Frequently Asked Questions

How do I sign-up for my first class?

Please sign up in advance for ALL classes via email, phone, or online booking system here. For weekday classes, we recommend signing up at least one week in advance, for weekends, we recommend three weeks. We will need to know the following:

  • The names of all students in your group
  • Your contact phone number
  • Payment information – either a credit card number with expiration date, CVV number and billing zip code, or coupon numbers for all participants. This information is for our cancellation policy (see below).

When your class day arrives, please come 20 minutes early. You’ll want time to check-in, change your clothes, and warm up your muscles. Before class, please fill out our digital waiver: Sign Waiver

*Please note:

  • Any child under the age of 18 taking a class with us must have the waiver and registration forms filled out and signed by their parent or guardian.
  • Emerald City Trapeze requires a minimum of 3 students to run a Flying Trapeze class and 2 students to run an Aerial Class.  If we do not have enough students signed up to run a class, we will give 24 hours’ notice to any students already registered, and we will do our very best to re-schedule them into a running class.

Student Discount: We offer at 10% student discount for college aged students. To receive the discount, please call in to make your booking. You must have your ID present at the time of class to receive the discount. Each student must have an ID present.

I have a question about classes?

Please feel free to reach out to our staff with your class questions!

What are the rules at Emerald City Trapeze?

  1. Maximum weight = 250 pounds
  2. Minimum age = 6 years/12 for catch
  3. If you are pregnant, or think you are, you may NOT participate
  4. Please tell the instructors about ANY current injury
  5. Please remove all jewelry
  6. Never walk under the net
  7. Please stay behind the blue line on the floor
  8. Never adjust your safety belt
  9. Please, no gum chewing while on the trapeze
  10. If you have consumed alcohol, you may NOT participate in trapeze
  11. For safety reasons, instructors may end class early, as fatigue risk increases
  12. Don’t forget……HAVE FUN!!

What is your cancellation policy?

All classes at Emerald City Trapeze are non-refundable; however, you may reschedule your class as long as you give us at least 24 hours’ notice. There is a rescheduling fee of $20 for Flying Trapeze, $10 for Aerial Arts, and $25 for Date Night if notice is provided less than 24 hours prior to the start of class. To reschedule, or if you have additional questions regarding our policy, please contact our front desk at (206) 906-9442. Groups reserving a specialty or private class are required to provide 48 hours’ notice. Failure to provide sufficient notice causes the participant to be liable for 100% of the cost of the scheduled appointment (we will charge your credit card or mark all relevant coupons as “redeemed”).

What if you are late to an Aerial class?

If a student is more than 15 minutes late to an Aerial class, entry into the class is at the instructor’s discretion. If a student is more than 20 to 25 minutes late, class credit will be forfeited. If you are going to be late, please contact our front desk at (206) 906-9442.

Are there class minimums?

Emerald City Trapeze requires a minimum of 3 students to run a Flying Trapeze class and 2 students to run an Aerial Class. If we do not have enough students signed up to run a class, we will give 24 hours’ notice to any students already registered, and we will do our very best to re-schedule them into a running class.

Is there parking?

Yes! Parking is easy at Emerald City Trapeze. There are tons of free parking spaces on the street, and there is a small parking lot to the south of the studio. Within the parking lot, we have several designated spots for students. The spots with Emerald City Trapeze signs are free to use while you are attending a class. All other parking spots are paid parking. If you are coming via public transportation, there is a LINK station (SODO) right across the street along with several bus stops.

Do you have a Birthday reward?

Happy Birthday! Yes, we do!

Free class on your birthday! The free class must be ON your actual birthday date. Class bookings are on a first come, first served basis. Please book ahead. If all classes are already filled, we cannot offer a different day. Your class will be refunded once you attend and show valid proof of date of birth (driver’s license, birth certificate, or passport). Free class can apply to private parties – the cost of the ‘birthday participant’ will be refunded. If Emerald City Trapeze Arts is closed for a holiday or private event, the class must be within 1 week of birthday. Valid on any regular class. Not valid on series’ or workshop classes.

I have a Groupon/LivingSocial coupon! Now what?

Awesome-Blossom! We do not currently have any active Groupon or LivingSocial promotions. If you have already purchased a Groupon, please follow the below instructions:

Have your Coupon/Voucher Number available when you call or email us. We’ll need a coupon number for each person in your party in order to reserve your spots. Also…

  • Please schedule your class several weeks in advance to guarantee availability
  • Please schedule your class well before your coupon’s expiration date
  • The full value of your coupon expires on your coupon’s expiration date, however the amount PAID for the coupon never expires and may be applied toward the cost of the class for which your coupon was purchased (per Groupon’s policy and Washington State law).

If you have additional questions, please contact the company that issued your coupon directly.

What Should I Wear?

Stripes, knee-high socks, polka-dots, feathers, sequins and glitter, bow-ties, multi colored tights, leg warmers, leotards/unitards and any other circus wear are highly encouraged! Please wear comfortable, form-fitting athletic clothes – jeans and shorts are not recommended! You should be able to move in your clothes, but if they are too baggy, they will get in your way and be uncomfortable. Shoes are not permitted on the mats or any apparatus.
 If you have long hair, please put it up with an elastic band. Remove all jewelry.
 Contact lenses are preferable to glasses if you have the option, as glasses are not permitted on the flying trapeze rig.

For Flying Trapeze we suggest: • Form-fitting pants below the knees (as you will be hanging from the bar by your knees), such as tights, yoga pants, leggings, running pants, or tight sweat pants. Please avoid zippers, snaps, or metal accessories. • Athletic tops – preferably a few layers! • Socks or bare feet once you arrive.

For Aerial Classes: • Form-fitting athletic clothing is best and it is generally more comfortable to have skin covered rather than exposed (tights or leggings are a good idea). • Please avoid wearing rings or jewelry. Clothing with buttons, velcro, snaps, zippers, rivets or other metal accessories are not permitted on any apparatus, as these can damage our equipment and are generally uncomfortable to work out in.

Are there forms I need to fill out before participating?

All new students are required to complete our registration and release forms. For students under 18, a parent or guardian will need to sign their release/waiver.
When your class day arrives, please come 20 minutes early. You’ll want time to check-in, change your clothes, and warm up your muscles.

Before class, please fill out our digital waiver: Sign Waiver

Can I have my birthday, bachelorette, or holiday party at Emerald City Trapeze?

Absolutely! Come celebrate your birthday, bachelorette party, or holiday party with one of our unique party packages. For more information regarding pricing and package details, please visit our Parties and Events page. If you would like to book your birthday party or bachelorette party, please email us at events@emeraldcitytrapeze.com or give us a call between 10am and 9pm at (206) 906-9442.

How do I schedule a private party or lesson?

We are happy to accommodate any group, party, or event request! To see current information and rates regarding parties and events at Emerald City Trapeze, please visit our Parties and Events page. If you are a corporate group, you want to schedule a class with more than 12 people, or you are interested in renting our venue for an event, please contact our events team at events@emeraldcitytrapeze.com. If you are interested in hiring our beautiful and talented performers for an outside event, please contact us at info@emeraldcitytrapeze.com. For groups wishing to reserve a private flying trapeze or aerial class (under 12 students), please email us at info@emeraldcitytrapeze.com or give us a call between 10am and 9pm at (206) 906-9442.

Can I buy an Emerald City Trapeze gift card?

Absolutely! For more information on our gift cards, please visit: Emerald City Trapeze Gift Cards

Please note: All gift vouchers are non-refundable. Gift vouchers can be returned for student credit.

How long are classes?

Flying Trapeze classes typically last 2 hours. Aerial classes range from 1-2 hours. All classes are subject to an earlier ending at the instructor’s discretion in order to ensure the safety of our students.

Who can participate?

Our minimum age for Flying Trapeze is 6 years. The minimum age for most other classes is 12 years; pole dance is 18 years. For your safety, we have a maximum weight limit of 250 pounds for flying trapeze. If you have health concerns, please speak with your physician before attending. If you have emotional/psychological concerns regarding the height of the flying trapeze, rest assured that all of our instructors are incredibly experienced in guiding you past your fears until you are safely flying through the air by your own two hands. Sam Keen, author of “Learning to Fly”, took up flying trapeze at the age of 62 in 1993, is still flying on a regular basis!

What’s the deal with Open Gym?

Emerald City has 3 separate Open Gym (OG) certifications: Aerial, Pole, and Cyr Wheel. You must pass certification in each discipline to use the respective apparatus. Open Gym Certification does not clear students for Chinese Pole, Tightwire, Teeterboard, Trampoline or Trampoline Wall, or Acro.

New students to ECTA: Must have been studying Aerial consistently for at least 6 months.  Prior to testing for Open Gym, new students must first take a class at ECTA or schedule a private with an ECTA instructor.  The instructor will determine whether they are approved for open gym, OR, new students can pay a $30 assessment fee to the studio and the Aerial Director will schedule a 30-minute evaluation.

Current students: Must be working at Intermediate level; must speak to their instructor for Open Gym approval; must be actively attending a Technique Class at ECTA (1 class a week or 4 classes a month).

Professionals: Must be referred by ECTA staff.

Certification Requirements for Open Gym:

Aerial:

  • 2 standard climbs without stopping in between (up – down, up – down)
  • 3 straddle-ups in the air
  • 3 pullovers on trapeze or hoop
  • 3 pull-ups
  • Rigging checklist

Aerial Open Gym can only be obtained from ECTA’s Aerial Director and is not valid for other apparatus or equipment.  Aerial certification is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:00pm. To make arrangements outside of the 5:00pm certification time, please give our staff 12 business hours of notice. If the student passes certification, their first Open Gym drop-in fee will be waived. Please sign up online, or contact the studio to make other arrangements.

Please take a moment to view our full Open Gym Policy.

Pole:

  • Inside / outside leg hangs on both sides
  • 2 climbs
  • 4 inverted pole moves (strung together)
  • Controlled dismounts (including inverts)
  • 6 basic spins
  • Rigging checklist

Pole Open Gym can only be obtained from an ECTA Pole Instructor and is not valid for other apparatus or equipment; privilege can be granted in class.

Please take a moment to view our full Open Gym Policy.

Cyr:

  • 4 periods of the Waltz (i.e. right foot gets near the floor while spinning in a Waltz 4 times)
  • Rigging checklist

Cyr Wheel Open Gym can only be obtained from an ECTA Cyr Wheel Instructor and is not valid for other apparatus or equipment; privilege can be granted in class.

Please take a moment to view our full Open Gym Policy.

Cancellations and Refunds: Bookings for Open Gym Certification are Non-Refundable but can be rescheduled if changed prior to 24 hours before the start of the session time. Sessions canceled within 24 hours of the start of the session will be considered redeemed, and upon re-booking, student is required to pay the $30 fee again. You may participate in Open Gym while regular classes or private sessions are in progress only if there are points available.

Check out our calendar on our classes page to find out when the space is free.

Please take a moment to view our full Open Gym Policy.

ECTA Staff Training Only on Saturdays from 6pm – close

  • Open gym will be open on the stage, closed on b-side during ECTA Staff Training

Can I bring my pet to class with me?

In an effort to keep our space clean and allergen-free, we do not permit pets inside the building.