Beginner Circus Classes
These classes are completely beginner friendly. They require NO previous experience, and are open to students of all fitness levels and body types. All of our aerial classes have a student-instructor ratio of no more than 6:1. This small size allows us to work with each student individually, and at their own skill level. These classes accept circus credits.
2-hr Teen Aerial Hour 2
A 2 hour period of time for teenagers to work through various circus disciplines with 2 coaches. In summer, this class is no longer a series, to encourage students to attend as many classes as they can outside of their travel schedule. PLEASE SIGN UP FOR BOTH THE 4:30PM AND 5:30PM CLASS.
2-hr Teen Aerial, hour 1
A 2 hour period of time for teenagers to work through various circus disciplines with 2 coaches. In summer, this class is no longer a series, to encourage students to attend as many classes as they can outside of their travel schedule. PLEASE SIGN UP FOR BOTH THE 4:30PM AND 5:30PM CLASS.
All Levels Rope
This class is suitable for both brand-new and experienced students. Learn rope climbs, foot locks, hand and foot spins, inversions, and static (non-spinning) rope skills. Intermediate students will work on sequencing skills. If a student is strongly averse to spinning, they are welcome to join to learn climbs and static skills only. Spanish web/rope is a suitable stand-alone class, or is a fabulous compliment to silks training. This class is accessible to everyone of all bodies and abilities.
All Levels Trapeze
This class is suitable for all skill levels - whether your first time in a circus class, or a student with 1000 lessons under their belt, you are welcome here! Trapeze was the first apparatus coach Sam learned, and she believes understanding trapeze enhances performance on all other aerial equipment. Class material will be custom-suited every week to the students registered, and may include conditioning, individual skill-building (below the bar, seated, standing, and in the ropes), spinning or swinging on dance trapeze, synchronized or weight-sharing skills on triple trapeze.
Beginner Aerial
This class is suitable for both brand-new students and existing students working to further develop coordination and control. Class time will be split between 2 coaches and apparatuses, allowing students to broaden their circus horizons in apparatuses such as silks, sling, rope, lyra, trapeze, and more. Learn something new every week, while also reviewing and expanding upon fundamentals. This class is accessible to everyone of all bodies and abilities.
Beginner Fabric
In this class we will practice fundamentals of silks and hammock vocabulary and body awareness, holding ones bodyweight, basic climbs, foot locks, and simple inversions (tilting the body upside down). Expect to learn short sequences that can be performed at a very low height, as well as body-strengthening exercises to develop a safe and strong aerial practice! Vianna's classes will also include elements of aerial dance and theatrical performance to give students tools for future choreography and performance endeavors! This class is accessible to everyone of all bodies and abilities. Pre-requisites: None!
Beginner Lyra
This beginning lyra class is open to students trying aerial arts for the first time as well as students with some experience! We will warm up together, practice getting onto the lyra, and learn and practice different tricks, skills, and shapes. If there are intermediate or advanced students that want to join the class they'll practice foundational skills with the class before working on other skills. Each class will end with a cool down. This class is accessible to everyone of all bodies and abilities.
Lyra+
Aerial is for all bodies. This class will focus on the Lyra from a plus size coach’s perspective. Our bodies are strong and the mechanics or way a move looks will vary depending on our body’s shape or size. This class will support you in accomplishing skills in a way that takes advantage of your body’s strengths while ensuring you feel supported and safe.
Beginner/Intermediate Silks
This class is suitable for aerialists with experience on silks who are looking to improve upon coordination and control. This class is a great clinic for students who are feeling stuck on particular silks techniques such as inversions and hip keys. Sequences will be built from a combination of new skills and things learned in beginner silks.
Beginner Silks
In this class we will practice fundamentals of silks vocabulary and body awareness holding ones bodyweight basic climbs foot locks and simple inversions (tilting the body upside down). Expect to learn short sequences that can be performed at a very low height as well as body-strengthening exercises to develop a safe and strong aerial practice! This class is accessible to everyone of all bodies and abilities.
Youth Aerial Apparatus
In this class children ages 7-14 will be introduced to aerial silks as well as a variety of other apparatuses including but not limited to: lyra trapeze rope wheel and basic tumblingpyramids. There is an emphasis on form and safety positive self-talk and supportive teamwork. Students are encouraged to attend the same daytime slot each week in order to make the most consistent and comprehensive progress. This class is accessible to everyone of all bodies and abilities.Pre-requisites: None
Intermediate / Advanced Circus Classes
These are classes that require some previous experience. Talk to any NOCA instructor, or contact us at (423) 212-6622 if you're unsure whether you qualify.
Open Gym
Open gym is a time for students to practice moves they have learned in class. It's also a great way to meet the other Night Owls, and make new friends! Teaching or skill sharing during open gym is not allowed. Trying moves that you found online, or that you haven not yet learned from an instructor is not allowed. You must have taken at least 10 classes in the specific apparatus you'd like to use.
Rope and Straps
Prereqs: Ability to hold one's body weight fully and hold body up in a tuck position with bent arms. This class is suitable for a variety of skill levels. As these apparatuses are inherently demanding of ones upper-body, it is advised that students attending have happy, healthy wrists and shoulders (or are very capable of listening to their bodys signals and scaling back when necessary). Explore a wide variety of conditioning exercises, then skill build on one or both apparatus, with sequences growing each week. When students develop abilities on straps and rope, every other apparatus becomes easier!
All Levels Multi-Apparatus
This class is suitable for all students! Whether you are moving towards advanced skills or just starting out on your aerial journey, this class is for you! Each week there will be two to three apparatuses available to train on. Each student will work on two apparatuses and with two coaches per class. Your coaches will be keeping track of our weekly rotations so every student has the chance to work on each apparatus and with each coach as the weeks progress. Apparatuses include rope, sling, trapeze, and lyra. If you want to take silks, please attend our other silks classes on the same day. Intermediate/advanced students will have the chance to hone their dynamic skills, musicality, technique, creativity, and learn new tricks, climbs, and shapes. Beginner students will learn the basics of each apparatus to form a strong foundation for future classes. There is something for everyone here! Please reach out to us if you have questions; we would love to chat!
Intermediate Lyra Exploration
A lyra class for intermediate and advanced students who love technical puzzles, creative movement, and exploring new pathways. We will build on foundational material from beginner classes, work on fundamental dynamic skills, and learn how to play and create. Each class will begin with a group warm up and conditioning on the lyra. We will then move on to skill building, sequence creation, and exploring technically challenging but creatively exciting new skills and planes of the hoop. Some classes will be serious, some playful, often both. Some classes will be skill-focused, some will be collaborative, and some will be very exploratory. Caroline will offer a wealth of prompts and resources to help you develop your own style of movement on lyra, challenge how you think about this apparatus, and discover new ways to connect with your hoop. Prereqs: double knee hang, ability to hold yourself up with bent and straight arms, multiple entries for mounting the hoop, willingness to push yourself creatively.
Intermediate Silks
ONLY FOR PERFORMERS CAST IN THE MASQUERADE ACT!The focus of this class is to strengthen foundational skills, learned prior in beginner silks classes, by linking them together to build endurance, explore inversion-based moves, and improve technique through moderate conditioning. We will work towards taking skills higher in the air to build confidence and courage. Climbing drills, inversion preparation, and circus terminology/mild fabric theory will be heavily implemented in this class!