NOCA Student / Instructor Handbook

• Universal Rules
• NOCA is a safe space. All members of our community deserve to be treated with respect while at any NOCA facility or event.
• No one should be disrespected or treated differently because of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, physical abilities, disabilities, or body type.
• NOCA is a body-positive community. Our goal is to make our classes accessible for everyone, regardless of age, body type, fitness level, or physical abilities. It's unavoidable that different bodies will sometimes experience our classes differently, and that's ok. However, it is important that all members of our community make every reasonable effort to support and respect people of all body types, and to be thoughtful and understanding about the sensitive nature of these topics.
• NOCA is an LGBTQ-friendly, sex-positive community. Homophobia, transphobia, slut shaming, kink shaming, hate speech, bullying, or any other form of disrespect based on a person's sexual orientation, gender identity, or body shape/size will not be tolerated.
• Violation of the rules above by any member of our community is taken very seriously, and may result in disciplinary actions including suspension or expulsion at the owner's discretion.
• Occurrences that take place outside of a NOCA facility or event are generally outside of our purview. However, we reserve the right to ban or expel anyone from NOCA based on credible reports of threatening or violent behavior, harassment/stalking, hate speech, or other conduct that materially impacts the safety of our community. Such reports will be handled by the owner on a case-by-case basis.
• In a NOCA class, the instructor is ultimately in charge. Students are welcome and encouraged to discuss class structure and policies with instructors as they see fit, both during class or in private conversations outside of class. More extensive, in-depth discussions of NOCA class structures and policies must take place privately outside of class time. It must be understood that it is not possible for an instructor to have an in-depth discussion on class policies or structures during a regular group class with other students present.
• Interpersonal issues:
• This section pertains to disagreements that are purely interpersonal in nature and don't fall under other violations of rules in this handbook.
• It is understood that anywhere a community exists, disagreements and interpersonal issues will occur. In some cases, NOCA management may choose to take an active role in mediating such disagreements; in other cases we may choose to stay hands-off. Regardless, it is not our responsibility to fix interpersonal problems if no rules are being violated.
• If an interpersonal problem is ongoing and persistent, the owner reserves the right to impose disciplinary actions equally against all responsible parties, including expulsion in severe cases.
• Health & contagious illness policies:
• We take contagious illness seriously (including COVID-19, flu, and other respiratory illnesses). Policies may change over time based on current public health conditions and risk to our community.
• Current health-related policies and procedures will be listed on the NOCA website, in outgoing confirmation emails, and/or on signage at the studio. All posted policies and procedures must be followed.
• Disagreeing with a health-related policy is not justification for disregarding it. Willful disregard of posted policies will not be tolerated from any member of our community.
• Universal rules of safety when training aerial arts:
• NEVER train alone. There must, at all times, be someone present who can help you if you are hurt.
• NEVER try new moves you saw in videos online without the guidance of a professional aerial instructor who is familiar with that specific move.
• NEVER train on unsafe rigging. Safe aerial rigging must be installed by a professional aerial rigger, and may require approval by a structural engineer. Residential structures are typically not appropriate for aerial rigging without major, expensive modifications.
• NEVER rig from trees. This is extremely dangerous. It's impossible to reliably confirm a tree's internal health, and the forces created in aerial rigging are easy to underestimate.
• Teaching or performing aerial arts takes years of extensive, formal, in-person training from a reputable aerial studio. Teaching or performing prematurely before you've reached an adequate level of training and skill is extremely dangerous.
• NOCA reserves the right to deny access to its services to students or instructors who are found to be knowingly violating these basic safety principles, even if this is occurring outside of our facility, when it reasonably indicates a safety risk to the NOCA community.
• Definitions:
• Updated February 2026:
• "The owner" refers to Craig Lewis.
• "Artistic and Executive Director" refers to Vianna Isbister.
• "Studio Manager" refers to Caroline Daniels.
• "Show Lead" (or "Production Lead") refers to the person appointed by the owner for a specific NOCA performance or showcase, if applicable.
• "Management" or "we" refers to the owner and designated studio management collectively.
• "Instructors" refers to anyone currently on NOCA payroll as an instructor.
• "Students" refers to anyone signed up online through CircusDB for a NOCA class.
• "Observers" refers to anyone present inside the studio or lobby during a NOCA class, private lesson, or rehearsal who is not signed up for that activity, and therefore should not be participating.
• "Employees" refers to any member of management who is acting as an employee in that capacity.
• "NOCA" refers to Night Owl Circus Arts LLC.
• Students
• You're here to learn. Not to show off your skills. Act accordingly. Leave your ego at the door. Don't be competitive. Don't compare anyone's abilities or journey as an aerialist to your own. Support your peers in their journey, regardless of how it compares to your own.
• Work on the skill being taught, using the apparatus being taught, and nothing else. Classes are a structured learning environment and should not be used like open gym.
• Do not teach other students. This includes spotting, or telling other students how to do a move. When a student is in the air, the only person interacting with that student in any way should be the instructor. Once the student is back on the ground, it's ok to provide constructive artistic feedback if invited to, but not technical guidance. In some limited scenarios, instructors may specifically invite students to assist each other; this must be structured, supervised, and done with close instructor oversight.
• Stay off the equipment before the class starts, and after it ends.
• Students must be sober and not impaired at all times. Any indication of impairment from alcohol, THC, illegal drugs, or misused prescription drugs prior to attending a NOCA class is grounds for removal from class and potential disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion.
• NOCA instructors taking classes as a student should act purely as a student at all times. Instructors should not use their role as a NOCA instructor to receive different treatment during a NOCA class. Instructors should not try to help teach the class unless the instructor of that class has explicitly requested their assistance during that particular class.
• Pregnancy policy (safety-first):
• Important: NOCA is not a medical provider and cannot give medical advice. Participation while pregnant is ultimately a decision between you and your licensed healthcare provider. However, NOCA may limit or decline participation in certain classes based on the risk profile of the activity, instructor scope, and our safety standards.
• Beginner-level aerial / pole / acroyoga: Because beginner-level training commonly involves learning new skills, unexpected loss of balance, and higher fall risk, we generally cannot offer aerial, pole, or acroyoga classes for beginner-level pregnant students. (Many general pregnancy activity guidelines advise avoiding sports/activities where falling is likely.)
• Current / non-beginner students (case-by-case): If you are already training with us and become pregnant, continued participation may be considered on a case-by-case basis only with instructor approval and, when requested, written clearance from your OB/GYN or midwife. We may restrict you to specific class types, require modifications, or recommend pausing aerial training entirely.
• Ground-based classes: For ground-based classes with no aerial component, please contact us in advance at (423) 212-6622 before purchasing credits. We may request written medical clearance depending on the class intensity and your training history.
• Medical restrictions / complications: If your healthcare provider has advised you to restrict activity, avoid exercise, or you are experiencing complications that increase risk, you may not participate during pregnancy. Risk mitigation is our highest priority.
• Required communication: If you are pregnant and attending any class, please inform your instructor in advance so they can offer appropriate modifications and keep you safe. (We do not need private details—just enough information to coach safely.)
• Common safety modifications (not exhaustive): In general, pregnant aerialists should avoid active inversions and high-compression abdominal work. Examples of skills to avoid may include: straddle mounts on bar apparatuses, shoulder mount or knee hook mounts on pole, and straddle/spider climbs on vertical apparatuses. Examples of conditioning to avoid may include: high-intensity abdominal warmups such as crunches, hollow-body holds, tuck-ups, long planks, heavy oblique work, etc. Your instructor may further modify your training depending on what they observe in class.
• Flexibility: We may encourage active flexibility and strength-based range of motion over aggressive passive stretching. Keep muscles engaged and prioritize stability.
• No new skills + lower height: We ask that you learn no new skills while pregnant. Pregnancy can be a good time to reinforce existing skills, maintain strength, and build a foundation for post-partum return. We may also require you to work closer to the ground to reduce fall consequence.
• Post-partum return: Return varies widely by person and medical context. We strongly recommend returning only after medical clearance and rebuilding gradually. We may request a doctor’s note—especially for earlier returns, cesarean recovery, pelvic floor concerns, or suspected abdominal separation/diastasis-related issues. When returning, we’ll focus on rebuilding strength and stability, reinforcing fundamentals, and progressing conservatively.
• Jewelry / piercings:
• Students must remove ALL jewelry or piercings that could catch or snag. This includes, but is not limited to: rings, necklaces, earrings, watches, toe rings, and surface piercings. Reasonable exceptions may be made for VERY small piercings that pose no realistic snag risk; this decision is made at the student's own risk.
• If a piece of jewelry or piercing truly cannot be removed, it must be securely covered with a bandage or tight clothing that remains in place throughout class. This is a last resort and still presents risk. This decision is made at the student's own risk.
• Open Gym policies
• Open gym is a time for our students to freely use the equipment to practice skills on their own which they have learned in our classes.
• To attend open gym, you must be over age 16 and have taken at least 10 NOCA aerial classes on your chosen apparatus (with the most recent within the past 30 days), plus instructor permission.
• Teaching during open gym is not permitted, either by students or instructors. Providing purely artistic guidance is acceptable if everyone's feet are on the ground.
• Trying new moves you saw online is, as always, not permitted.
• Students must be trained on the specific apparatus they want to use. Example: if you've only taken silks classes, you can't use the lyra at open gym without lyra training.
• Arriving while another class is in progress:
• Please enter quietly and follow posted signage and instructor direction.
• Enter no more than 10 minutes before your class start time unless you have prior approval.
• If an instructor asks you to wait before entering a room, please do so. This is often for safety (active movement, spotting, music cues, etc.).
• Cancellation policies:
• If you cancel more than 24 hours before class, your class credit will automatically go back into your account. This is an “early cancel”.
• If you cancel within 24 hours of the class start time, or don't show up for your class, you will lose your class credit. Exceptions are as follows:
• If your instructor cancels the class, your class credit will automatically go back into your account.
• If you are the only person signed up for a class, you can early cancel online any time earlier than one hour before start time.
• If there is inclement weather that affects your ability to reach the studio safely, let us know and we will generally record this as an “excused” cancel, meaning the credit will go back into your account. If you don't let us know and simply don't show up, this is recorded as a no-show.
• If the instructor for your class changes unexpectedly during the 24 hours prior to class, you may have the option to receive an “excused” cancel if you let us know.
• We generally give ONE “freebie” on someone's first late cancel. This does not apply to no-shows. This is done solely at management's discretion on a case-by-case basis.
• We do NOT make exceptions for sickness, injuries, transportation issues, or other circumstances, except where management determines an exception is appropriate for safety (for example, contagious illness guidance posted by NOCA).
• If a student is injured (including minor injuries) during a class and prefers to leave early, we will generally record this as an “excused” cancel, as long as the injury is confirmed by the instructor and was not caused by reckless behavior by the student.
• We generally treat cancellations as “excused” when they are reported as being related to a contagious illness concern (exposure, symptoms, or quarantine guidance). These exceptions are made by management on a case-by-case basis.
• Since the unlimited subscription does not provide the same built-in incentive as class packages to avoid cancellations, you MUST keep your late cancel rate under 15% in order to maintain an unlimited subscription. If your late cancel rate is over 15%, you'll receive a warning by email. 30 days after this, if your late cancel rate is still over 15%, your unlimited subscription may be canceled. You will be allowed to finish out the remainder of your current payment period that you've already paid for, but will not be able to renew. After that point, you'll need to switch to class packages.
• Your cancel rate is calculated as the number of times you've no-showed or late canceled in the history of your account, divided by the total number of classes you've signed up for. We find that ~5% is the average cancel rate. Your cancel rate affects a lot of things. Examples include:
• How far ahead you can see on the class schedule may vary automatically based on your cancel rate and other factors, including how many total classes you've taken at NOCA. This allows our most reliable students to get first choice on class spots.
• If your cancel rate is high, we are less likely to consider you for performances, showcases, or teacher training. For these things, we want to know that you're reliable.
• We are less likely to have leniency on late cancel policies if your late cancel rate is high.
• If you arrive to class more than 5 minutes late, you are considered tardy. It is completely at the instructor's discretion whether to allow you to participate in class. If your instructor chooses not to allow you to attend, you will be recorded as a no-show. If they do allow you to attend, you will be recorded as “tardy”. Warm-up is an extremely important part of class and is crucial for your safety and injury prevention.
• In certain non-aerial classes or open gym, some instructors may choose not to use the “tardy” feature at their discretion if late arrivals are of no consequence. This is a rare exception that only applies to specific classes at the instructor's discretion.
• Other registration policies:
• NOCA does not provide refunds under any circumstances unless required by law. Class credits have no cash value.
• Class packages can be transferred only if they are “intact”, meaning no class credits in the package have been used and the entire package is being transferred in full.
• Multiple students cannot share a class package or subscription. This includes siblings and family members.
• Subscriptions (when offered) are paid for through our online system using the available payment methods shown at checkout. Payment methods and processors may change over time.
• For new students, we are happy to help with online registration and getting your account set up. Ultimately, students must use our online system for purchasing credits, signing up for classes, and canceling. NOCA does not have a full-time receptionist, and it can become burdensome to manage accounts manually long-term. If a student or parent habitually requests tasks that can be completed using the online system, we reserve the right to refuse that service.
• Class credits from packages expire 1 year after purchase, unless otherwise noted at the time of purchase.
• Aerial class credits can be exchanged for private lesson credits at an exchange rate of 4 circus = 1 private.
• Fitness class credits can be exchanged for aerial class credits at an exchange rate of 2 fitness = 1 circus.
• In the event of NOCA closing permanently:
• Any refund-related handling will be communicated by management and will be subject to applicable law. This section is intended as a general guideline and may be adjusted as needed.
• Unused class credits purchased within the last 90 days from the date of the last class may be refunded upon request within 30 days of the last class. Packages or subscriptions may be prorated.
• Unused class credits purchased within the range of 150-91 days prior to NOCA's last class may be refunded at a rate of 50% upon request within 30 days of the last class.
• Unused class credits purchased longer than 150 days prior to the closing date will not be refunded.
• In the event of NOCA closing temporarily (for example, building issues or public health restrictions):
• No refunds will be given, except for pending individual class credits that were purchased specifically for a canceled class and are eligible for refund by request.
• Class credits will remain in your account when we re-open. If you have credits with expiry dates, we'll extend those expiry dates by the length of our closure when reasonably possible.
• The price of the monthly unlimited subscription has changed several times over the past few years. If you maintain an active subscription, price changes will not affect you (you are grandfathered in). If you cancel your subscription for a week or more and later wish to re-subscribe, you may lose your grandfathered status and need to re-subscribe at the current price.
• Student Drug Policy
• Students are expected to be sober and not impaired at all times when attending class. If an instructor or management believes a student may be impaired in a way that creates a safety risk, the student will be asked to leave for the day. Repeated or severe violations may result in suspension or expulsion.
• Bringing illegal drugs onto NOCA property is not permitted and may result in immediate expulsion. In severe cases, law enforcement may be contacted.
• Prescription medication: Students may attend class while using prescribed medication as directed, so long as it does not impair judgment, coordination, or safety. If a medication may cause impairment, the student must not participate until it is safe to do so.
• Students are under absolutely NO obligation to share medical or mental health information with management. If you voluntarily share information, we will keep it as confidential as reasonably possible, except where needed for safety or emergency response.
• Safe, moderate recreational use of legal substances outside the studio is not our concern, so long as you are not impaired and are not in possession of illegal substances while at NOCA.
• Observers (including parents / family members):
• Observers are not permitted during any classes with a sensual element, such as Pole classes, Sexy Floorwork, etc - even if the class they're there to observe is not that class.
• Observers are not permitted during any class with an element of relaxation or meditation, such as Aerial Yoga.
• Observers are not permitted while any class is taking place in the NOCA lobby.
• Observers may be denied access for reasons that relate to current health-related policies, which may change over time.
• Any instructor may request that observers not be permitted for any class they teach.
• Observers must stay in the lobby unless given explicit instructor permission to enter the studio. Permission to enter the studio will only be given in limited special cases and can be revoked at any time.
• Observers may use the bathroom in the studio. In this case, observers must minimize their time in the studio so as not to disrupt the class.
• If observers are present on a hot day, the lobby door may remain open to allow airflow. Otherwise, the lobby door must remain closed any time observers are present.
• Observers may not take photos or videos during classes without explicit permission from the class instructor and from all people appearing in the photos, including people who may inadvertently appear in the background.
• Observers may NOT interact with students in a class in ANY way, except under the following circumstances:
• The instructor has specifically given permission for a given circumstance, such as a designated time for photos at the end of class.
• A student has a serious physical injury, medical emergency, or mental health crisis, and the observer is rendering aid.
• A minor student is disrupting the class or exhibiting serious behavioral issues, and the parent / guardian is stepping in to remove them from the class.
• Observers may not touch any equipment in the studio or lobby, including aerial equipment, mats, rigging equipment, and ladders.
• Children observing classes:
• Children ages 17 or under must be supervised by a parent/guardian (or a person designated by a parent/guardian age 18+) at all times and must remain in the lobby at all times. If the child becomes disruptive, they must be escorted outside until the incident is resolved.
• For children over 12, this designated person may be a participant in the class. For children under 12, the person designated to supervise the minor may NOT be a student in the class. Exceptions may be made solely by the owner.
• ALL minors under 18 observing a class require instructor approval to be in the NOCA lobby. Any NOCA instructor may request at any time that minors leave the studio if they feel the minor is being disruptive, even if the above rules are being followed. If this forces an adult parental student to leave their class, no refund will be provided.
• All minor observers may enter the studio to use the bathroom as needed, but ages 12 and under MUST be directly and closely supervised by an adult when entering the studio.
• Leadership Roles
• Owner (Craig Lewis)
• Primary focus: safety, risk management, legal/financial oversight, and the technical infrastructure that keeps NOCA running day-to-day (even when not physically in the studio).
• Oversees rigging installation, inspection, maintenance, and approves any changes to rigging systems or hardware.
• Sets and maintains safety standards and all major business policies (including enrollment, cancellations, conduct, and facility rules).
• Oversees incident response: ensures incidents are documented and reported appropriately (incident reports, insurance notification, follow-up, and coordination with emergency services and family/emergency contacts as needed). In any urgent situation, anyone present should call 911 immediately (or delegate someone to do so).
• Handles high-stakes or escalated issues: serious complaints, safety concerns, harassment/violence, repeated policy violations, major interpersonal conflict, and personnel actions when necessary.
• Maintains and develops the technical back end of CircusDB and NOCA's website (registration, payments, schedules, reporting, and system reliability).
• Oversees business administration: taxes, accounting coordination, bookkeeping oversight, compliance, and LLC/legal structure.
• Manages NOCA's contracts, waivers, and legal risk management (including policy decisions and handbook updates).
• Manages general liability insurance and any additional insurance needs; ensures timely reporting and documentation when required.
• Makes final decisions on major purchases, pricing structure, and long-range strategy.
• Provides escalation support and operational coverage for the Executive Director and Studio Manager as needed, especially for time-sensitive safety or business-critical issues.
• Note: Craig is not always available for routine day-to-day questions because much of this work happens off-site; for the fastest response, start with the Studio Manager or Executive Director as appropriate.
• Artistic & Executive Director (Vianna Isbister)
• Primary focus: instructor leadership, program quality, studio culture, and consistent day-to-day operations.
• Immediate supervisor for all instructors: performance expectations, coaching/support, and accountability.
• Leads instructor onboarding, training, and continuing education; sets standards for class structure, safety culture, and student experience.
• Oversees programming and artistic direction (including showcases/performances when applicable): curriculum development, show planning, casting support, and rehearsal expectations.
• Acts as the primary escalation point for instructor-facing operational questions (policies, equipment workflow, studio systems, and unusual edge cases).
• Coordinates payroll preparation and contractor payments (and/or validates hours/records) to ensure timely, accurate pay.
• Partners with the Studio Manager on customer service standards and workflow; steps in on sensitive or complex student issues when needed.
• Supports marketing and community engagement efforts (social media, announcements, studio communications), ensuring messaging matches NOCA's voice and policies.
• Studio Manager (Caroline Daniels)
• Primary focus: front-line administration, scheduling logistics, communication coverage, and keeping the facility operational and stocked.
• Answers calls/texts to the main NOCA phone number as scheduled; routes issues to the right person when escalation is needed.
• Manages class scheduling logistics: schedule setup, substitutions, cancellations workflow, and day-to-day calendar coordination.
• Handles routine customer service: account questions, registration help, basic policy clarifications, and directing students to the correct resources.
• Ensures ongoing stock and readiness of studio supplies (e.g., rosin, tape, cleaning supplies, first aid supplies) and flags larger needs to leadership.
• Coordinates routine admin tasks and can be routinely hired for hourly administrative work under the Executive Director (up to 4 hours/month, with additional hours by request when needed).
• Show Lead (appointed per production, when applicable)
• Oversee rehearsal/performance safety in coordination with the owner and instructors.
• Schedule rehearsals and communicate attendance expectations.
• Coordinate show flow (running order, rigging change planning, basic tech needs) and communicate to performers.
• Coordinate volunteers as needed for show day.
• Escalate major issues (safety, interpersonal conflict, client concerns) to management.
• Disciplinary Actions
• This section applies to every person that steps foot inside NOCA. We've used the term "students" for simplicity, but it applies to observers, performers, and instructors as well.
• "Suspension" refers to a temporary ban from NOCA classes. During a suspension, the person is not permitted to enter NOCA facilities for any reason. Classes already registered may be canceled, and exceptions will not be made for late cancel policy. Suspension length is determined by the owner. No refunds will be provided.
• "Expulsion" refers to a permanent ban from NOCA and is reserved for severe infractions. The person is no longer permitted on-site at NOCA in any capacity. A trespass notice may be served as appropriate. The person's CircusDB account may be locked, and they may be removed from NOCA community groups. No refunds will be provided.
• "Termination" refers to removing an instructor/employee role (or barring an individual from a show cast). They may still be welcome to participate at NOCA as a student in group classes, at the owner's discretion.
• For minor infractions, students generally receive up to three warnings (formal or informal). Instructors may record and date warnings in the student's notes in CircusDB. After repeated warnings, the owner may suspend or expel. Examples of minor infractions include:
• Attempting moves the instructor has explicitly told the student not to attempt.
• Attempting to teach other students in class.
• Being mildly disrespectful to an instructor or fellow student.
• Disrupting the experience of other students in class.
• Extremely high cancellation rates.
• For serious infractions, students may be expelled. Examples include:
• Sexual harassment or unwanted sexual comments.
• Racist, homophobic, transphobic, or body-shaming comments.
• Deliberately damaging NOCA equipment.
• Refusing to leave the premises when asked by an instructor or employee.
• Threats of violence.
• Major violation of NOCA substance impairment policies.
• Committing a crime on NOCA premises.