circus Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- San Diego Circus Center
- Legal name
- San Diego Circus Center
- Website
- https://sandiegocircuscenter.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- San Diego Circus Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2011 that delivers contemporary and traditional circus arts training, summer camps, professional academy programs, and talent booking for youth, adults, and enterprise clients from its San Diego facility.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
San Diego Circus Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Circus Arts Training and Performance
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Family Entertainment Centers & Indoor Amusement (Arcades, Trampoline Parks, Indoor Play) (THAAAAAD)
Keywords
Where San Diego Circus Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
San Diego Circus Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Recreational Class Sales: Revenue from drop-in classes and class packs for youth and adults. Single classes at $35, with discounted multi-class packs ranging from $150 for 5 classes to $440 for 20 classes. No membership required.
- Professional Academy Programs: Full-time professional circus arts training programs. Preparatory Program (9 months, ages 17-23) and ProTrack Program (up to 2 years, ages 18-28), both at $1,100/month tuition.
- Summer Camps: Week-long immersive summer camp programs for youth ages 7-17 at $475 per week. Monday through Friday, 9am-3pm schedule.
- Talent Booking & Performance Services: SDCC Represents provides professional circus performers for events. Services include talent booking, custom shows, and bespoke productions. Budget ranges from $1,000-$2,500 to $10,000+ per event.
- Event Tickets & Show Admissions: Ticketed performances including Academy Spotlight shows, Rising Stage competitions, Mainstage competitions, and regular events like Friday Night Live: Melange. Standard ticket price $35.
- Private Lessons: One-on-one personalized instruction at $80-120 per hour for all disciplines.
- Facility Rentals & On-Track Training: Independent training facility access and equipment rentals for students, instructors, and outside professionals. Aerial point and space rentals available.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single Drop-In Class |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 5-Class Pack |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 10-Class Pack |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 20-Class Pack |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Private Lessons |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Summer Camp 2026 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Preparatory Program |
| Subscription | Monthly | ProTrack Program |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Festival & Show Tickets |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Talent Booking Services |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
San Diego Circus Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
San Diego Circus Center provides contemporary and traditional circus arts training and performance opportunities for youth, teens, and adults. Its offerings span recreational drop-in classes and class packs, a professional full-time Academy (Preparatory 9-month and ProTrack up to 2 years), youth programs for ages 5-18, week-long summer camps, ticketed performances and an annual festival, plus the SDCC Represents booking arm that places vetted circus talent at corporate, theme park, museum, and venue events.
Product overview
San Diego Circus Center offers a comprehensive suite of circus arts training and performance services. The core portfolio includes Recreational Classes for all ages and skill levels, a Professional Academy with Preparatory and ProTrack programs for aspiring professional artists, Youth Programs for ages 5-18, and seasonal Summer Camps for ages 7-17. The organization produces Events & Shows including the Friday Night Live: Melange cabaret series and annual productions, hosts the annual San Diego Circus Festival with Academy Spotlight, Rising Stage, and Mainstage competitions, and operates SDCC Represents as an artist booking and casting service. Additional offerings include Private Lessons and On-Track Training for independent facility access.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Recreational Classes Contemporary and traditional circus training for youth and adults in a safe, noncompetitive environment. Includes aerial arts, acrobatics, tumbling, and more. Classes are sold as drop-ins or via multi-class packs.
- Professional Academy Intensive professional training programs designed to develop world-class circus artists. Includes the Preparatory Program (9 months, ages 17-23) and ProTrack Program (up to 2 years, ages 18-28), each at $1,100/month tuition. Prepares students for admission to leading international circus schools such as ENC, ECQ, CODARTS, and ESAC.
- Youth Programs Specialized circus arts programs for children and teens ages 5-18 that foster creativity, confidence, and physical literacy in young performers in a safe, supportive environment.
- Summer Camps Week-long immersive circus camps offering hands-on training across multiple disciplines for youth ages 7-17 at $475 per week, Monday through Friday, 9am-3pm, with 11 weeks available from June through August.
- Events & Shows World-class circus performances, special events, and community showcases including the Friday Night Live: Melange cabaret series and SDCC Winter Show, with standard ticket price $35.
- San Diego Circus Festival Annual circus festival showcasing Academy Spotlight performances, Rising Stage and Mainstage competitions, workshops, and community events across five shows over four days. The 4th Annual festival takes place May 21-24, 2026.
- SDCC Represents Artist representation and booking/casting service providing vetted professional circus performers for corporate events, private celebrations, theme parks, festivals, museums, and venue partnerships. Includes talent booking, custom shows, and bespoke productions across budget tiers from $1,000-$2,500 up to $10,000+.
Companies that use San Diego Circus Center
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
San Diego Circus Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
San Diego Circus Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Knotts Berry FarmcoreTalent casting and coordination for theme park's seasonal Halloween production. SDCC provides vetted professional performers integrated with Knotts' existing production team and creative vision.
- SeaWorld San DiegocoreVenue partner for circus arts programming. Has featured SDCC talent in productions including Cirque Electrique and Cirque De La Mer.
- San Diego ZoominorVenue partner for events and entertainment programming.
- San Diego Natural History MuseumminorBespoke circus performance venue for keynote events and special programming. SDCC developed and choreographed original 10-15 minute performance for museum venue.
- La Jolla Playhouse (WOW Festival)coreCreated and performed original show for La Jolla Playhouse's Without Walls (WOW) festival programming. Multi-day festival engagement showcasing custom circus artistry.
- Flynn Creek CircusminorAcclaimed all-human circus company recognized for original productions. Partner venue for circus programming.
- Circus BellaminorPartner circus company in the regional circus arts ecosystem.
- Fudale EventsminorProduction partner for Marriott Hotel corporate event, providing cohesive entertainment through collaboration with SDCC performers.
- International Arts Alliance (IAA)coreVisa sponsorship partner for J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa for international students accepted into Preparatory or ProTrack programs. Facilitates international student enrollment.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
San Diego Circus Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
San Diego Circus Center social profiles
Digital presenceSan Diego Circus Center compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
San Diego Circus Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
San Diego Circus Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
San Diego Circus Center subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
San Diego Circus Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
San Diego Circus Center M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about San Diego Circus Center
What does San Diego Circus Center do?
San Diego Circus Center provides contemporary and traditional circus arts training and performance opportunities for youth, teens, and adults. Its offerings span recreational drop-in classes and class packs, a professional full-time Academy (Preparatory 9-month and ProTrack up to 2 years), youth programs for ages 5-18, week-long summer camps, ticketed performances and an annual festival, plus the SDCC Represents booking arm that places vetted circus talent at corporate, theme park, museum, and venue events.
Is San Diego Circus Center a public or private company?
San Diego Circus Center is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was San Diego Circus Center founded?
San Diego Circus Center was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is San Diego Circus Center based?
San Diego Circus Center is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does San Diego Circus Center make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Recreational Class Sales are the primary driver. The others are professional Academy Programs, summer Camps, talent Booking & Performance Services, event Tickets & Show Admissions, private Lessons and facility Rentals & On-Track Training.
Does San Diego Circus Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for San Diego Circus Center.
What industry is San Diego Circus Center in?
San Diego Circus Center's product category is Circus Arts Training and Performance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMALAI, Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance), with a secondary code of THAAAAAD, Family Entertainment Centers & Indoor Amusement (Arcades, Trampoline Parks, Indoor Play). Its NAICS code is 61162 and its SIC code is 7900.