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Circus Center — Indoor Gymnastics in San Francisco

Circus Center

4.7(232)4.7 out of 5 stars, 232 reviews San Francisco, CA

About Circus Center

Circus Center offers unique opportunities for adults and teens to try flying trapeze, acrobatics, tumbling, and mini trampoline with experienced and encouraging instructors. They also host monthly circus cabaret shows that are highly entertaining. However, parents considering youth programs should be aware of serious reported concerns regarding safety, supervision, facility maintenance, and communication.

What parents should know

Summarized from real visitor reviews.

Best for: Adults or teens seeking unique fitness challenges like flying trapeze, tumbling, or acrobatics.Birthday parties for active groups looking to try circus skills.Families or friends looking for entertaining live performances (circus cabaret).Individuals wanting to learn new skills in a supportive environment (for well-staffed programs).Teens/Adults: Ideal for learning flying trapeze, tumbling, and various acrobatics (balancing, mini trampoline, human pyramids).

Why families love it

  • Flying Trapeze program is highly praised by adult participants, with an 'intro 3-pack' deal.
  • Varied acrobatics available, including balancing, mini trampoline, tumbling, and human pyramids.
  • Instructors for adult and party activities are described as patient, informative, supportive, and fun.
  • Facilities, converted from a high school, offer plenty of space for classes.
  • Monthly circus cabaret shows provide enjoyable entertainment for general audiences.
  • Front desk staff is reported to be very nice and welcoming.

Insider tips

  • For adults or teens interested in flying trapeze, inquire about the 'intro 3-pack' as it's considered a great deal.
  • If considering youth classes, *urgently* inquire about current coach-to-student ratios, supervision policies, and safety protocols due to past concerns.
  • Verify current program communication practices for youth classes with other parents before enrolling children.
  • Consider attending a circus cabaret show for general family entertainment.
  • Be prepared for muscle soreness if trying activities like flying trapeze or acrobatics, even after a single session.

Good to know before you go

  • Enrolling children in youth classes without direct, current verification of improved safety conditions, adequate supervision, and reliable parent communication.
  • If facility upkeep and organizational transparency are high priorities, as these have been cited as major issues.
  • If you are uncomfortable with the possibility of unsafe conditions in youth programs.
  • Serious decline in quality of youth programs in recent years due to leadership changes and loss of key staff.
  • Reported unsafe conditions in youth classes, including insufficient coach-to-student ratios and kids performing risky activities without adequate supervision.
Crowds
No specific crowd levels mentioned, but a significant concern was raised about insufficient coach-to-student ratios in youth classes, implying overcrowding or understaffing relative to participant numbers.
Value
The 'intro 3-pack' for the Flying Trapeze program is explicitly mentioned as 'a great deal'. No other specific pricing details are provided for other classes or shows. The value for youth classes is questionable given the reported decline in quality and safety.
Food
No policy mentioned.
Accessibility
No accommodations mentioned.
Safety
Reported inadequate coach-to-student ratios and lack of supervision in youth classes, leading to 'unsafe conditions' and 'risky acrobatic activities' for children.

What parents say

Clara McCreery
5.05.0 out of 5 stars
"I am a huge fan of the Flying Trapeze program at Circus Center. I showed up on a whim over a year ago (the intro 3-pack is a great deal!) and quickly became a regular. Now I am very sad if I have to go a whole week without flying. The staff are encouraging, helpful, and very knowledgeable. I’ve never been in better shape and have found so, so much joy here!"

5 months ago

Circus “SFYC Parents & Youth” Youth
1.01.0 out of 5 stars
"This place has been through a lot of leadership changes and it has seriously impacted the quality of programs. My child used to enjoy youth classes here but it has really gone downhill in recent years with the loss of several key people. Now there are sometimes unsafe conditions with not enough coaches to students and kids doing risky acrobatic activities without adequate supervision. The facilities are dilapidated. Communications with parents about programs are consistently poor; parents and students frequently get different information or no information. The few remaining good coaches who su"

a month ago

Lenka “Blanca” Lukáčová
5.05.0 out of 5 stars
"Awesome place to unwind and try your limits. We were there for a birthday party and got to try the flying trapeze and some acrobatics, like balancing, mini trampoline and human pyramids. My muscles are still sore three days later, but we had a great time. The instructors were patient, informative, supportive and fun. All in all, I will definitely be back for more at some point 🙂"

7 years ago

Reviews sourced from public Google data.