Secret Circus is a community arts center organization that specializes in the art of Aerial Dance. Along with artist residencies, performance opportunities, we also offer classes for Kids and Adults in Aerial Arts, and other circus disciplines like Handstands, Cyr Wheel, Partner Acrobatics, and Flexibility with the goal of developing the art of circus in Philadelphia.

Want to apply for a residency? Reach out to us at info@secretcirc.us. We also have training space and times available for traveling or visiting artists.

We do not rent out our space.

Aerial Class Levels & Offerings:

For NEW STUDENTS creating an account, EACH PARTICIPANT MUST REGISTER & ENROLL THEMSELVES! ADULTS MAY NOT PAY FOR OR REGISTER ANOTHER ADULT TO TAKE CLASS! You are welcome to buy a gift card for a friend- but each person must have their own, individual Secret Circus MindBody account to make sure we have their personal information saved for safety and they need to read and sign the waiver. Creating a family account will still not allow you to sign up other adults. Family accounts are reserved for families with children taking classes. If you try to make a family account for your friends it will not work!

Adults may use a gift card from a friend to pay for a lesson- but this all should be done before the day of the class you plan to take. We can not separate transactions from a single receipt, so we can’t split one transaction up amount friends.

Cancellation Policy:
Students may self-cancel 24 hours before the start of the class without penalty. The class pass will be added into your account for later use (up to 2 months.) If you cancel after 24 hours prior to class you will not get the class card credited back and will receive no refund.

Our aerial program is designed for all skill levels, from complete beginners to advanced students. Our levels are Level 1 (Beginner): All students, regardless of prior experience in other movement arts, start here. Level 1.5: By coach recommendation after approximately 8–24 Level 1 classes. Level 2 (Intermediate) & Level 2.5 (Intermediate/Advanced), and Level 3 (Advanced): Progression by skill mastery and instructor approval.

Most of our classes rotate weekly through different aerial apparatuses, including: Rope, Silks, Sling, Lyra, and Trapeze. At higher levels, you may also work on specialty apparatuses like rope loop or round-sling loops, & straps. We also offer Flying pole classes for brand new beginners to Advanced students. Some coaches will offer Fling Pole in their class rotations.

• Aerial Arts (what we teach) is a blend of acrobatics, dance, and theater on various apparatuses. Students will learn fundamental techniques to invert, climb, wrap, and perform skills, and tricks in the air.

We off a few types of Enrollment options:

1. Session Enrollment (every 8–13 weeks)

   • Automatically enrolled for all weeks in the session

   • Guaranteed weekly spot in class

   • 2-3 make-up classes per session (with 24-hour notice)

   • All Session students (including Level 1) get Open Gym access

   • Discounted tickets for our shows

2. Drop-In Enrollment

   • Available after Session Enrollment closes

   • First come, first served

   • Online enrollment closes 4 hours before class, but must meet minimum required number of students to run by 24 hours prior.

   • Kids’ classes must be booked at least one day in advance (no same-day sign-ups). If Kids want to sign up same day there will be a $5 “late-spin” Fee.

Want to know where to find all the info on our website:

First off you can see pricing, class descriptions, schedule, apparatus rotation etc on our website: SIGN UP PAGE

We have a great FAQ page that can help answer a variety of questions.

As mentioned above, each student must register themselves in order to take a class. This ensures they have read the waiver, and have filled out their personal required fields. 

You can however purchase an e-gift card to send to a friend. Purchase those HERE

We do not offer Aerial yoga. Aerial yoga is the practice of vinyasa yoga using an aerial hammock to aid in poses. We teach Aerial Circus Arts. This is a much more acrobatic and artistic discipline. Our classes rotate each week on Aerial rope, silks, sling, lyra/hoop, and single or static trapeze.

You can see what apparatus each class is on in the "Apparatus rotation calendar" on our sign-up page.

See our full Drop-in class schedule HERE

If you have no experience you would sign up for a LEVEL-1 BEGINNER CLASS for a standard aerial class, or some INTRO classes: Intro to FLYING POLE, ALL-LEVEL CYR WHEEL for other disciplines.

We offer level-1 classes 7 days a week, you can drop-in to any Level-1 class that has space, just make sure to sign up by 24 hours prior to the class to make sure it gets its minimum of 2 students to run.

See all our pricing info HERE.

Have more Questions?
We’re happy to help you choose the right class or find the perfect schedule—just reach out!

About Secret Circus

Secret Circus is a school for contemporary aerial arts training, located in the vibrant North Philadelphia Warehouse District. Our light-filled studio boasts 27-foot ceilings, 13 adjustable wire-rope rigging points, and 2 static points—perfect for a wide range of apparatus work.

Safety First
Student safety is our top priority. All rigging was professionally installed by a certified rigger and is regularly inspected and updated. Our founder, Niff Nicholls, brings decades of aerial experience and has completed multiple rigging and safety courses, including certification from the National Circus School in Montreal.

A Space for Everyone
We are a safe, welcoming space for the LGBTQIA+ community, and we strive for inclusivity, kindness, and respect. If you cannot uphold these values, our space is not for you.

Our Philosophy
At Secret Circus, we focus on progression and artistry. We don’t just teach tricks—we teach you why and how skills work, empowering you to create your own movement and artistry in the air.

Why Train With Us?
Because we genuinely love teaching. Our experienced, vetted coaches have been training for years and bring both technical skill and creative inspiration to every class. We know what we’re doing, and we can’t wait to see you fly.

📧 Questions? Email us at info@secretcirc.us