The School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts

What The School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts does

The School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts (SANCA) is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating one of the nation's largest circus schools by student count and square footage. Founded in 2004, SANCA delivers over 150 ongoing classes spanning disciplines including flying trapeze, aerial arts, tumbling, trampoline, tightwire, German wheel, Chinese pole, juggling, handbalancing, partner acrobatics, contortion, and unicycle for youth (ages 2-18) and adults. The organization runs five youth performance troupes (Stratus Circus ages 5-8, Nimbus Circus ages 8-12, Synapse Circus ages 8-18, Celestial Circus ages 12-18 serving teens with marginalized identities, and Cirrus Circus ages 12-18 advanced), the Every Body's Circus adaptive program for students with disabilities, and the Youth Scholarship program which has granted $2 million since inception.

SANCA operates from two Seattle facilities: the Georgetown headquarters at 674 S. Orcas St. and the Emerald City Trapeze Arts (ECTA) site at 2702 6th Ave South, acquired in April 2023 to consolidate the regional flying trapeze community. The business model combines earned revenue (class tuition, camps, private lessons, birthday parties, corporate team-building packages, school group programs, performance tickets, and the annual 'Up, with a Twist!' gala at $200/$1,600) with contributed revenue (donations, grants including from 4Culture, and fundraising events). Registration runs through the Amilia platform, ticketing through Eventbrite, and gala fundraising through Kindful. The 2022-launched Artist in Residence Program and the Banquine Group support professional circus artist development, with alumni having progressed to Cirque du Soleil, The 7 Fingers, and Teatro ZinZanni.

Name

The School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts

Legal name

The School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts

Website

https://sancaseattle.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SANCA is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating one of the nation's largest circus schools, delivering 150+ classes across flying trapeze, aerial, tumbling, juggling and more, plus five youth performance troupes, adaptive programming for students with disabilities, and a $2M scholarship fund across two facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Circus Arts Education and Training

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (71399), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Circus & Physical Theatre (MPAGABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI), Circus, Magic & Variety Shows (THAJAFAH), Family Entertainment Centers & Indoor Amusement (Arcades, Trampoline Parks, Indoor Play) (THAAAAAD)

Keywords

• Circus arts education
• Youth circus training
• Aerial arts classes
• Acrobatic performance troupes
• Circus school programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Class Registration and Tuition: Ongoing revenue from circus classes across disciplines including aerial arts, tumbling, trampoline, flying trapeze, juggling, tightwire, German wheel, Chinese pole, handbalancing, and unicycle. Classes offered for all ages and skill levels with session-based enrollment.
2. Circus Camps: Revenue from day camps during school breaks (spring, summer, winter) offering introductory to advanced circus arts experiences for children ages 6+.
3. Circus Parties and Events: Birthday parties and private event bookings for families, youth organizations, corporate groups, bachelor/bachelorette parties, reunions, and graduations.
4. Corporate Team Building: Custom team building packages for corporate groups seeking unique experiential activities.
5. Performance Tickets and Shows: Revenue from ticketed performances including SASS annual showcase, youth company shows, and circus cabaret events. Also includes venue rental for external performances.
6. Annual Gala Events: Premium fundraising events combining dinner, performances, and circus arts demonstrations. Tickets priced at $200 general admission with table options at $1,600 for 8 guests.
7. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, SANCA receives charitable donations and grants including from organizations like 4Culture. The Youth Scholarship program relies on donations to provide financial assistance to families.
8. School Group Programs: On-site programs for school groups and organizations with pricing based on participant count and session duration. Non-profits receive 10% discount.
9. Private Lessons: One-on-one instruction with professional circus coaches for personalized skill development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SANCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit circus school that delivers in-person circus arts instruction across more than 150 class types (aerial arts, acrobatics, tumbling, trampoline, flying trapeze, juggling, tight wire, German wheel, Chinese pole, handbalancing, unicycle, and more) for youth and adults at two Seattle facilities. Its portfolio also includes multi-week circus camps, birthday parties and corporate team-building bookings, private lessons, ticketed public performances, a youth performance troupe program (five age-based companies), an adaptive program for students with disabilities, and an Artist in Residence program for professional circus artists.

Product overview

The School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts (SANCA) is a nonprofit circus school offering a comprehensive portfolio of circus arts programs. The core offerings include over 150 circus classes spanning disciplines such as Flying Trapeze, Aerial Arts, Acrobatics, Tumbling, Trampoline, Tight Wire, German Wheel, Juggling, Chinese Pole, Contortion, Handbalancing, Lyra, Silks, and Unicycle. The organization operates five Youth Performance Troupes (Stratus Circus, Nimbus Circus, Celestial Circus, Cirrus Circus, and Synapse Circus) serving ages 5-18 with progressively advanced training. Additional programs include Circus Camps, Circus Parties, Corporate Team Building, Private Lessons, the Artist in Residence Program, Every Body's Circus (adapted for students with disabilities), and Youth Scholarships ($2 million granted since inception). In 2023, SANCA acquired Emerald City Trapeze Arts (ECTA) to expand Flying Trapeze programming. Registration is managed through the Amilia platform, and performances are ticketed via Eventbrite.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Circus Classes Over 150 ongoing circus arts classes for youth and adults covering Flying Trapeze, Aerial Arts, Acrobatics, Tumbling, Trampoline, Tight Wire, German Wheel, Partner Acro, Juggling, Chinese Pole, Contortion, Handbalancing, Lyra, Silks, and Unicycle, with registration through the Amilia platform.
• Circus Camps Day camps during school breaks (spring, summer, winter) for children age 6 and up, offering Introductory Circus Arts Camps, Flying Trapeze Camps, Performance Circus Camps, and Advanced Circus Camps with a $75 non-refundable deposit per session.
• Youth Performance Troupes Multi-year immersive youth performance program for ages 5-18 divided into Stratus Circus (ages 5-8), Nimbus Circus (ages 8-12), Celestial Circus (ages 12-18 for teens with marginalized identities), Cirrus Circus (ages 12-18, advanced), and Synapse Circus (ages 8-18 for students with other activities).
• Every Body's Circus Program Adaptive circus program for children and adults with disabilities, modifying instruction for accessibility and offering physical and creative expression opportunities.
• Circus Parties and Events Private circus-themed party bookings for birthdays, youth organizations, family reunions, graduations, and bachelor/bachelorette parties featuring bouncing, tumbling, juggling, balancing, and flying activities at SANCA's facilities.
• Corporate Team Building Packages Custom circus-arts team building experiences for corporate groups designed to develop teamwork, communication, and trust.
• Private Lessons One-on-one instruction with professional circus coaches tailored to individual skill development and goals across various circus disciplines.
• SANCA Shows and Performances Annual circus shows and performances including the SASS Showcase Spectacular, Sans Solo Trois cabaret, Jessie's Diner, and other community performances featuring youth companies, staff, and guest artists. Tickets sold via Eventbrite ($15 advance / $18 at the door for youth; $20 advance / $25 at the door for adults).
• Artist in Residence (AIR) Program Residency program providing professional circus artists with facility orientation, group rehearsal space, training time, and community engagement. Residency periods range from one week to three months and support creation of new circus works by companies such as Circus Syzygy, IMPulse Collective, Acrobatic Conundrum, and the Gentile Family.
• School Groups and On-Site Events On-site circus programs for school groups and youth organizations covering tumbling, trampoline, hand balancing, partner acro, aerial fabric, lyra, trapeze, flying trapeze, unicycle, tightwire, and juggling. Maintains a 6:1 student ratio with capacity for up to 30 participants; non-profits receive a 10% discount.
• Emerald City Trapeze Arts (ECTA) Flying trapeze instruction and circus arts programming at the acquired ECTA facility at 2702 6th Ave South, Seattle, serving as SANCA's second location.

Quantifiable outcome

• $2 million in youth scholarships granted since founding in 2004
• +2 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Emerald City Trapeze Arts (ECTA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023SANCA acquired Emerald City Trapeze Arts in April 2023 to bring Seattle's circus community together and revitalize the flying trapeze community. SANCA committed to ensuring current and existing ECTA programming continues during the transition. The acquisition was supported by donor funding, with a special fundraising event 'The Sky's the Limit' held in connection with Give Big.
• 4CulturesupportingOthers4Culture provides funding support for SANCA's arts programming as part of their mission to fund arts, heritage, and preservation in King County, Washington.
• Blue Ribbon CookingsupportingOthersBlue Ribbon Cooking serves as the culinary partner for SANCA's annual 'Up, with a Twist!' fundraiser gala, providing the family-style plated dinner for the event.
• Circus SyzygycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Terry Crane in 2010, Circus Syzygy was the inaugural resident company for the Artist in Residence program. As a mix of local and international artists, they collaboratively created and produced full-length shows over two three-month residencies at SANCA, establishing the foundation for the AIR Program.
• IMPulse CollectivesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeattle-based contemporary circus collective that has participated in SANCA's Artist in Residence program, creating and developing new circus work.
• Acrobatic ConundrumsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationally-renowned contemporary circus company founded by Terry Crane that has created new material under the AIR Program. Their 'Volume 9: Thresholds' show was developed during an AIR residency.
• Gentile FamilysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNomadic foot juggling family that has created new work during residencies at SANCA through the AIR Program.
• Orcas Business ParksupportingOthersCommercial real estate location that has provided SANCA's home since 2005, housing their Georgetown facility in South Seattle.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Circus Center: San Francisco-based nonprofit circus school providing recreational and pre-professional training, youth programs, and performances. Directly comparable in structure, mission, and program mix.
• Sky Candy Aerial Arts: Austin, TX-based circus and aerial arts studio offering group classes, camps, parties, and performances across a similar discipline mix. Comparable scale, programmatic scope, and consumer-facing business model.
• Esh Circus Arts: Atlanta-based circus school offering classes, camps, and parties in aerial arts, acrobatics, and juggling. Closely comparable operating model, target market (youth and adult recreation), and discipline breadth.
• The Circus Project: Portland, OR-based nonprofit offering circus classes, youth performance troupes, and social circus programming. Direct peer on mission and structure, and regional competitor for Pacific Northwest student recruitment.
• Atlanta School of Circus Arts: Atlanta-area studio offering classes in aerial arts, acrobatics, and trampoline for youth and adults. Comparable product offering and pricing model with party and corporate event revenue streams.
• New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA): Brattleboro, VT-based nonprofit circus school offering recreational and professional training, youth and adult programming, camps, and performances. Closest direct analog to SANCA as a regional nonprofit circus school.

Regional players

• Moisture Festival: Seattle-based comedy/variety festival featuring circus, cabaret, and physical theater. SANCA performs at this festival annually; functions as both a regional showcase partner and a comparable Pacific Northwest variety arts organization.

Broad incumbents

• Cirque du Soleil: Global entertainment company whose alumni have trained at SANCA. Serves as the apex destination for circus arts careers and as a competitive draw on top talent, while also validating SANCA's pipeline reputation.
• Trapeze School New York: Long-running, multi-location flying trapeze and aerial school with locations in New York, DC, and other metros. Larger-scale incumbent with commercial rather than nonprofit orientation; overlaps on trapeze-specific programming.

Others

• Teatro ZinZanni: Seattle-based dinner theater and cabaret featuring circus, comedy, and music. SANCA alumni have performed with Teatro ZinZanni; functions as a downstream employer and performance partner in the regional circus ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sancaseattle
• YouTubeyoutube.com/sancaseattle
• Facebookfacebook.com/sancaseattle
• Instagraminstagram.com/sancaseattle

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 The School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts