Studio Policies

Registrations for classes, workshops, and other programs are non-transferable, meaning that a student may not sell nor gift their spot in a class, workshop, etc to another student. This policy is firm and there are no exceptions, including for family members.

Group Classes

To register for a group session class, students (or their parent/guardian) must create an account with Amilia and register via the registration page.

Adult classes listed as All Levels or Level 101 are open to all students ages 16+. No prior experience in circus, tumbling, etc is required.

Adult students registering for classes at higher skill levels (Level 201 or higher) must have prior approval from Esh staff before signing up for classes. Returning students receive level recommendations from their coaches prior to registration. Students who are new to Esh but not new to circus and who wish to enroll in a class above beginner level (beginner level classes are All Levels or Level 101) must first schedule an evaluation by contacting info@eshcircusarts.com.

If a student registers for a class above the beginner level without explicit approval from Esh staff, and Esh staff determines that they do not meet the pre-reqs for that class, the class registration will be cancelled without refund.

Students with existing injuries or limitations are encouraged to schedule a private lesson or attend a Taster Class before registering for a full session to ensure that they will be able to participate in class. Refunds will not be granted in cases where an existing injury prevents a student from fully participating.

Private lessons

Private lessons must be scheduled by filling out the Private Lesson Request Form. Lessons must be pre-paid at the time of booking.

Workshops/Special Events

Students must pay in full upon registration to guarantee a spot in a workshop. Please review all workshop prerequisites and confirm that you meet them before registering. If you are not certain whether you meet the prerequisites for a workshop, contact us at info@eshcircusarts.com prior to registration. If a student registers for a workshop and the instructor determines that they do not meet the prereqs, the student might not be permitted to participate in some or all of the workshop content and no refund will be given.

Registrations for classes, workshops, and other programs are non-transferable, meaning that a student may not sell nor gift their spot in a class, workshop, etc to another student. This policy is firm and there are no exceptions, including for family members.

All refunds for card payments are subject to a 5% administrative fee, except in cases where Esh cancels a class, workshop, or event. In the event of cancellation by Esh, full refunds will be given.

Group Session Classes

Students who wish to drop out of an entire session after they have registered, but before the first Monday of the session, will be charged a 50% cancellation fee. After the first Monday of the session, no refunds will be given. Exceptions are made only for cases of new injury or extraordinary circumstances, and only when a student contacts Esh promptly via email to request a refund. All exceptions are at the discretion of Esh management.

Students with pre-existing injuries or limitations are encouraged to schedule a private lesson or attend a Taster Class before registering for a full session to ensure that they will be able to participate in class. Refunds will not be granted in cases where a pre-existing injury prevents a student from fully participating.

Drop-In Classes & Practice Time

Cancellations for drop-in classes and practice time reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance via email to info@eshcircusarts.com. If a student cancels with at least 24 hours notice, they will receive an account credit. Credits can be used toward any future purchase at Esh and do not expire. There are no refunds nor credits for cancellations with less than 24 hours notice.

Private lessons

Cancellations for private lessons must be made at least 24 hours in advance via email to info@eshcircusarts.com. In the event that a student must cancel a lesson with at least 24 hours notice, they will have the choice of rescheduling, receiving an account credit, or receiving a refund minus a 5% administrative fee. There are no refunds nor credits for cancellations with less than 24 hours notice.

Workshops/Special Events

A 50% refund is available until one week before the event, after which time no refunds will be given. The only exceptions are due to sudden injury or extraordinary circumstances, and only when a student contacts Esh promptly to request a refund. All exceptions are at the discretion of Esh management. No refunds will be given after the date of the workshop.

Esh will announce class cancellations due to weather at least 2 hours and usually more than 4 hours before class start time.
Cancellations will be posted on the Esh Circus Arts Facebook page, and we will email all students on the rosters for the affected classes.
In the event of a weather-related cancellation, students will receive a make-up class to be used in accordance with the missed class policy.

Registrations for classes, workshops, and other programs are non-transferable, meaning that a student may not sell nor gift their spot in a class, workshop, etc to another student. This policy is firm and there are no exceptions, including for family members.

If a student in an Adult Session Class knows they will miss a specific class date, they may cancel their reservation for that class by accessing the Make-up/Drop-in Calendar on the Registration page. To cancel a class reservation, click on the class you wish to cancel and click the red “Unregister” button. A student must cancel their reservation at least 4 hours in advance of the class in question in order to receive a make-up class credit. Make-up class credits must be used in the same session. Unused make-up class credits can not be rolled over into the next session.

Adult students may not receive more than 2 make-up classes per class per 8-week session.

Adult students in their first session of a Level 101 class may not miss more than 1 of the first 3 classes of a session.

Adult students can use make-up class credits in one of 3 ways:

• Option 1: Attend another class. Students can use the Make-up/Drop-in Calendar to reserve a spot in a class of the same or lower level in the same discipline as their missed class or in any other discipline in which they have experience, space permitting. Students can also use make-up classes to attend Fitness & Training classes when those classes are running. All make-up classes must be reserved via the Make-up/Drop-in Calendar. **PLEASE NOTE: Esh does not guarantee that there will be spaces available in specific classes for students to make up missed classes. Classes are often very full; this make-up option is offered as a courtesy, not as a guarantee.**
• Option 2: Attend a Practice Time as a make-up. To use this option, a student can access the Make-up/Drop-in Calendar to reserve a Practice Time spot.
• Option 3: Attend an Open Studio session as a make-up. To use this option, a student can access the Make-up/Drop-in Calendar to reserve a spot in an upcoming Open Studio.

There are no make-ups for youth students who miss a class.

Level 101 classes are available for drop-in during the first two weeks of a session only, and may be purchased directly via the Make-up/Drop-in Calendar. After this time, only students with prior experience and instructor approval may drop in on Level 101 classes. Please email info@eshcircusarts.com if you are unsure whether you qualify to drop in on a class.

All other classes require explicit approval for drop-ins. Students who are currently enrolled in classes at Esh are approved to drop in on classes at or below their current class level in each discipline in which they have taken classes. They may purchase drop-ins via the Make-up/Drop-in Calendar.

Students who are new to Esh but not new to circus arts must email info@eshcircusarts.com to arrange a skill evaluation before attending classes. If a student purchases a drop-in for a class that they are not approved to take, the student will not be allowed to participate and no refund will be granted.

Online classes are open to all, including those who have not previously taken classes at Esh. Online classes run as sessions, meaning you sign up for several weeks of class at a time. Drop-ins are available for some online classes.

All classes are designed for doing at home, so for the most part, you don’t need any special equipment to participate! Supplies for each class are listed in the class description, and include things that are easy to find at home. You can view prerequisites and class descriptions by clicking “View activities in a list” in the upper right-hand corner of the screen in the class calendar.

All classes are taught live by Esh instructors and are hosted on Zoom. Zoom is free for you to use and can be downloaded to your laptop or smart phone. You will receive an email with a link to the Zoom meeting about 10-15 minutes before your class begins.

All studio policies regarding safety and student behavior apply to online classes.

Registration closes 20 minutes prior to the start of class. As with our in-person classes, each person who attends the class must register. This applies to roommates and family members.

If a student has suffered a concussion, or suspects that they have, they will not be permitted to participate in any activities at Esh until they have been cleared to return to activity by their doctor. A doctor’s note is required to return to activities. A student must contact Esh promptly via email to receive account credit in the case of missed classes due to concussion.

If equipment is damaged because of improper clothing, the student is responsible for the cost of replacing the equipment.

Clothing for all classes must not have zippers, ties, or hooks that may get caught on fabric, hair, or skin. Check leggings for zippers on the ankles or back of the waist – these may not be worn for circus training. Sequined clothing is also not permitted for classes, as the sequins can snag and tear aerial fabric or cause abrasions to skin.

Shirts that cover the torso are required for everyone when training at Esh. For aerial and acrobatics classes, check to make sure your shirt stays in place when you go upside down!

Clothing that is stretchy and comfy but not baggy is recommended for all classes. For aerials classes, coverage of the armpits, waist, and backs of the knees is required. Check to be sure leggings and tights are opaque when stretched, or layer shorts on top of tights/leggings. Be prepared to go barefoot for most classes.

Supportive undergarments, including sports bras and dance belts as appropriate, are recommended for all ground and aerial acrobatics classes.

Prepare to remove all jewelry, tape over any body piercings, and put long hair up in a bun. Long finger nails should be trimmed.

For intermediate/advanced aerials classes, socks and something that covers your arms are recommended.

Tape over any cuts or abrasions, even if they seemed closed, to prevent bleeding on the equipment. If you do bleed on something, notify your instructor immediately.

Instructors are not to advise students on rigging aerial apparatuses. All students who wish to rig apparatuses elsewhere are encouraged to seek the advice of an experienced aerial rigger. Please reach out to us at info@eshcircusarts.com if you need assistance finding a qualified rigger.

Students may not touch any rigging unless specifically given permission to by an instructor.

Students are allowed to use their own apparatuses at Esh only with express permission from the studio.

Students and guests may not take video of other students or of the instructor without explicit permission from the instructor and of everyone who will be filmed. Students are welcome to take video of themselves during class with instructor permission. The process of filming may not impede the progress or safety of the class.

Only students who are actively participating in classes/lessons are permitted into the main studio space. All others must remain in the lobby.

Street shoes must be removed before entering the training space.

No food or drink allowed outside the lobby. Students may use tightly sealed beverage containers/water bottles during class. No glass containers are allowed at Esh.

Esh is an intentionally welcoming and inclusive space for students of all ages, gender identities and gender presentations, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, physical abilities, national origins, mental abilities, and religions. Students are expected to extend kindness and respect toward all other students and staff in the studio, and can expect the same in return. Please reach out to info@eshcircusarts.com, ellen@eshcircusarts.com, or johnny@eshcircusarts.com if you wish to report an instance of inappropriate behavior by a student or staff member. The safety of the community is our highest priority.

Be courteous toward others using the space. This is meant to be a cooperative, supportive environment in which people can train and learn. It’s not a competition.

Ask permission before offering feedback to others training in the studio. If a person says they do not want feedback, respect their wishes.

Esh maintains a culture of consent regarding touch. Always ask before touching another person in the space, and respect their answer. “No” is a complete sentence!

Ask for help if you need it! Your instructor is available to help with equipment and safety questions.

Respect the space! Return all equipment to the state in which you found it. If you move mats, move them back. Return rosin, therabands, yoga blocks, etc., to where they are stored. Treat the equipment as if it is your own. Carry or roll mats instead of dragging them. Wear clothing that will not damage the equipment. Keep hands and feet as clean as possible. The gear will last longer if we all take care of it!

Students may arrive 10 minutes prior to class to sign in and change. Students may head into the main studio to wait until warm-up begins. Only students may enter the main studio space – all guests and family members must wait in the lobby.

For youth classes, please do not arrive or drop your child off at the studio any earlier than 10 minutes prior to their class time. Children ages 11 and under must be accompanied by an adult into the lobby and supervised until their teachers bring them into the studio and class begins. For everyone’s safety, we ask that our students contain their physical and vocal excitement when arriving and waiting for class to begin while in the lobby, and that their adults help them to do so. Youth students must be picked up promptly at the end of class.

Because warming up is an important part of safe training, students who arrive more than 15 minutes late will be allowed to watch, but may not be allowed to participate in class. Refunds are not given for late arrivals.

Class levels are based on mastery of skills, progressions, and concepts that students must demonstrate before moving on to the next level. One session does not equal one level! Many students will spend several sessions in one level; everyone moves at a different pace, and staying in a level for multiple sessions does not mean you’re not learning! Classes are leveled and prerequisites are in place to help students learn in a safe, focused environment that best serves and honors their needs and abilities. If you have questions about class leveling at Esh, please talk to your instructor or email info@eshcircusarts.com.

Open studio is for Esh students to practice the skills they are learning in class. If you are not an Esh student but wish to attend open studio, please contact info@eshcircusarts.com for approval before attending. Open studio is not appropriate for those with no circus experience.

Open studio is open to students ages 14+. Students under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Teaching new skills to any student, regardless of their ability or experience, is not permitted during open studio. If you’re unsure, ask the open studio supervisor or your instructor.

Students are only permitted to spot other students if they have both been trained, together, in the spot by an Esh coach and have permission from their coach to perform and receive the spot outside of a class setting. Outside of that specific scenario, students may not spot each other during open studio.

Open studio time is for practicing skills you have learned in class, not for experimenting with new tricks or apparatuses. Don’t use equipment you have not been trained on or try material you have not learned with an instructor.

Students are expected to share equipment and space during open studio. Be kind, take turns, and have fun together!