Frequently Asked Questions
Facility Questions
Where are you located?
Great Lakes Circus Center is located at 3516 Roger B Chaffee Memorial Blvd SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49548.
We are located in Building A of the Grand Rapids Commerce Center. This is the building nearest the road. Some GPS directions will take you around back of the building, towards our garage door rather than the front entrance.
Are there changing rooms available?
Yes! We have 2 gender neutral bathroom/changing rooms available complete with benches for your convivence and comfort.
Where can I store my belongings while in class?
We do have cubbies available for storage of personal items such as shoes, jackets, and bags. Be advised space is limited, so please leave what you can in your car.
Class Related Questions
I have previous experience in an apparatus, what class should I sign up for?
As we have multiple levels of several programs we highly recommend contacting us before signing up for a specific level. While our classes do have prerequisites, we prefer to get a more encompassing snapshot of our current abilities to help you best succeed in class! We do have curriculum that fits into each level, but we try to tailor the class experience to those in the class the best we can.
For those with previous experience we recommend you contact us via email us at info@greatlakescircuscenter.com or by filing out the contact form on our site and providing the following information:
- What you are currently working on or have worked on most recently.
- A move set specific skill that you have been struggling with or want to improve.
- How long it's been since you last trained/attended a class
- Any other additional information you feel would be relevant to helping with your success in class.
What type of clothing do I wear to class?
For classes we recommend comfortable athletic clothing, particular those with a bit of a tighter fit as this stops your clothing from becoming entangled with the equipment.
Do you have classes for kids?
Yes, we are currently offering one youth silks class on Thursdays at 4:30, but will add more as skills and interest develop. This class is intended for those ages 8-13.
Other weekly classes are intended for those 14 and up. However, if your child is has previous experience and the youth class would not be an appropriate fit please email us at info@greatlakescircuscenter.com to discuss alternative options.
Registration & Cancelation Policies
General Registration Policy
Enrollment for classes and workshops stays open until the start of the class/workshop. Early registration is encouraged for both classes and workshops as spots may not be available last minute. Registering early for workshops may make you eligible for discounted rates.
Classes can be purchased as a single Drop-In, as part of a Class/Training Pack, or as part of a membership of any level. Classes purchased at the drop-in rate will be charged at the time of registration. Classes purchased as part of a membership or pack will be applied to the membership or remaining classes on the account.
If a class/workshop is full, students may add themselves to the waitlist. If a spot becomes available, students will be notified according to their communications preferences in Wellnessliving in the order of the waitlist. Payment must be received in order to confirm a spot that was previously wait listed.
Class Cancelation by Great Lakes Circus Center
We aim to not have disruptions in our class schedule but in the event that a class has to be canceled you will be notified as soon as possible by Wellness Living according to your notification preferences. In the event that a class purchased by a Pack or at a Drop In rate is canceled your account will be refunded the pass or dollar amount as appropriate.
Weather related cancellations will be issued no later than 3pm. You will be notified at the time of cancellation by Wellness Living. We also encourage you to monitor our social media pages as it may be announced there before cancellations are made.
Canceled Registration or Missed Class by Student Attending
If a student needs to cancel a class/Open Train Time they may do so up to 3 hours prior to the start time without penalty. (ie: if a class starts at 5:30pm, a student may cancel up to 2:30pm without penalty) Cancellations within 2 hours of booking may also be done without penalty.
Cancellations made outside of 2 hours after booking and 3 hours prior to class will be result in the following:
- Classes/open train times purchased at a Drop In rate will be charged at the cost of the class/open train time.
- Classes/open train times purchased using a Pack of any kind will be removed from the existing total as if attended.
- Classes/open train times purchased using a Membership of any kind will be charged a fee of $10.
If a class/open train time is subject to a fee for a cancellation/missed class due to an emergency or significant life event please contact info@greatlakescircus.com. Please be advised the term emergency is not to be used lightly. This policy is to encourage respect and mindfulness of others in the community that may wish to enroll in a class if you are not able and your instructors time.
Party/Private/Workshop Cancelations
Party/Private/Workshop cancellations can be made up to 2 weeks prior with no penalty. A cancellation made less than 2 weeks but before 48hrs prior will result in a non-refundable deposit or 50% of the total if no deposit was required. Cancellations made after 48hrs prior to the event will be charged the total amount.
Changes to the number of participants may be made up to 24hrs prior. After that the rate will remain at the previously agreed upon number of participants.
Opening Training & Jam Questions
What is open gym?
Open gym time is unstructured time in which students can work on what they have learned in class, run sequences or skills that were giving them trouble previous, put together routines, or gain additional time on the equipment.
What are your open gym policies?
- Open Gym is for students of any level who have taken classes, workshops, or private lessons at Great Lakes Circus Center. Open Gym is not for individuals who have never done aerial before or those who do not feel comfortable executing skills without guidance and spotting from an instructor. Nonstudents over the age of 18 are welcome to attend in specific circumstances with staff approval. If you would like to attend an open gym, but are not and have never been a student of Great Lakes Circus Center, please contact us at info@greatlakescircuscenter.com and provide a brief overview of your experience including, how long you have trained, what you have trained, and where you have trained. Recent videos and links to social media of yourself training are also greatly appreciated. Please contact us regarding your circumstances and experience BEFORE signing up and attending open gym.
- There is an instructor or staff member present to answer questions,change out apparatuses if requested and watch for safety concerns, but instructors and staff members are not there to teach you skills that you missed in class during open gym. Students can work on independent routines so long as they are not attempting skills that have not been taught to them.
- This is a drop-in friendly class, please sign up in advance online to reserve your spot
- Students are not permitted to teach other students new skills during open gym times, however they may offer advice, share personal experience, or ask questions in relation to skills a peer has been shown and may still be struggling with. Please do not ask other students to teach you a skill that you have not yet had instruction as you may not be safely ready for a particular skill or there may be nuances of certain skills that, if not followed, may result in injury.. If you have any questions regarding previous class material, instructors or staff members are always available to help.
- Due to the high risk nature of the aerial arts, students are asked to refrain from teaching themselves new skills, wraps or sequences from videos or the internet. Without an instructor to guide, students can get stuck, fall at height or become injured in other ways without first learning technique and nuances from an instructor. Referencing videos from a class you attended is okay to help remember skills, but teaching yourself new skills in open gym is not permitted and will result in the loss of open gym privileges.
Note: new skills includes, but is not limited to unfamiliar wraps, dynamic transitions, sequencing in which a spotter should be present, drops, and more. Transitions in which students are familiar with most or all of the pieces, but the arrangement is in a different order, a slight variation is present or some other small adjustment is explored, are allowed provided students use their best judgment. If you are unsure if something is safe and level appropriate to try, please ask the staff member or instructor present before attempting.
Open gym is a privilege and time in which students can explore their own unique movement style and discover material that speaks to them. As we strive to be a facility that fosters collaboration and expression, all policies put in place are for the safety of the students, but are also a result of the trust and relationships built within the community. Any abuse of these policies will result in a policy change or loss of open gym privileges either temporarily or indefinitely.
Am I allowed to attend open training if I'm not a student or member of Great Lakes Circus Center?
As aerial open gym is a chance for students to work on what they learned in class it is currently only open to current students or those 18+ with past experience and staff permission in particular circumstances.
Please contact us via email at info@greatlakescircuscenter.com to discuss obtaining staff permission.
Will there be props available during flow jams?
Some props will be available to try out during flow jam sessions.