Philadelphia School of Circus Arts

What Philadelphia School of Circus Arts does

Philadelphia School of Circus Arts (PSCA) is a privately held recreational circus education institution founded in 2008 and operated from a converted church facility at 6452 Greene Street in Philadelphia's Mt. Airy neighborhood. The school delivers the largest variety of circus classes, equipment, and disciplines in the region for students ages 2 through adult, with structured programming across aerial arts, acrobatics, juggling, tightwire, unicycle, trampoline, pole, and contortion. It serves as both a youth education provider (K-12 classes, Performance Prep, Youth Troupe, after-school program, summer and day-off camps) and an adult recreation/fitness destination (drop-in classes, class packs, unlimited memberships, private lessons, workshops), plus group/event revenue from birthday parties, adult parties, field trips, and Sanctuary venue rentals.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer model with no disclosed technology platform of its own — class scheduling and billing run on third-party SaaS tools MindBody Online and iClassPro, with Google Forms for administrative requests, Smart Waiver for liability waivers, and YouTube/Instagram/Facebook for community engagement. Revenue is generated through approximately 12 distinct streams, dominated by recurring monthly subscriptions (youth classes $87-$560/month, adult unlimited membership $230/month, Circus After School $207-$555/month) supplemented by transaction-based fees (drop-ins at $30, summer camps at $495/week, parties at $30/participant, private lessons at $100-$450, event rentals at $350-$3,500). The school also operates a school pickup service from three named partner schools (C.W. Henry, Lingelbach, Waldorf of Philadelphia), creating a captive after-school enrollment pipeline.

PSCA is independently owned with no disclosed parent company, no institutional funding, and no public-company indicators. The management team of approximately 10 includes an Executive Director (Kitsie O'Neill), Head Coach, and dedicated functional leads across programs, camps, events, communications, and front desk operations. The business is part of a three-entity circus ecosystem with AirPlay Entertainment (performance bookings) and Circus Campus (juggling club/community space). Recognition includes a Best of Philly Winner for Kids Classes award from Philadelphia Magazine, and the organization's performance troupe has been active across the region for over 10 years. No revenue, headcount, or financial figures are disclosed, and no AI/ML capabilities are present in the operating stack.

Name

Philadelphia School of Circus Arts

Legal name

Philadelphia School of Circus Arts

Website

https://phillycircus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Philadelphia School of Circus Arts is a privately held recreational circus school founded in 2008, operating from a converted church facility in Philadelphia's Mt. Airy neighborhood and offering classes, camps, after-school programs, parties, and event rentals for students ages 2 through adult.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recreational Circus Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Circus & Physical Theatre (MPAGABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts (Acting, Improv, Theater) (EDAAAGAE), Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN), Family, Kids & Education Fairs (MPAGAFAH)

Keywords

• Circus arts education
• Recreational youth classes
• Aerial and acrobatics training
• After school programs
• Circus summer camps

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

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, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Adult Class Fees: Single drop-in classes at $30 each, class packs (5-pack for $130, 10-pack for $220), and monthly memberships at $230/month with unlimited classes. Revenue is consumption-based and recurring for members.
2. Youth Class Fees: Monthly billing for youth classes ranging from $87/month (Kinder Circus) to $211/month (Teen Circus), with Performance Prep programs at $356-$560/month. Auto-renewing subscriptions with monthly billing cycles.
3. Circus After School Program: Monthly billing ranging from $207/month (1 day/week) to $555/month (5 days/week), with optional extended care at $15/day. Billed on the 1st of each month.
4. Summer Camp: One-week camp sessions at $495/week, with optional Before Care ($20/day) and After Care ($35/day). Deposits required at enrollment.
5. Kids Day Off Camps: Single-day camps at $99/day for kids ages 5-15, with optional after care at $35 and extended care at $15.
6. Birthday Parties: 2-hour circus parties at $30/participant with minimum 10 and maximum 32 participants. Revenue is transaction-based per booking.
7. Event Rentals: Sanctuary space rental at $3,500 for Saturday block (3pm-12am, equipment cleared) or $350/hour for minimum 4 hours with equipment in place.
8. Field Trips and Workshops: 90-minute workshops for school groups at $25/participant (Sept-May) or $37.50/participant (June-August), minimum 10 students, maximum 30.
9. Private Lessons: Single private lessons for 1-2 people at $100, or 5-pack at $450. Available for adults and kids ages 8+.
10. 1-Hour Private Classes: Group private classes for 3-8 participants at $240 flat rate, or 10+ participants at $30/person (minimum 10, maximum 35).
11. Events and Shows: Haunted Circus annual event featuring performances. Revenue generated through performance participation and audience attendance.
12. Gift Certificates: Gift certificates sold for any dollar amount, redeemable for classes, workshops, and private lessons.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Philadelphia School of Circus Arts is a recreational circus arts training school offering in-person classes, camps, workshops, private lessons, parties, and event rentals for students ages 2 through adult. Programming spans progressive youth classes (Tots through Teen), performance troupes, after-school care with school pickup, summer and day-off camps, adult classes with membership options, private and group lessons, birthday and adult parties, field trips for schools, and specialty workshops across disciplines such as aerials, acrobatics, juggling, tightwire, trampoline, pole, and contortion.

Product overview

Philadelphia School of Circus Arts operates as a recreational circus education institution offering a comprehensive suite of programs for students ages 2 and up. The portfolio includes structured youth classes (Tots Circus through Teen Circus) with progressive skill development from $87-$211/month; performance-focused programs (Performance Prep and Youth Performance Troupe) for serious performers at $356-$560/month; and general circus instruction for adults at $30/drop-in or $230/month unlimited membership. Supporting programs include Circus After School (August-June, $207-$555/month), Summer Camp and Kid's Day Off Camps ($99-$495/week), Private Lessons ($100-$450), group events (Birthday Parties, Adult Parties, Pole Parties at $30-$260), Event Rentals ($350-$3,500), Field Trips ($25-$37.50/participant), Open Gym ($10/hour), and specialty Workshops. The institution uses MindBody Online and iClassPro for class management and booking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Circus Classes Recurring weekly recreational circus classes for children and teens ages 2-18, organized into progressive age-based tiers including Tots Circus (ages 2-3, $87/month), Kinder Circus (ages 4-5, $87/month), Junior Circus/Parkour (ages 6-7, $108/month), Youth Circus and Youth & Teen Aerial (ages 8-17, $160/month), and Teen Circus (ages 13-18, $211/month). Disciplines include aerials, acrobatics, juggling, balance, and parkour with progressive skill development.
• Performance Prep Program Intensive performance-focused training program for youth ages 10-18 serious about performing. Students attend 2 to 4 classes per week in acrobatics, dance, aerials, juggling, balance, and performance. Program culminates in the Youth Soiree performance. Priced at $356/month (2 days), $471/month (3 days), and $560/month (4 days).
• Youth Performance Troupe Year-long performance commitment for selected Performance Prep students. Rehearses Sundays 1:15-3:15 PM creating collaborative ground-based circus performances. Performs at festivals and community events across the Philadelphia region; the troupe has been active for over 10 years.
• Circus After School After-school program for kindergarten through 6th grade, running August 24, 2026 through June 9, 2027. Includes school pickup from C.W. Henry, Lingelbach, and Waldorf School of Philadelphia, outdoor play, indoor circus activities, arts and crafts, and one circus class per week. Priced from $207/month (1 day/week) to $555/month (5 days/week) with optional extended care at $15/day.
• Summer Circus Camp One-week full-day circus camps during the summer for youth ages 4-15, offered as Kinder, Junior, Youth, and Teen camp tiers. Daily programming includes static trapeze, aerial sling, fabric, wire walking, juggling, tumbling, unicycling, and clowning, with a mini performance at week's end. Priced at $495/week with optional before care ($20/day) and after care ($35/day).
• Kid's Day Off Camps Single-day camps for ages 5-15 (kindergarten through 10th grade) on Philadelphia School District days off. Runs 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at $99/day with optional after care ($35) and extended care ($15). Designed as drop-in childcare with circus activities.
• Adult Circus Classes Circus classes for adults ages 18+ at Intro, Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels covering aerials, acrobatics, juggling, balance, pole, and more. Priced at $30 per single drop-in, with class packs at 5-pack for $130 and 10-pack for $220.
• Adult Unlimited Membership Monthly recurring membership at $230/month providing unlimited adult classes. Requires a 3-month commitment with automatic monthly billing. Available to current adult students who want unlimited access across all class levels.
• Private Lessons One-on-one or small-group individualized circus instruction for ages 8+ based on studio and instructor availability. Single lesson for 1-2 people priced at $100; 5-pack available at $450.
• 1-Hour Private Group Class Personalized 1-hour group circus class for 3-35 participants ages 8+, tailored to the group's interests. Priced at $240 flat for 3-8 participants, or $30/person for 10-35 participants (minimum 10, maximum 35). Requires a $100 non-refundable deposit.
• Kid's Birthday Parties 2-hour hosted circus birthday parties for kids ages 5 and up. Includes 1 hour of circus class, 30 minutes for snacks and cake in the party room, and 30 minutes of circus games. Priced at $30/participant with minimum 10 and maximum 32 participants.
• Parties for Adults 2-hour circus parties for adults, used for bachelor/bachelorette parties, family gatherings, and team-building events. Includes a 1-hour circus class and party room time at $30/participant (minimum 10, maximum 32). Separate Pole Party option for ages 18+ available Friday nights at $260 for up to 7 participants, including a workshop, photo time, and Dry Hands bottle.
• Sanctuary Event Rentals Rental of the Sanctuary event space for weddings, performances, and corporate events. Saturday block rental from 3:00 PM to 12:00 AM (equipment cleared) priced at $3,500; hourly rate of $350/hour with a 4-hour minimum (equipment in place). Includes parking, front desk support, and 70 folding chairs.
• Field Trips and School Workshops 90-minute circus workshops for school and camp groups, delivered at the PSCA facility or on-site at the school. Priced at $25/participant September through May and $37.50/participant June through August (minimum 10, maximum 30). Requires a $100 non-refundable deposit with balance due 14 days before the event.
• Open Gym Supervised practice sessions for current beginner-level adult PSCA students with an active membership, class pack, or ongoing private lessons. Priced at $10 per hour; students may only work on equipment they have been trained on.
• Specialty Workshops Monthly specialty workshops covering niche disciplines including Pop Up Pole ($25 per class, limited to 8 spots), Haunted Circus Group Acts ($144 unlimited members / $168 non-unlimited members, 9 classes total performing in Adult shows), and a 4-week Intro to Fire Spinning & Safety workshop ($180 per person, including a $20 equipment fee).
• Flying Trapeze Flying trapeze instruction at the school's outdoor rig. Currently closed for the 2024 season due to staffing.
• Gift Certificates Redeemable gift certificates sold for any dollar amount, applicable toward classes, workshops, and private lessons across the school's programming.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AirPlay EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirPlay Entertainment is listed as part of PSCA's family of companies and as a referral partner for customers seeking to hire circus performers for events. Customers looking for performance entertainment are directed to visit AirPlay Entertainment, creating a complementary relationship between the training school and professional performance company.
• Circus CampuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCircus Campus is referenced as part of PSCA's family of companies and is the location where students walk from partner schools for the Circus After School program. The relationship suggests shared facilities and coordinated programming.
• Toto's PizzeriaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerToto's Pizzeria in Mt. Airy is recommended as a pizza partner for birthday parties. PSCA provides a link to Toto's website for families planning food for their parties, creating a preferred vendor relationship.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• ACE (Aerial Community Education): National aerial arts certification body whose logos appear on PSCA's site as a teacher-training credential — adjacent ecosystem enabler rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Circus Center (San Francisco): San Francisco recreational and professional circus school serving ages 2 through adult with classes, performances, and camps — directly comparable category and programming.
• New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA): Massachusetts circus school with youth and adult recreational programs, professional training, performances, and camps — paralleling PSCA's structure across instruction tiers and event programming.
• Esh Circus Arts: Atlanta-based circus arts school offering youth and adult classes, camps, parties, and aerial training. Closely mirrors PSCA's age-segmented programming and recreational focus.
• Sky Candy Circus Arts: Austin-based circus studio offering adult and youth aerials, acrobatics, and performance programs. Comparable operating model as a recreational circus school in a single local market.
• The National Circus School of Montreal: Canada's premier circus education institution offering recreational and professional training across disciplines and age groups — analogous curriculum structure at larger scale.

Regional players

• Streb: Brooklyn-based action/circus arts organization with classes and performances for action and circus disciplines. Comparable to PSCA's mix of instruction and performance programming.
• Versatile Fit: Philadelphia-based pole and aerial studio offering adult classes, parties, and workshops in the same city as PSCA — competes for the same adult fitness/aerial customer.
• Aerialize Studio: Sydney aerial circus studio offering recreational and performance training; mirrors PSCA's aerial-focused offerings and adult class tier structure.

Broad incumbents

• Cirque du Soleil: Global circus performance and entertainment company. While not a direct school competitor, it sets the category brand standard and serves as the top-of-funnel inspiration for prospective circus-arts students.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/phillycircus
• Facebookfacebook.com/PhiladelphiaSchoolofCircusArts
• Instagraminstagram.com/philly_circus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/philadelphia-school-of-circus-arts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Philadelphia School of Circus Arts