Air Temple Arts

What Air Temple Arts does

Air Temple Arts is a privately-held aerial dance and circus arts studio headquartered in a 4,200 sq ft purpose-built facility at 11 Research Drive, Woodbridge, Connecticut, with a performance stage at ECA Arts Hall in New Haven. Founded in 2013 by Stacey Strange, the studio operates Connecticut's only dedicated aerial dance and circus facility, offering weekly classes across 15+ disciplines (aerial silks, lyra/hoop, static trapeze, contortion, hand balancing, Chinese pole, corde lisse, Spanish web, partner acrobatics, fire spinning, and more), supplemented by private lessons, semi-annual workshop weeks, summer youth programs (ages 6-16), and an Aerial Fabric Teacher Training certification.

The studio's technical foundation centers on 18+ custom-engineered rigging points designed and maintained by Technical Director Nicholas Strange (a mechanical engineer), with crash mats, safety lines, and spotting belts supporting a maintained 1:6 instructor-to-student ratio. Operations run on standard small-business SaaS infrastructure: Pike13 and MindBody for class registration, TicketLeap and Brown Paper Tickets for show ticketing, and Mailchimp for email marketing. There is no proprietary software or AI/ML capability.

Revenue is generated through eight distinct streams: recurring 4-week session classes ($132 per session), drop-in classes ($38), private lessons ($60-$75/hr), open studio access ($10-$15), rigging point rentals ($20/hr), summer youth programs ($250/wk with multi-week discounts), professional performance bookings for events, and ticket revenue from original shows. Pricing includes a tiered discount structure (10% new-student open house discount, referral bonuses, 5% stacking for multi-class sign-ups). GTM is community-driven and event-based, anchored by free taster classes at open houses, Living Social promotional deals, a PBS START-UP Season 3 feature, and word-of-mouth referrals generated through student showcases. Ownership is founder-led, co-held by Stacey Strange (Creative Director) and Dani Bobbi Lee (Executive Director since January 2021), with no external institutional funding.

Name

Air Temple Arts

Legal name

Air Temple Arts

Website

https://airtemple.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Air Temple Arts is a privately-held aerial dance and circus studio in Woodbridge, CT, offering weekly classes, private lessons, workshops, youth summer programs, teacher training, and original show production to adult recreation students, youth, and event clients in Connecticut.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerial Dance and Circus Arts Training

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Circus & Physical Theatre (MPAGABAL), Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI), Performing Arts (Acting, Improv, Theater) (EDAAAGAE), Youth/Student & Community Dance Recitals (MPAGADAI)

Keywords

• Aerial dance classes
• Circus arts training
• Youth circus programs
• Aerial teacher training
• Professional circus entertainment

Headquarters

HQ city

Woodbridge

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Session Classes: Recurring revenue from 4-week session classes where students register for specific class times weekly throughout the session duration. Classes run in disciplines including aerial silks, lyra, trapeze, contortion, handstands, and more. Priced at $132 per 4-week session.
2. Drop-in Classes: One-time class payments at $38 per class for students who cannot commit to full sessions. Allows flexibility for occasional visitors or those between sessions.
3. Private Lessons: One-on-one instruction at $60/hr for 1 person, $75 for 2 people, $35/person beyond that. Flexible scheduling with any instructor across wide range of circus disciplines.
4. Open Studio and Point Rental: Self-directed practice time for $10 (students) or $15 (non-students). Dedicated rigging point rental at $20/hr for external aerialists.
5. Teacher Training Programs: Aerial Fabric Teacher Training workshops (June 2026) led by founder Stacey Strange covering teaching methodologies, rigging, and curriculum development.
6. Summer Youth Programs: Week-long circus programs for ages 6-16 at $250/week, with multi-week discounts available. Includes prop manipulation, aerial skills, flexibility training, and performance showcase.
7. Professional Performance Booking: Providing professional circus performers for events including The Schubert Theater, The Amber Room, The Shops at Somerset, and other private/corporate events.
8. Show Tickets: Revenue from professionally produced shows including cabaret performances, full-length productions (Sherlock Holmes, LOOM, Special Relativity), and open stage nights. Ticket prices vary by show.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Air Temple Arts operates a 4,200 sq ft purpose-built aerial dance and circus arts studio in Woodbridge, Connecticut offering weekly classes, private lessons, open studio time, and semi-annual workshop weeks across 15+ disciplines including aerial silks, lyra, trapeze, contortion, and Chinese pole. The studio also runs week-long summer youth programs, an aerial teacher training certification, professionally produced circus shows, and a performance booking service for corporate and private events.

Product overview

Air Temple Arts is an aerial dance, circus, and movement studio offering a comprehensive portfolio of in-studio training services. The core offering consists of weekly circus classes across multiple disciplines (aerial silks, hoop, trapeze, contortion, Chinese pole, and more), supplemented by private lessons, open studio access, and semi-annual workshop intensives. The studio also operates youth summer programs and an aerial teacher training certification. Beyond instruction, the company produces professional circus performances and provides booking services for professional entertainers at events. All offerings are managed through third-party registration platforms (Pike13, MindBody) and ticketing systems (TicketLeap).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Weekly Circus Classes Recurring weekly instruction across 15+ circus disciplines including aerial silks, lyra (hoop), static trapeze, contortion, hand balancing, partner acrobatics, tumbling, aerial sling, fire spinning, Chinese pole, corde lisse, and Spanish web. Open to ages 13+ with beginner to advanced levels, priced at $132 per 4-week session.
• Private Lessons

Quantifiable outcome

• Student-teacher ratio of 1:6 or better ensures personalized attention and safety
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CirqularitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Co-production partnership with Cirqularity for Sherlock Holmes and the Sapphire Night show. Air Temple collaborated with this circus production company to create a hybrid theater and contemporary circus production featuring predominantly female cast. Show toured to New Haven, Somerville MA, and Brooklyn NY.
• ECA Arts HallcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Educational Center for the Arts venue partnership for performances and productions. Air Temple's primary performance venue for shows including Sherlock Holmes, LOOM, Special Relativity, and Air Temple Takes Off! Located at 55 Audubon Street, New Haven.
• 7 Fingers (Les 7 doigts de la main)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2014Montreal circus troupe 7 Fingers conducted four workshops at Air Temple while in town performing TRACES at International Festival of Arts and Ideas. Workshops included Diabolo, Chinese Pole, Hand to Hand, and Aerial Straps taught by company performers Hou Kai, Fletcher Sanchez, Naomi Zimmerman-Pinchon, Renaldo Williams, and LJ Marles.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA): Brattleboro, VT-based circus school offering recreational classes, professional training, and youth programs across aerial and ground disciplines. Most directly comparable as a regional New England circus school with a teacher training pathway (where Air Temple's founder trained).
• Philadelphia School of Circus Arts: Mid-Atlantic recreational and pre-professional circus school offering aerial silks, trapeze, lyra, and similar disciplines plus youth programs and performances. Closely mirrors Air Temple's mix of weekly classes, intensives, and student showcases.
• Circus Smirkus: Vermont-based youth circus organization offering summer camps, training programs, and touring productions. Comparable in combining youth circus education with produced shows, though focused more on youth than Air Temple's adult core.
• The Muse Brooklyn: Brooklyn-based circus training facility offering classes, private lessons, open studio, and youth programs in aerial and ground disciplines. Comparable in operating model (multi-discipline circus school) and proximity to the Northeast market.
• Esh Circus Arts: Aerial and circus arts studio offering recreational and pre-professional training plus performances in the Northeast US. Comparable in offering 15+ disciplines, summer youth programs, and produced shows to a similar adult/youth audience.
• San Francisco Circus Center: Bay Area circus school offering recreational, professional, and youth programs plus a teacher training track. Comparable in scale and the breadth of disciplines plus the certification pathway that Air Temple is building.
• SHOW Cirque: NYC-area aerial and circus arts studio offering recreational classes, professional training, and shows. Closely comparable in adult-class-focused business model and produced-show output.

Broad incumbents

• Les 7 doigts de la main (7 Fingers): Montreal-based contemporary circus troupe that has run workshops at Air Temple and whose performers have trained at the studio. Comparable as a higher-tier industry incumbent that both competes for talent and validates the training ecosystem.
• Cirque du Soleil: Global circus entertainment company whose casting pipeline (where Air Temple alumni have placed) validates the studio's training quality. Compares not as direct competitor but as the marquee employer/outlet that anchors demand for serious circus training.

Regional players

• Aerial Arts NYC: NYC aerial and circus school focused on silks, trapeze, and lyra instruction with classes, intensives, and shows. Comparable in product mix, though NYC-based and therefore a regional rather than direct competitor to Air Temple's CT market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AirTempleArts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/air-temple-arts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Air Temple Arts