What Vancouver Circus School does

Vancouver Circus School is a family-owned circus and acrobatic education facility founded in 2004 by the Johnson family (Aaron, Valerie, and Travis Johnson) and operating from a single location at #212-810 Quayside Drive in New Westminster, British Columbia. The school offers structured circus-arts instruction across age groups from toddlers (1-5 years) through adults, delivered through a portfolio of programs: weekly recreational classes following the proprietary Rainbow Learning System (RLS), session-based drop-in classes, supervised open training, private lessons, the tiered Circa membership program (4 levels from $352-$574/month for teens/adults), birthday party packages ($475-$575), seasonal camps (spring/summer/winter), group/corporate visits, toddler drop-in sessions ($10), and specialized workshops with international guest instructors.

The company's core technology is the Rainbow Learning System, a color-coded progressive curriculum (Red through Purple foundational levels plus Rainbow Levels 1-6) developed in-house by founders Travis Johnson, Aaron Johnson, Meregon Kiddo, Nigel Wakita, Charlotte Romses, and Brandon Miyazaki. The system structures skill progression across disciplines including Aerial Silks, Aerials Hoop & Trapeze, Trampoline, Tumbling, Handstands, Circus HIIT, Foot Juggling, and others, with the stated objective of building physical literacy (strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, endurance).

Revenue is generated entirely through direct-to-consumer sales at the New Westminster facility, complemented by off-site performance bookings via the VCS Events subsidiary and retail sales through an online Prop Shop. The business employs 40+ instructors and staff, with senior leadership carrying 28-52 years of individual circus experience. Travis Johnson served as coach for the Canadian National circus team in 2022. The school has appeared on CBC's Dragons' Den, performed at BC Place stadium, and was featured at the 2015 International Physical Literacy Conference. Operating geographies are limited to BC's Lower Mainland, with no disclosed external funding and no public revenue figures.

Name

Vancouver Circus School

Legal name

Vancouver Circus School

Website

https://vancouvercircusschool.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vancouver Circus School is a family-owned circus and acrobatic school in New Westminster, BC, founded in 2004. It offers recreational classes, the proprietary Rainbow Learning System, Circa membership, camps, and birthday parties for toddlers through adults in the Lower Mainland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Circus Arts Education

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Educational Services (61)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Circus & Physical Theatre (MPAGABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Circus, Magic & Variety Shows (THAJAFAH), Educational Adventure Programs (Outdoor Education, Skill Development) (THAAAAAO)

Keywords

• Circus arts classes
• Recreational circus training
• Aerial silks instruction
• Youth circus camps
• Acrobatic tumbling programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New Westminster

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Recreational Classes and Sessions: The school offers session-based recreational circus classes following the Rainbow Learning System, with terms in Fall (Sept-Dec), Winter (Jan-Mar), and Spring (Apr-June). Students register for classes and pay according to program pricing, with deposits and insurance fees required at registration.
2. Circa Membership Program: A 10-month membership program (September to June) with four tiers (Circa 1-4) offering monthly subscriptions ranging from $352-$574/month. Includes priority class registration, RLS classes, open training access, workshops, and monthly performance opportunities.
3. Birthday Party Packages: Birthday party bookings with pricing tiers: up to 21 participants for $475 plus tax, up to 28 participants for $575 plus tax. Includes 75 minutes of circus activities plus 45 minutes in party zone.
4. Circus Camps: Camps offered during spring, summer, and winter breaks for children aged 6-14. Available in half-day, full-day, and week-long formats with varying prices.
5. Drop-in Classes and Open Training: Single drop-in classes for recreational programs and open training sessions. Open training is priced at $18.00 including GST per session. Drop-in availability begins second week of term, up to 14 days prior to class.
6. Private Lessons: One-on-one circus coaching sessions available by booking. Customers can select dates, circus discipline, and optionally specific instructors.
7. Group Visits: Customized group experiences for birthdays, team-building events, and community groups. Tailored to group interests and abilities with experienced instructors.
8. Big Top Toddlers Program: Drop-in program for children aged 1-5 years old. Priced at $10 including tax for children 1-5, and $5 including tax for children under 1 year. Open Tuesday-Thursday from 10am-12pm.
9. Workshops with Guest Instructors: Specialized training workshops with international guest instructors covering specific circus disciplines including aerial silks, trapeze, handstands, contortion, juggling, and more.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Vancouver Circus School is a family-owned recreational circus school in New Westminster, BC, delivering group and private circus arts instruction across age groups. Offerings include ongoing recreational and drop-in classes, open training sessions, toddler programs (Big Top Toddlers), school and group visits, private lessons, seasonal day camps (spring, summer, winter), workshops, birthday party packages, and a membership-based performance troupe called Circa. All programs are delivered under the proprietary Rainbow Learning System (RLS) curriculum developed by the founding family.

Product overview

Vancouver Circus School is a family-owned circus and acrobatic school operating as a unified platform of interconnected programs. The core recreational program is built on the Rainbow Learning System (RLS), a progressive color-coded curriculum that structures weekly classes across disciplines including Aerial Silks, Aerials Hoop & Trapeze, Trampoline, Tumbling, Handstands, Circus HIIT, and more. This is supported by flexible access options including Drop-In Classes, Open Training, and Private Lessons. The Circa membership program (a 10-month performance-based program with monthly showcases) serves as the flagship tiered offering for dedicated students. Seasonal Circus Camps (Spring, Summer, Winter) and Birthday Party Packages extend the program to youth and families, while the Prop Shop and VCS Events provide retail and performance booking services. The Social Circus Foundation represents the company's charitable arm. Together, these products form a complete lifecycle offering from first-timers (Drop-Ins, Free Circus Day) through recreational skill development to professional performance preparation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Recreational Classes

Quantifiable outcome

• Physical literacy benefits: circus develops balance, coordination, strength, flexibility, and endurance - research shows physically literate kids are healthier, happier, and more likely to stay active as adults
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Social Circus FoundationminorOthersVancouver Circus School supports the Social Circus Foundation, a charity organization that supports physical literacy in the circus arts for at-risk and marginalized communities within Canada and around the world. The foundation empowers youth by promoting personal and social development through learning new skills and building confidence. VCS General Manager Starla Beselt and Maya (Social Circus Foundation Manager) work with this organization. Travis Johnson serves as President of the Social Circus Foundation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Esh Circus Arts: Atlanta-based circus education provider offering classes, camps, and parties with a similar recreational-first philosophy. Comparable in customer segments (kids, teens, adults) and birthday-party/event revenue model.
• Aloft Circus Arts: Chicago-based circus school offering recreational classes, camps, parties, and performance programming across aerials, acrobatics, and juggling. Closely matches VCS's product mix and recreational focus.
• Circus Center (San Francisco): San Francisco-based recreational and professional circus training school offering classes, camps, and performance programs. Comparable to VCS as a community-driven circus education hub serving youth and adults.
• Circus Smirkus: Vermont-based youth circus organization offering camps, classes, and a touring youth circus. Comparable to VCS's youth-focused programming and camp offerings, especially Circus Camp participants (ages 6-14).
• National Circus School (École nationale de cirque): Canada's flagship circus education institution (Montreal) offering structured training pathways from recreational to professional levels. Most directly comparable to VCS in terms of curriculum-driven circus arts education in Canada.
• New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA): Brattleboro, VT-based circus school offering recreational and professional-track programs for youth and adults across multiple circus disciplines. Closely comparable in scope (classes, camps, memberships) and target segments to VCS.

Emerging players

• Sky Zone Trampoline Park: Multi-location trampoline and active entertainment franchise overlapping with VCS's trampoline classes, birthday parties, and camps for youth. Comparable in party/camp format and family-leisure positioning.
• Les Ateliers de Cirque (international): Canadian francophone circus schools offering recreational and pre-professional training. Comparable as a regional/niche peer for community circus education with multi-age programming.

Broad incumbents

• Cirque du Soleil: Global circus entertainment company and broader incumbent in the circus arts category. While not a recreational school, it shapes the overall circus-as-activity market and runs affiliated training/performance initiatives relevant to VCS.

Regional players

• Club Pilates / boutique fitness studios: Recurring-membership boutique fitness concept. Comparable as a model for adult subscription fitness (analogous to Circa's $352-$574/month adult membership), though product category is adjacent rather than direct.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vancircusschool
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/VancouverCircusSchool
• Facebookfacebook.com/VanCircusSchool
• Instagraminstagram.com/VanCircusSchool

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Vancouver Circus School