Circus Center

What Circus Center does

Circus Center is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit circus training and performing arts center headquartered at 755 Frederick Street in San Francisco's Inner Sunset neighborhood. Founded in 1984 by Wendy Parkman and Judy Finelli as the San Francisco School for Circus Arts (renamed Circus Center in 2001), the organization has lineage to the 1974 founding of The Pickle Family Circus, the troupe credited with launching the U.S. circus renaissance. The center provides instruction across aerial arts (silks, hoop, trapeze, rope, straps), flying trapeze, acrobatics, flexibility/contortion, juggling/balance, and clowning, serving youth (ages 6-16), adults (16+), corporate groups, and aspiring professional performers through drop-in classes, multi-week session enrollment, summer camps, private lessons, and intensive workshops.

The organization's technical platform is fundamentally a physical one: dedicated training spaces, one of only two flying trapeze rigs in Northern California, performance theater space, and an established pedagogical apparatus built around world-class faculty including Department of Clown Director Toby Moore (two-time NEA award winner, 35-year career), Aerial Department Director Elena Panova (Moscow Circus and Variety College graduate, Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain gold medalist), Master Teacher Serchmaa Byamba (contortion), and Master Faculty Ying Ying Zhao (Chinese acrobatics). Three resident performance ensembles — the Chinese Acrobatic Troupe, Circus Center School, and Clown Conservatory — provide both artistic output and a pipeline for advanced students.

Circus Center monetizes through a diversified nonprofit revenue stack: recurring class enrollment fees, unit-priced class packs and drop-ins, seasonal camp fees, birthday party packages, private lesson fees, corporate team-building contracts, performance ticket sales, and a tiered donor program (Clown, Artiste, Producer, Ringmaster). Distribution is concentrated at the single Frederick Street facility with limited regional reach via off-site corporate events and touring ensemble performances. Scheduling and registration run through the Momence platform, with marketing driven by community engagement, word-of-mouth, public performances, and a small digital footprint (website, email newsletter, social media).

Name

Circus Center

Legal name

Circus Center

Website

https://circuscenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Circus Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit circus training and performing arts center in San Francisco offering classes, camps, parties, and performances in aerial arts, acrobatics, flying trapeze, and clowning for youth, adults, and corporate groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Education

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Circus & Physical Theatre (MPAGABAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH)

Keywords

• Circus arts training
• Performing arts education
• Aerial arts instruction
• Youth circus programs
• Circus summer camps

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Class Enrollment Fees: Recurring revenue from ongoing class enrollments for youth and adult circus arts instruction across multiple skill levels and disciplines.
2. Camp Programs: Seasonal revenue from day camps and intensive camp programs during school breaks, including vacation camps and specialty camps.
3. Birthday Party Packages: One-time booking fees for circus-themed birthday parties held at the facility, including instruction and party space.
4. Private Lessons: Individual instruction sessions with professional circus artists and instructors for personalized skill development.
5. Corporate Team Building: Customized team-building programs for corporate groups, leveraging circus arts for leadership development and team cohesion.
6. Performance Tickets: Revenue from public performances by student and professional ensembles including Chinese Acrobatic Troupe, Circus Center School, and Clown Conservatory.
7. Donations and Contributions: Charitable contributions and donations from supporters of the circus arts community, including the Circus Center Friends program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Circus Center is a non-profit circus training and performing arts center in San Francisco offering classes, workshops, camps, and performances across disciplines including aerial arts, flying trapeze, acrobatics, contortion, juggling, and clowning. It serves youth and adults from beginner to pre-professional levels, hosts corporate events and birthday parties, and operates the Clown Conservatory and San Francisco Youth Circus (SFYC) pre-professional performance company.

Product overview

Circus Center is a non-profit circus training and performing arts center offering a comprehensive suite of circus arts programs. The core offerings include adult and youth circus classes spanning flying trapeze, aerial arts (silks, hoop, trapeze, rope, straps), acrobatics, contortion, juggling, and clowning. The organization operates a week-long summer camp program for children ages 7-13 and maintains the San Francisco Youth Circus (SFYC), a pre-professional youth performance company. Additional services include private lessons, independent training access, corporate events and parties, artist residencies, community engagement outreach, seasonal workshops, and a $5 Friday community event. The center also accepts tax-deductible donations through tiered donor programs. Classes are offered on a drop-in credit system or session enrollment basis, with pricing structured around credit packs and session discounts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Circus Classes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Circus Center FriendsminorOthersA community support organization and donor program that provides financial support and community advocacy for Circus Center's programs and operations. Members contribute through donations and engage in supporting the circus arts community.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aloft Circus Arts: Aloft Circus Arts is a Chicago-based circus school offering aerial, acrobatics, and flying trapeze instruction for youth and adults. Comparable in recreational and pre-professional programming depth, and one of the few U.S. flying trapeze operators outside the Bay Area.
• SANCA (School of Acrobatics & New Circus Arts): SANCA is a Seattle-based nonprofit circus school offering youth and adult classes, camps, and performances with a similar community-education model to Circus Center. Comparable in scale and programming mix, with a documented focus on social circus outreach.
• Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance: Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance is a Boulder, Colorado-based aerial and circus training center offering classes, performances, and professional development. Comparable to Circus Center's aerial arts and adult programming mix and nonprofit operational structure.
• Circus Smirkus: Circus Smirkus is a Vermont-based youth circus organization running summer camps, residencies, and a touring youth troupe. Comparable to Circus Center's youth and pre-professional programming (including the SFYC), with a similar nonprofit model and emphasis on youth performance opportunities.
• New England Center for Circus Arts: The New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) is a Brattleboro, VT-based nonprofit circus training center offering professional and recreational programs. Comparable to Circus Center in mission and curriculum depth, including flying trapeze and pre-professional tracks.
• AcroSports SF: AcroSports SF is a San Francisco-based circus and acrobatics school offering youth and adult classes, summer camps, and performances across similar disciplines to Circus Center. It is the most direct local competitor, having trained former Circus Center department chair Lex Baesen (2016-2018).

Broad incumbents

• The 7 Fingers: The 7 Fingers is a Montreal-based contemporary circus company that produces shows and trains performers. Comparable in focus on contemporary and theatrical circus, and is a documented employer of Circus Center alumni, making it a relevant industry counterpart rather than direct competitor.
• École Nationale de Cirque: École Nationale de Cirque (ENC) in Montreal is a large, internationally-recognized circus training institution and a feeder school for Cirque du Soleil. Comparable to Circus Center in offering professional-track training and high-level faculty, but at significantly greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Cirque du Soleil: Cirque du Soleil is the dominant commercial circus entertainment company worldwide. It is not a direct competitor but represents the primary commercial destination for Circus Center alumni like Devin Henderson and shapes the broader talent and audience ecosystem Circus Center operates within.

Regional players

• Trapeze Arts: Trapeze Arts is an Oakland-based circus school and home of the Bay Area's other major flying trapeze program, serving as the closest geographic competitor to Circus Center's flying trapeze and aerial offerings. Flying Trapeze Department Chair Claire Mann previously served as its Youth Troupe Director.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/circuscenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/sfcircuscenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/circus-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Circus Center