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.
Aerial Yoga
Designed for participants of all fitness levels, this class utilizes an aerial fabric hammock that hangs roughly three feet off the floor for an elevated take on traditional asanas. We swing, sway, breathe, and explore traditional yoga poses with a new relationship to gravity while staying close to the floor. The class begins on the mat, moves to expanded heights, and takes us home to a new sense of center. Beginners to both yoga and aerial are welcome in any aerial yoga class.
All Levels Rope and Spanish Web
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.
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.
Beginner Lyra Sequencing
This class will explore technique, vocabulary, and creativity! If you have lyra experience, you will approach new and established paths of hoop movement. For newcomers, you will learn basic moves as well as safe and comfortable lyra navigation. If you are looking for a deep dive class into individual moves, Caroline Daniels’ beginner lyra class is also a great place for you! Pre-requisites: None!
Beginner Silks Sequencing
This class will explore movement through different shapes on a silk. You will explore technique, vocabulary, and creativity! If you already have silks experience, you will explore different approaches to moving in and out of established skills. Newcomers will learn basic moves as well as safe and comfortable navigation in and out of those moves. This class aims to help you build the creativity, transitions, and endurance for short routines. Pre-requisites: None.
Beginner Trapeze
This class is designed exclusively for beginner students! Trapeze is an amazing apparatus with similarities to sling and lyra. Every class will contain skills and growing choreography, along with conditioning exercises designed to improve challenging foundational skills such as straight and bent arm hangs, pullovers, beneath-the-bar mounts, and various balances. Pre-reqs: NO ADV OR INT2 STUDENTS PLEASE!
Beginner/Intermediate Trapeze
In beginner/intermediate trapeze we will lay the groundwork for the fundamentals of working on a bar apparatus. We will spend time working on increasing body awareness, holding our own body weight, and making simple shapes look extraordinary. Join beginner trapeze to practice strength-building exercises, focus on healthy stretching habits, and do workouts that are actually fun! This class is great for first-timers and those who have been practicing trapeze for a while!
Intro to Contortion - Flex
This class is designed for students who aspire to contort, but aren't quite sure where to begin! Conditioning, stretching, foam-rolling, and active flex exercises will be utilized in this class. Whether your splits and backbends feel like distant dreams, or you are close but don't quite meet the requirements for our pre-existing contortion class, this is the class for you! Pre-reqs: None! *PLEASE only sign up for ONE contortion flex class per week!
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.
Strength and Flexibility
This class is an excellent choice for students who are brand new to aerial arts or for existing students looking to further develop their strength and active flexibility! We will utilize a variety of aerial apparatuses and props to strengthen and lengthen our muscles. Class material will change weekly but will always include callisthenic exercises and stretches that can be repeated at home. Do you have any specific aerial-related goals? Share them with your instructor and you will receive personalized exercises to target them!
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.
AcroYoga
AcroYoga is a form of partner acrobatics that is fun and accessible for anyone! It combines elements of yoga acrobatics and thai massage. No experience is required and you don't need to come with a partner. We work in groups of three: A base a flyer and a spotter. We make sure that everyone gets the opportunity to try all three of these positions with each move and we usually shuffle the groups up randomly throughout the class. This class involves physical contact so good personal hygeine is a requirement. Open to ages 15+.
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
Queer Circus Jam
Welcome to the circus! The second Sunday of each month we host a donation-based space for queer artists and those new to or curious about circus to come explore movement with guidance from two of our super cool queer instructors. Come explore pole lyra sling trapeze silks or take time to work on handstands juggling acro stretching or anything else that strikes your fancy! This space is open to all folks who identify as LQBTQIA non-binary trans and more! We welcome all bodies and abilities. 14+ all bodies welcome no-sign up required no experience necessary. If you create an account on our website you may sign up in advance and will be able to digitally fill out the waiver. If you do not create an account we will need you to come a little early so you can fill out a waiver in person. We can host up to 12 people and we are so excited to see you!
Juggling
We have a free, casual juggling group for adults! If you are interested in getting more information our juggling group, please contact us at (423) 212-6622.
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.
Intermediate 2/Advanced Lyra
This class is suitable for aerialists with pre-existing experience on lyra. Students are expected to be self-motivated and willing to do challenging conditioning exercises, as dynamic skills that require spotting from a coach will be introduced regularly. Release moves/drops will be introduced, but for students who are averse, we will also introduce various rolls, balances, and longer sequences built from beginner/intermediate material. Prereq: Pull-up, and pull over
Open Gym
Open gym time for instructors only.
Aerial Dance
Deep-dive with me into the world of aerial dance! Are you seeing TikToks and Instagram reels of gorgeous transitions, innovative pathways, and inventive concepts and feeling intrigued? We will work to find movement that highlights your strengths and challenges you as an artist in this class. We will explore concepts that grows your perspective of the possibilities at your fingertips as an artist. In addition, we will utilize both pre-created choreography and improvisation to create pieces that further above stated goals. Pre-requisites: MINTAKEN 20 classes of any apparatus. Can be any mix of aerial apparatus.
Intermediate Bar Apparatus
This class will dabble in a variety of bar apparatuses including trapeze, lyra, and wheel. Students may be asked to utilize a shared apparatus at the same time as a partner and manually support eachother (with hands-on spotting from a coach). A strong sense of body awareness is required to keep students safe. Students will execute skills using the apparatus ropes / span sets. As such we will be expand on material learned from various other beginner-level classes. Pre-Requisites: Ability to execute a pullover unassisted. Ability to safely hang from two knees without using hands. Ability to hold body up in a tuck position with bent arms.
Intermediate/Advanced Sling
Designed for those with aerial experience and with a reasonable inversion. We will learn a lot of new vocabulary build phrases and have buckets of fun in the process.
Advanced Silks
This class is suitable for aerialists with substantial pre-existing experience on silks. Endurance and conditioning will be emphasized in this class, with the goal of learning drops and incorporating them into longer, more strenuous sequences than previous silks classes. Students are encouraged to wear unitards/leotards and pants, or tight thick clothing that covers their abdomen and knees.Pre-reqs: strength and vocabulary to stay in air for 5 minutes
Contortion Acro
In this class, we will move beyond basic flexibility training and into the balance and skill required to execute skills such as: basic tumbling, handstands, walkovers, chest stands, group pyramids, and standing scales. Calisthenic exercises will be introduced to increase safe range motion and stability. It is encouraged but not required to also attend Contortion Flex. Prereqs: instructor approval, ability to hold a bridge/backbend/wheel pose for 30+ seconds, willingness to hold body weight on ones hands.
Contortion/Flexibility
In this class, we will move beyond basic flexibility training and into longer, more intense stretches designed to execute skills such as: oversplits, backbends, straddles, standing scales. Calisthenic exercises will be introduced to increase safe range of motion and stability. Students are encouraged to wear warm layers of clothing. Prereqs: Instructor Approval, ability to hold a bridge/backbend/wheel pose for 30+ seconds, ability to hold split for 90+ seconds (does not have to be flat!)
Intermediate Aerial
This class is suitable for aerialists with pre-existing experience on any variety of circus disciplines. 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. Classes will incorporate a blend of learning new skills and executing beginner skills within longer sequences.
Novice/Intermediate 1
Somewhere between my Beginner class and Sam's Intermediate class. We'll work on more complex transitions, a handful of small drops, more dynamic skills, and longer sequences. More challenging conditioning will be introduced and utilized. Pre-requisites: Willing to work towards more challenging mounts. Must have a solid double knee hang, and willing to work on hanging with straight arms and bent arms. If you want curriculum heavier on rolls, drops, dives, balances, and all things advanced at a more challenging level, consider Sam's Intermediate 2/Advanced Lyra class. Please reach out via the NOCA phone number if you are not sure which class is right for you. Feel free to take both classes if you are already very experienced in lyra and consistently working at an intermediate or advanced level.
Novice/Intermediate 1 Lyra
Somewhere between my Beginner class and Sam's Intermediate class. We'll work on more complex transitions, a handful of small drops, more dynamic skills, and longer sequences. More challenging conditioning will be introduced and utilized. Pre-requisites: Willing to work towards more challenging mounts. Must have a solid double knee hang, and willing to work on hanging with straight arms and bent arms. If you want curriculum heavier on rolls, drops, dives, balances, and all things advanced at a more challenging level, consider Sam's Intermediate 2/Advanced Lyra class. Please reach out via the NOCA phone number if you are not sure which class is right for you. Feel free to take both classes if you are already very experienced in lyra and consistently working at an intermediate or advanced level.