FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We have a year-round location in Washington, D.C. We are located in the Navy Yard neighborhood near the intersection of South Capitol Street Southeast and I Street Southeast. Our address is 10 I Street SE and the main entrance is located along South Capitol Street just past the Novel South Capitol apartment complex. Please note that this entrance is accessible by foot only from the sidewalk that runs along the east side of South Capitol Street!

There is some metered street parking surrounding CCCS. Parking lots within a few-block radius of CCCS provide paid public parking (hourly rates) on a first come, first served basis. During Nationals Park home games and events, parking becomes quite difficult and expensive.

Yes, there are multiple modes of public transportation that will get you to Capitol City Circus School: Metro The Navy Yard-Ballpark Metro (Green Line) is a few blocks away from CCCS. Follow the signs for the Nationals Park/M Street Exit to exit from the metro station. After exiting the station, turn left on M Street SE, then turn right onto Half Street SE. Walk three blocks, then turn left onto I Street SE. Walk one block then turn right onto the South Capitol Street Southeast sidewalk. You will pass an apartment complex, then you will see our entrance on the right side. Bus Several bus lines serve stops at the intersection of M Street SE/New Jersey Avenue SE, including MetroBus and Circulator's Union Station-Navy Yard Metro Line (via Capitol Hill). Bicycle/Capital Bikeshare Bike racks are located around the school and surrounding neighborhood, and Capital Bikeshare has multiple locations nearby. Visit the Capital Bikeshare website for full info on rates and locations.

From Baltimore & Points North of Washington D.C. (Baltimore, Laurel, Columbia) • Take the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (MD-295) into Washington, D.C., where MD-295 becomes State Hwy 295. • Continue on State Hwy to I-295 S/Anacostia Fwy S (note that MD-295 S / State Hwy 295 S / Anacostia Fwy S changes names several times but maintains the same highway/roadway). • Take the exit toward Suitland Pkwy. • Keep right to continue on Exit 4, follow signs for S Capitol St/Nationals Pk and merge onto Suitland Pkwy. • At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto S Capitol St SE. • Continue straight to stay on S Capitol St SE. • Turn right onto I St SE. • Our school is on the left (north side of I St SE) behind the Novel apartment complex. Our entrance is accessible by foot only from the sidewalk that runs parallel to the east side of South Capitol St. From Montgomery County/Frederick Area • Take I-270 S to I-495 S. • Take Exit 43-44 to VA-193/George Washington Memorial Parkway / Georgetown Pike toward Washington, and keep right at the fork to continue on Exit 43 for Geo Washington Memorial Pkwy/Washington. • Take the exit onto I-395 N toward Washington. • Keep left at the fork and continue on I-695. • Take exit 1A for S Capitol St toward Nationals Park. • Merge onto S Capitol St SW. • Make a loop: Turn right onto K St SW. Turn right onto Half St SW. Turn right onto I St SW. • Stay straight on I St SW and cross South Capitol St where I St SW becomes I St SE. • Our school is on the left (north side of I St SE) behind the Novel apartment complex. Our entrance is accessible by foot only from the sidewalk that runs parallel to the east side of South Capitol St. From Northern Virginia / I-66 • Take I-66E towards Washington, D.C. • Take exit 75 for VA-110 S toward I-395/US-1/Pentagon City/Crystal City/Reagan National Airport/Alexandria and continue on I-395 N to Washington. • Continue on I-395 N and follow signs for Capitol Hill/Nationals Pk/Verizon Ctr. • Keep left at the fork and continue on I-695. • Take exit 1A for S Capitol St toward Nationals Park. • Merge onto S Capitol St SW. • Make a loop: Turn right onto K St SW. Turn right onto Half St SW. Turn right onto I St SW. • Stay straight on I St SW and cross South Capitol St where I St SW becomes I St SE. • Our school is on the left (north side of I St SE) behind the Novel apartment complex. Our entrance is accessible by foot only from the sidewalk that runs parallel to the east side of South Capitol St. From Northern Virginia / I-395 • Take I-395N into Washington, D.C. • Continue on I-395 N and follow signs for Capitol Hill/Nationals Pk/Verizon Ctr. • Keep left at the fork and continue on I-695. • Take exit 1A for S Capitol St toward Nationals Park. • Merge onto S Capitol St SW. • Make a loop: Turn right onto K St SW. Turn right onto Half St SW. Turn right onto I St SW. • Stay straight on I St SW and cross South Capitol St where I St SW becomes I St SE. • Our school is on the left (north side of I St SE) behind the Novel apartment complex. Our entrance is accessible by foot only from the sidewalk that runs parallel to the east side of South Capitol St. From Northern Virginia (South of I-395) / George Washington Memorial Parkway • Take the George Washington Memorial Parkway North into Washington, D.C. • Continue on I-395 N and follow signs for Capitol Hill/Nationals Pk/Verizon Ctr. • Keep left at the fork and continue on I-695. • Take exit 1A for S Capitol St toward Nationals Park. • Merge onto S Capitol St SW. • Make a loop: Turn right onto K St SW. Turn right onto Half St SW. Turn right onto I St SW. • Stay straight on I St SW and cross South Capitol St where I St SW becomes I St SE. • Our school is on the left (north side of I St SE) behind the Novel apartment complex. Our entrance is accessible by foot only from the sidewalk that runs parallel to the east side of South Capitol St.

We understand that it can be difficult to navigate to our front entrance, especially the first time you attend a class or event. Our street address is 10 I St SE, but the entrance at that address is only for staff access. Please do not enter through this restricted gate. Our main student entrance is along the East sidewalk of South Capitol St. SE between I St SE and Virginia Ave. SE and very near to the 395/ 695 highway ramp. Please note that our main entrance is accessible only along this sidewalk and cannot be accessed directly by car. Students who drive should plan to park and walk to this entrance. To get to the main entrance of Capitol City Circus School from the gate at 10 I St. SE: Start by walking west along I st SE towards South Capitol St. SE Turn right onto South Capitol St. SE Walk along the sidewalk and past the Novel South Capitol apartment complex on your right You will see our white tent on the right and an entrance through the gate there. This is our main entrance.

Age: Most of our classes are open to participants ages 6 and up. Any classes or programs with narrower age requirements are clearly marked. We also have a few introductory classes open to ages 18 months to 6 years. Prerequisite Strength, Mobility, & Fitness: You don’t need to be incredibly strong, flexible, or coordinated to get started with circus! We start wherever you are, and work up from there. Weight Limit: There is no weight limit for aerial, trampoline, or ground classes. For flying trapeze only, we do have a weight limit of 220 lbs. More information about this is available in the FAQ below — Is there a weight limit? Flying Trapeze Only: In addition to the weight limit, there are a few other requirements that apply to flying trapeze only. Participants must be (1) able to hang from a bar with straight arms for 15 seconds with good muscular alignment; and (2) willing and able to be fitted with a tight safety belt situated between the hips and ribs, without the belt shifting up or down the body. Accessibility & Students with Disabilities: We can make a wide range of modifications to serve participants with physical, mental, or behavioral needs. If you have questions about which accommodations are available for a particular activity, or if an accommodation would make your class experience better, please reach out to us at info@capcitycircus.com for additional information. If you are unsure where to start your circus journey, our staff would be happy to guide you! Reach out to us at info@capcitycircus.com to discuss what class types would be the best fit for you!

There is no weight limit for aerial, trampoline, or ground classes. We aim to be a body-positive space, and we believe that people of all body types and sizes are capable of incredible feats. For flying trapeze only, we do have a weight limit of 220 lbs. Why? Our absolute top priority is the safety of our students and staff. Any limitations on participation, including our weight limit, reflect this priority and exist to mitigate risk of injury. Flying trapeze classes require that instructors hold students’ body weight, both on the platform for takeoff and with the safety lines while swinging and landing. This means that an instructor’s ability to keep students safe depends on their own body size and physical strength (among other factors). Therefore, despite thorough training, our instructors may be less able to keep a student safe if that student is beyond the stated weight limit. If you’re unsure how to get started with circus, remember that you’re always welcome to reach out to the office. We’re excited to help pick a class that’s right for you!

We love first time students! Check out our intro packages to get started and please reach out to us at info@capcitycircus.com for guidance about what class types are the best fit for you!

Beginners are welcome in any class type! So the question to ask yourself is which one gets your heart racing the most when you read the description? If you have questions about specific classes and what would be the best fit for you, contact us and we would be happy to provide guidance!

We have an age minimum of six years old for most of our classes. We also offer some introductory sessions for ages 18 months to 6 years. There is no age maximum - we've had class participants well into their seventies! All ages are welcome to observe class at any time.

We offer youth programming for ages 18 months through 16 , including drop in classes, workshops, and camps. Check out the Youth Program Tab for more information about our offerings. We also invite youth students to join any of our all levels classes as long as a designated adult stays on site with youth under 14.

We run week long summer day camps for ages 7 through 14 and two week intermediate and advanced camps for youth up to age 16. Camp registration typically takes place on February 1st and they often fill very quickly. 2024 camp information can be found here.

For our general drop in classes and workshops, we do ask that an adult stay on site with any children under the age of 14. Youth attending summer camps, All Day Circus Experience events, and Youth Performance Troupe practices will not need an adult with them.

We strive to give the joy of learning circus to as many people as possible. Call or email us and we'll discuss your specific situation and possible modifications or accommodations.

We recommend that students arrive 15 minutes in advance of the scheduled class start time in order to check in and get situated and to have time for pre-class warmups. If you find that you will arrive later than the start time of the class, please reach out to us so we can coordinate with instructors to incorporate you into class if possible. Students who arrive more than 15 minutes after the scheduled start time may be denied admittance and refunds will not be offered.

We recommend that students arrive at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start time of the class. We also understand that sometimes delays do happen. If you expect that you will arrive later than the start time of the class, please reach out to us at 202-479-6861 or info@capcitycircus.com so we can coordinate with instructors to incorporate you into class if possible. A student who arrives more than 15 minutes after the scheduled start time may be denied admittance to class, their spot in class may be ceded to another student, or their class may be canceled altogether. Late arrivals have missed important introductory information and/or the pre-class warm up and can not always be accommodated. The decision to deny a student participation in class is made by the lead instructor and is based on the instructor's assessment of whether the student can safely join the class. No refunds are granted for late arrivals, even if Capitol City Circus School LLC denies admittance to class or cancels the class altogether.

For all class types, snug fitting athletic clothing is recommended. It is often most comfortable to have your legs and underarms covered, so long pants (tights, yoga pants, snug sweat pants) and shirts with sleeves are a good idea. Some people also prefer to bring a long sleeved shirt to wear only when necessary. Socks with no toe separation are required for flying trapeze and trampoline classes and it is advisable to have sandals or flip flops to wear between turns for outdoor flying trapeze. If you have long hair, please pull it back with an elastic band (not a plastic hair clip). Please see individual class descriptions in our registration system for more details.

We love groups of all sizes! If you have a small group of interested students, each student can register individually through our registration system. The system does not currently allow for multiple signups under the same name. If you are looking to bring a larger group for a party, celebration, corporate event, or gathering, check out our Events page and contact us for more information and booking.

We do offer private lessons in most class types. These are ideal for folks who have specific goals they would like to work towards that are not easily accommodated in a group class setting and for those who would benefit from one on one instruction. To schedule a private lesson in an aerial art, trampoline, handstands, acrobatics, or juggling, please reach out to us at info@capcitycircus.com. We do not offer private flying trapeze lessons, but are happy to accommodate small groups on the flying trapeze.

We have a logbook, which is a resource for tracking progress and qualifying for upper level class types. Any student can sign up for a logbook account by clicking on the link here and creating a profile. Once you have a logbook, check in with your class instructors about signoffs and tracking your progress. The logbook applies to all class types.

You can definitely expect a supportive environment of both staff and students ready to cheer you on as you do things you never thought possible! Our classes are structured for participants to learn specific skills along carefully crafted curricula, so your class or event experience will include an introduction from the instructors and guided learning and practice of skills and drills. Your class will take place in our semi-permanent tent facility. Different class types will take place in the facility at the same time, so it can be busy! There may also be noises from our climate control system or from the highway through our tent walls.

All class, workshop, and event registrations will be completed through Wellness Living. To see the schedule, click "Sign up for a class" on our homepage or use this link. Once you select a class from the schedule, you will be prompted to register for a new profile or login to your existing profile to sign up. You may need to use the class type options along the top of the class schedule page to see all offerings.

To purchase a class pass or package for another person: Log in to your WellnessLiving Account or create one here. Go to the store and select "Single-Visit Pass" or “Class Pack” and select the pass(es) / package(s) to add your cart, then check out. Email info@capcitycircus.com and provide: the email address on your account, what was purchased as a gift, and the name of the recipient. We will send a PDF certificate for you to give as a gift. Once the gift has been given, the recipient can email info@capcitycircus.com. We will transfer the passes to their account. They will need their own account before we can transfer the pass.

Youth ages 6 and up are welcome to participate in our classes. They can register for class through our Wellness Living system. Each youth participant should have their own profile linked to a parent or guardian profile. Please make sure the birth date on each youth profile is accurate in order to see all options.

Wellness Living divides our class offerings into categories. Use the category options at the top of the class schedule screen to navigate.

Our classes range in price from $15 to $70 each. Prices are listed under each class type under the Our Classes tab.

We do offer both class packages and memberships for students who expect to take class regularly. Check out our Memberships and Class Packages tab for details about these options. In order to purchase any memberships or class packages, log in to Wellness Living or Click "Sign Up For a Class" on our homepage and go to Store

Currently, each student will need their own profile in order to register for a class. Family members can also set up linked profiles in the Wellness Living system. If you have a large group, please check out our Events page.

Our members can roll over up to one class per month to be used in the two (2) months. This means that if you only use 3 out of 4 monthly classes one month, you will have an extra one to use in either of the next two months. You will not be able to roll a class over for more than two months.

We host student and staff shows 3 to 4 times a year and sometimes also host professional performances. To purchase show tickets, go to your Wellness Living account and find the "Shows" category in the "Store" or use this direct link.

Our classes take place in a semi-permanent tent facility. On the outside, you will see a large white tent/ big top inside a fenced in lot. Inside the tent is one very large and tall room where all classes and activities take place. There are often many people in many different class areas using the space at the same time, which can be distracting or overwhelming for some. As it is one large space, it can be noisy since highway noises are audible as well as the noises of our systems and classes taking place. The facility has outdoor porta potty restrooms available for participants and guests, as well as indoor handwashing sinks and a water cooler for refilling water bottles. We do have some climate control in the space, but we also recommend dressing for the weather.

Yes! We have portable restrooms and hand washing stations on site. The restrooms are located outdoors through a side door a few steps from our tent.

We are very lucky to have both air conditioning and heat in our tent facility. The capacity of our climate control is somewhat limited, though, and we do recommend that students come prepared for the weather. Extra layers in the winter and plenty of water in the summer can be really helpful to stay comfortable.

Our facility is a semi-permanent tent structure and we have done our best to make it as comfortable and accessible as possible. There are no stairs outside or inside the facility. Our entrances are the width of a typical single door and may have a raised bottom door frame. Access to the restrooms (including our ADA porta potty) also requires passage through a similar door.

CCCS does not permit animals indoors at any time, with the exception of service animals. ADA recognized service animals are welcome any time, indoors or outdoors. Small, well-behaved pets such as dogs and cats are permitted for outdoor designated flying trapeze classes, subject to certain restrictions.

Yes! We host student shows as well as staff performances. Stay tuned to our social media for the most up to date information about upcoming shows!

Our facility is a semi-permanent tent structure with climate control, so we are able to run classes under most weather conditions. Occasionally, very low temperatures or winter weather may cause us to cancel a class. In the case of a class cancellation, we will notify all students at least 2 hours before the start time of the class and with more advance notice if possible. If a class is cancelled by us for weather or other circumstances, all students will be able to reschedule or receive a refund. We do have some limited climate control in our facility. We still do recommend that students come to class prepared for the weather, especially on days that are particularly warm or particularly cold.

Classes, workshops, and events that are cancelled within the time frame specified by our cancellation policy will be credited back to the student account and can be rescheduled before the expiration date specified on the credit. Please see policy details below for each class type. NO-SHOW Any student who does not cancel a class ahead of time using their Wellness Living account and does not attend is considered a no show. Refunds/reschedules will not be given for no-shows. REGULAR DROP-IN CLASSES With at least 72 Hours' Notice Cancel your class and book a new class by logging into your Wellness Living account. Less than 72 Hours' Notice Late cancel your class by logging into your Wellness Living account. No refunds or reschedules are available, WORKSHOPS, FULL-DAY AND HALF-DAY PROGRAMS This policy applies to any of our workshops (for example IFW, mini-IFW, aerial, trampoline, acro workshops) and our full- and half-day Circus Experiences. No refunds unless spots are filled by another student for the length of the program (e.g., all sessions of a workshop). SUMMER CAMP Camps typically run as week-long full-day or half-day sessions during school breaks and pre-registration is highly recommended. Space is limited and our cancellation policies are strict to ensure the best experience for each student. For camp cancellations, please contact info@capcitycircus.com for assistance. 30 Days' Notice Full refund. Between 29 Days and 7 Days 50% refund, Less Than 7 Days No refund unless your spot is filled by another student. PRIVATE LESSONS With at least 7 days notice You may cancel and reschedule, please contanct info@capcitycircus.com for assistance. Within 7 days No refunds. PARTIES AND PRIVATE EVENTS Please refer to your event contract for the specific cancellation policy for your event. LATE CANCELLATIONS AND RESCHEDULE REQUESTS Should you need to cancel or reschedule your reservation after the applicable deadline has passed, please also reach out to info@capcitycircus.com for additional assistance.

We try our best to run all scheduled classes whenever possible. Aerial arts, trampoline, handstands, and juggling classes will generally run if at least one student is enrolled. If a flying trapeze class is significantly under-enrolled in a way that will negatively impact the class experience, we may cancel it ahead of time. All enrolled students will be notified of the cancelation and may apply that class credit to another class. For classes with low enrollment, we will often adjust the class length. Please be prepared for shortened class lengths in cases of significantly low enrollment.