Ready to join the circus? Are you in search of Top Circus Schools in the US to suit your goals? Go through to our page below for a detailed list of 20 Top Circus Schools in the US.
Circus education has transformed throughout history. Rooted in many diverse cultures and eras, it used to be passed down in families or through apprenticeships.
In the last century, circus schools, groups, and personal coaches started teaching circus techniques. Now, circus education is for anyone, whether they’re young or old.
It can be for fun, professional training, helping others, improving health, building careers, or expressing art.
The American Circus Educators Association (ACE) was established in 2014 as an extension of the nonprofit organization, The American Youth Circus Organization (AYCO).
ACE’s main purpose is to assist and serve as a reliable resource for circus educators, and a go-to authority for circus education.
They offer professional development, networking opportunities, and valuable information to anyone involved in circus education, whether as a teacher, coach, program director, parent, or administrator.
The aim is to help circus teachers with training, safety, and creating a strong community network.
List of Top Circus Schools in the US
- New England Center for Circus Arts
- Circadium – School of Contemporary Circus
- Cirque School
- Aloft Circus Arts
- The School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts in Seattle | Sanca
- Vancouver Circus School
- High Mowing School
- National Circus Project
- Circus Juventas
- The Actors Gymnasium
- Philadelphia School of Circus Arts
- circus culture
- MSA & Circus Arts
- Cirq-U – Circus University | Concord, NC
- Circus Arts Institute
- Lone Star Circus
- Circus In Schools – Greentop
- Commonwealth Circus Center
- School of Larks
- Toronto Circus School
New England Center for Circus Arts Â
NECCA, a well-regarded circus training institution in the United States, has gained international recognition for its exceptional creative and physical programs.
Established in 2007 NECCA offers a high-caliber of professional training programs, workshops, and recreational classes tailored to aspiring performers.
Training and classes are suitable for individuals of all ages, levels, and abilities, including both youth and adults.
The essence of NECCA is shaped by a diverse group of contributors, with a core commitment to make circus arts education accessible to everyone, including complete novices to seasoned industry professionals.
Their Offerings encompass a wide range of classes, including adult and youth sessions, circus camps for young participants, workshops, private lessons, the ProTrack Program, Flying Trapeze, and more.
We also provide options for financial aid, ensuring that circus arts education is within reach for all who seek it.
Contact Info:
Visit the Website:Â https://www.necenterforcircusarts.org/home/
Phone: 802-254-9780
Email: info@necenterforcircusarts.orgÂ
Address: NECCA, 10 Town Crier Dr, Brattleboro VT 05301
Circadium – School of Contemporary Circus
Circadium, located in Philadelphia, is a unique circus school that inspires aspiring artists from across the United States.
Circaduim is the first state-licensed higher education program for circuses in the US. They are focused on training new generations of circus artists and bringing the excitement of circus performances to various audiences.
Circadium offers a three-year intensive training program that covers a wide range of circus skills, including acrobatics, aerials, juggling, physical theatre, dance, and more. They also emphasize creating original work and host weekly presentations.
In addition to training, Circadian provides a space for contemporary circus artists to train and perform. After completing the three-year program, students receive the Circadium Diploma of Circus Arts, licensed by the State Board of Private Licensed Schools in Pennsylvania.
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: https://circadium.com/
Phone: 215.849.1991
Email: info@circadium.comÂ
Address: 6452 Greene Street, Philadelphia, PA 19119
Cirque SchoolÂ
Cirque School, established in 2009 is one of the leading circus schools in the United States, offering a wide range of classes in various circus disciplines. These classes are open to individuals of all backgrounds and experience levels.
Cirque School’s programs aim to enhance physical and mental wellness, taught by dedicated circus coaches. They provide a non-competitive and supportive atmosphere for learning and growing in the circus arts.
The school’s comprehensive curriculum includes numerous circus disciplines, with specialty workshops led by industry professionals.
Cirque School’s sense of community and its diverse programs cater to participants at all physical levels, making it a truly unique and inclusive place for circus enthusiasts.
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: https://www.cirqueschoolla.com
Phone: (424) 226-2477
Email: info@cirqueschool.com
Address: 5640 1/2 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028
Aloft Circus ArtsÂ
Aloft, located in Chicago is a top destination for learning and performing aerial and circus arts. Housed in a 112-year-old church, it boasts a spacious 6000 square feet studio, ranking as the third largest in the United States.
At Aloft, people of all ages, including adults and kids, have the opportunity to explore aerial and circus disciplines in safe, fun, and challenging classes. Professional performers also find a training facility that caters to their technical, creative, and developmental needs.
The classes at Aloft are designed to be mentally, physically, and emotionally challenging, with personalized and intensive training.
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: https://www.aloftloft.com
Phone: 312-771-2478
Email: aloftmakeups@gmail.com
Address: 3324 W Wrightwood Avenue Chicago, IL 60647
The School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts in Seattle | Sanca
SANCA, located in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle, is nationally known for its leadership in youth circus arts education, safety, and instructor training.
The school was founded in 2004 with just five students, but today, it serves nearly 1,000 students every week. Annually, SANCA reaches over 30,000 people through its classes, camps, outreach programs, and public performances.
At SANCA, they provide physically challenging and socially enriching experiences that promote physical literacy for people of all ages.
They offer recreational classes and day camps, creating a safe, social, and constructive environment for physical arts.
These programs not only engage the community but also reach diverse audiences and encourage participation in the arts, especially among those with limited access and opportunities for healthy, creative, physical activities.
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: https://sancaseattle.org
Phone: (206) 652-4433
Email: office@sancaseattle.org
Address: 674 S. Orcas St. Seattle, WA 98108
Vancouver Circus SchoolÂ
The Vancouver Circus School’s primary goal is to promote physical literacy through circus arts. They believe that circus skills are a fantastic way to develop physical literacy, which means being physically capable, active, and healthy.
This family-run school is on a mission to provide education and performance opportunities in the circus arts for people of all backgrounds.
The school offers a wide range of programs, from recreational classes to year-long artist development programs and event bookings.
Their classes cover areas like aerials (like Aerial Silks, Aerial Hoop, and static Trapeze), acrobatics (like Tumbling, Trampoline, and Teeterboard), and props (like Juggling and Hoop Dance). In simple terms, they teach circus skills to help people stay fit and enjoy life.
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: https://vancouvercircusschool.ca/
Phone: 604.544.5024
Email: info@vancouvercircusschool.caÂ
Address: 212-810 Quayside Drive, New Westminster, BC V3M 6B9
High Mowing SchoolÂ
High Mowing School, founded in 1942, provides education for preschool through grade 8 on one campus and grades 9 through 12 on another.
They have a unique Circus Studies Program (CSP) designed for young circus enthusiasts. This program offers a residential circus experience along with a high school education in the Waldorf tradition.
Students in the Circus Studies Program at High Mowing School not only prepare for acceptance at traditional colleges but also gain the skills and training necessary for circus college or other performing arts careers.
They train with circus professionals throughout the school year to develop a wide range of physical and artistic skills for success in the circus world, both nationally and internationally.
The program includes academic classes, custom-tailored academic learning, and extensive training in the circus disciplines that interest each student.
Contact Info:
Visit the Website:Â https://www.highmowing.org/high-school/programs/circus-studies-program
Address: High Mowing School, 222 Isaac Frye Highway, WiltonNH03086
National Circus Project
The National Circus Project is an educational program that combines circus skills with learning.
Their programs aim to teach students the core skills of circus arts and guide them through supervised hands-on activities to help them master these skills.
They have a long history, with 35 years of experience providing circus programs to school children.
Each year, they serve around 120-200 schools in various states, such as New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Ohio, Delaware, Maryland, South Carolina, Florida, and Washington, D.C.
In simple terms, the National Circus Project is a program that teaches kids circus skills in a fun and challenging way, helping them learn important life skills along the way.
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: https://nationalcircusproject.com
Phone: 516.334.2123
Address: 56 Lion Lane, Westbury, NY 11590
Circus Juventas
Circus Juventas is a non-profit circus school for young people, aiming to inspire self-confidence and artistic expression through a multicultural circus experience.
Since 1994, Circus Juventas has been creating magic in the world of contemporary circus arts, drawing inspiration from renowned circus companies.
With a vision to become the world’s leading youth circus performing arts organization, they are known for their innovative programs, top-notch training, and professional-level performances at a modern circus center.
Their values include building self-confidence through leadership, life skills, teamwork, athleticism, artistry, excellence, and community service.
Circus Juventas encourages personal development and responsibility, helping students discover themselves and take appropriate risks to enhance self-esteem.
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: https://circusjuventas.org
Phone: 651-699-8229
Email: adminstaff@circusjuventas.org
Address: Circus Juventas, 1270 Montreal Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55116.
The Actors GymnasiumÂ
The Actors Gym in Chicago has been a well-known name in theatre for 25 years. They bring a unique physical aspect to American theatre by training versatile and trusted performers.
Their Professional Circus Training Program is the epitome of their mission to create performers who are skilled in various ways.
As one of the nation’s leading centers for circus and performing arts training, Actors Gym has helped many performers grow physically, emotionally, and creatively.
Their instructors are top-notch, coming from various performance backgrounds, including Chicago’s renowned circus and theatre companies.
They offer a range of classes and camps for adults and kids, including youth circus programs, summer intensives, custom workshops, private lessons, and financial aid for those who need it.
Contact Info:
Visit the Website:Â https://www.actorsgymnasium.org/professional-circus-training-program
Phone: (847) 328-2795
Email: hello@actorsgymnasium.orgÂ
Address: 927 Noyes St. Suite 110, Evanston, IL 60201
Other Top Circus Schools in the US
- Philadelphia School of Circus Arts
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: https://phillycircus.com
Phone: 215.849.1991.
Email:
Address: 6452 Greene Street, Philadelphia PA 19119
- Circus Culture
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: http://www.circusculture.org
Phone: +1 607-269-7227
Email: Info@circusculture.org
Address: 116 West Green Street Ithaca, NY 14850
- MSA & Circus Arts
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: https://www.msacircusarts.org
Phone: 1(773) 687-8840
Address: 1934 N Campbell Ave, Chicago IL, 60647
- Cirq-U – Circus University | Concord, NC
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: https://www.cirq-u.com
Phone: 704-787-9333
Email: ringmaster@cirq-u.comÂ
Address: Concord Lake STEAM Academy, 1911 Concord Lake Rd, Kannapolis, NC
- Circus Arts Institute
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: https://www.circusartsinstitute.com
Phone: (404) 549-3000
Email: info@circusartsinstitute.com
- Lone Star Circus
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: https://www.lonestarcircus.org
Phone: 214.206.1449
Address: Lone Star Circus Arts Center, Inc. (offices)​, 12232 Snow White Drive, Dallas, TX 75244.
- Circus In Schools – Greentop
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: https://www.greentop.org
Phone: 0114 244 8828
Email: admin@greentop.org
Address: St Thomas Building, 74 Holywell Rd, Sheffield, S4 8AS
- Commonwealth Circus Center
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: https://commonwealthcircus.com
Phone: (617) 841-8629
Address: 8 Brookley Rd, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
- School of Larks
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: https://schooloflarks.comÂ
Email: info@schooloflarks.com
- Toronto Circus School
Contact Info:
Visit the Website: https://torontocircus.com
Phone: (416) 935-0037
Address: 75 Carl Hall Road, Unit 8, Parc Downsview Park, M3K 2B9
Conclusion
Today’s circus arts include captivating professional performances that combine elements of music, theater, strategy, and dance.
If you want to join the circus, explore these Top Circus Schools in the US listed above.Â
