Cool NYC Kids Classes: Circus Arts

My daughter got it into her head that she wants to take circus classes as an afterschool program this year. I can't imagine why, unless it's the influence of my flame-juggling husband or my penny-swallowing son.

But, anyway, I think this could be a cool thing. Similar to drama or theater classes, circus arts can help build kids' confidence and be creative, plus it's physical, fun and quirky. I thought I would share the three contenders for cool-sounding circus after school programs for kids offering everything from acrobatics to clowning and stilt-walking. Like my life doesn't have enough chaos already.

Circus Minimus

You can't spend two seconds on this Upper West Side school's website without wanting to sign up for these classes immediately. There's something for everyone. For Harry Potter fans, there's Wizardry 101. For yogis, there's CircusYoga and CircusYoga for families (why should kids have all the fun?). But the star of their repertoire is the Circus Kids Create program, where kids learn how to put on their own circus and get to perform it for their families at the end of the session. Circus Minimus classes sound so fun and great for kids you'll be doctoring your passport so you can go too.

Gymstars

Gymstars offers circus-centered gymnastics classes plus many other circus skills for children aged 2-10 years. Kids can learn acrobatics, juggling, clowning, face painting, stilts, magic, plate spinning (don't try that at home), human pyramids and more. Gymstars classes are offered at different locations around Brooklyn including Kiddie Korner in Brooklyn Heights.

MMAC

Manhattan Movement & Arts Center is a beautiful, brand new facility on the Upper West Side offering many dance, movement and art classes for kids and baby and me classes for parents and babies. One such offering is their Circus Aerial class for kids. This is the only aerial arts class that I know of in New York that is specifically designed for kids. The classes are offered for kids aged 5 and up and are offered after school and also on weekends. What could be cooler than flying through the air with the greatest of ease?

I hope this post inspired you to try a circus arts class for your child, or maybe to find some other cool class or activity. We'll keep posting about them as we find them. But to see dozens more after school classes and programs for children of all ages, check out our Classes Guide.