Water for Elephants

Come One, Come All: A Guide to Exploring Atlanta's Circus Scene

Water for Elephants production image. Photography by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman.
Meet the many circus organizations that call Metro Atlanta home and learn how you can get involved with them today!

 

Step right up to the buzzing energy of the circus in Atlanta! The current musical production on the Alliance Theatre’s Coca-Cola stage, Water For Elephants, depicts the triumphs and challenges of life in the American circus in the 1930s. It presents the circus as a source of entertainment and an art form that demands training, skill, and discipline. 

Over the past few years, the pandemic has tested the strength of both theaters and circuses nationwide. Celebrating and uplifting the circus arts is crucial as it captivates our imagination and stirs our sense of wonder. We invite you to delve deeper into the circus world and explore the plethora of circus-related activities Metro Atlanta offers. These organizations provide entertainment, education, and harness the power of circus to impact our community. 

Whether you unleash your inner acrobat in an aerial class, watch a local circus performance, or donate to a group of clowns that bring joy into children’s lives, your actions advocate for the future of circus arts in our community.  

Grab your top hat and prepare to be spellbound in any of your adventures with the organizations listed in this guide.  

 

Atlanta Jugglers Association 

Website: atlantajugglers.org  

Location: Atlanta, GA 

Phone Number: 404-585-6799 

Email: atlantajugglers@gmail.com 

Atlanta Jugglers Association has free weekly meetings on Thursday evenings at the Little 5 Points Community Center, and everyone is welcome. Some members work as hospital clowns at children's hospitals through Humorology Atlanta! For more, follow them on Facebook and YouTube.

 

Challenge Aerial 

Website: challengeaerialatlanta.com

Location: Grand Park, Atlanta 

Phone number: 404-805-5883 

Email: info@challengeaerialatlanta.com 

Challenge Aerial works daily to help everyone find magic and joy in aerial arts by leading classes in various circus areas. Challenge Aerial offers group classes and private lessons in aerial silks, hammocks, ropes, dance trapeze, lyra, aerial yoga, traditional yoga, pilates, hula hooping, and adult dance classes. For more, follow them on Instagram @challenge.aerial.

 

Circus Arts Institute 

Website: circusartsinstitute.com 

Location: Acworth, Georgia 

Phone Number: 404-549-3000  

Email: carrie@circusartsinstitute.com 

The Circus Arts Institute offers exciting physical and mental training programs combining therapeutic principles and circus skills. Led by their founder, Carrie Heller, in group or individual classes, the Filial Training program can help strengthen the bond between parents and their children. The Circus Arts Institute is also known for its research and training programs in Circus Arts Therapy®. This training is designed for professionals and para-professionals interested in incorporating circus arts into their work as a tool to help children, teens, adults, families, and groups. For more, follow them on Instagram @circusartsatl.

 

Circus Camp 

Website: circuscamp.org  

Location: Decatur and Dunwoody, GA 

Phone Number: 404-370-0001 

Email: ringmaster@circuscamp.org 

Circus Camp is where your children create wonderful memories, make new friends, and experience various circus skills. Campers at any skill level are welcome! Ages 5 and older, including teens. Your children participate in actual circus activities – trapeze, tightrope, juggling, magic, and even throwing a pie in a clown's face! Follow them on Instagram @circuscamp.

 

Circus Vazquez  

Website: circusvazquez.com 

Location: Atlanta, GA 

Phone Number: (956) 461-2332 

From Knoxville, Tennessee, Circus Vazquez is visiting Atlanta! With performances until July 16, this could be a fantastic opportunity for your family to see a show under the big red tent. While they are only here for the summer, make sure to follow them on Instagram @circusvazquez.

 

Gravity Entertainment  

Website: gravityentertains.com

Location: Atlanta, GA 

Phone Number: 404-707-4041 

Email: info@gravityentertains.com 

Hire Gravity Entertainment for your next event. They are a custom variety of entertainment that include a variety of skills such as acrobatics, juggling, fire, aerial silk, aerial straps, lyra, lollipop lyra, stilt walking, Chinese Pole, unicycle, ladder, mermaid, cyr, hula hoop, rolla bolla and more! Follow them on Instagram @gravityentertains.

 

Humorology Atlanta 

Website: humorologyatlanta.org  

Location: Atlanta, GA 

Phone Number: (404) 737-9018 

Email: gina@humorologyatlanta.org 

Humorology Atlanta is a group dedicated to bringing community service throughout Atlanta. They use humor to empower children in pediatric hospitals as a distraction from the treatments they are undergoing. Through music, dance, circus arts, mime, magic, and the art of clowning, they spread laughter and smiles to all those they encounter! Follow them on Instagram @humorologyatlanta.

 

LiquidSky 

Website: liquidskyent.com

Location: Atlanta, GA 

Phone Number: 404-444-1408 

Email: info@liqudiskyent.com 

LiquidSky brings together a highly trained troupe of diverse artists who create expressive performances with a mesmerizing display of grace, athleticism, and the beauty of cirque entertainment. They provide fire performances, cirque entertainment, aerial arts, and more! Follow them on Instagram @liquidskyevents.

 

MakeShift Circus Collective 

Website: makeshiftcircus.org 

Location: Atlanta, GA  

Phone Number: 404-908-6358 

Email: sara.k.gregory@gmail.com 

MakeShift Circus Collective is an ever-transforming gathering of diverse performance artists who come together to create socially engaged art. Through their projects, they work to amplify and connect diverse voices to build an Atlanta full of color, inclusion, equity, justice, and play. Follow them on Instagram at @makeshiftcircus

 

Sky Gym 

Website: theskygym.com 

Location: Atlanta, GA 

Phone number: 404-702-6511 

Email: amberkmonson@gmail.com 

Sky Gym hopes to inspire humans of all ages, races, orientations, and abilities to spread their wings and fly. They have many classes in aerial dance, yoga and fitness groups, and private training. Make sure to follow them on Instagram @theskygym.

 

The Off-Centered Project 

Website: theoffcenteredproject.com 

Location: Atlanta, GA 

Phone number: 678-827-3047 

Email: Info@theoffcenteredproject.com 

The Off-Centered Project provides custom performance designs for events of all sizes around the southeast.  Hire them for your next event! Or, if you are a professional performer looking for a place to showcase your skills, email us your resume and examples of your work. Make sure to follow them on Instagram @theoffcenteredproject.  

 

UniverSoul Circus 

Website: www.universoulcircus.com  

Location: Atlanta, GA 

The UniverSoul Circus is known for bringing diversity to the circus world. As a performance group known all around the country, they are applauded for their inclusion and focus on performers of color. Historically, they have deep roots in Atlanta and continue to give back to the community by supporting homeless families, donating to blood cancer, and stocking food in local food banks. Make sure to catch a show the next time they perform in Atlanta. Follow them all year long on Instagram at @universoulcircus

 


 

Water For Elephants will be on the Coca-Cola Stage through July 9. More information about the show tickets can be found here.

 

 

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