Prestige Circus & Gymnastics Recreation Program Guide

 

Welcome to Prestige Circus & Gymnastics School

Welcome to Prestige Circus & Gymnastics School Inc. This guide provides parents with an overview of our recreational gymnastics, circus arts, aerial, tumbling, conditioning, and flexibility programs and explains how students progress through different levels.

Our programs are designed to help children, teens, and adults develop strength, flexibility, coordination, confidence, body awareness, technical skills, and a love for movement in a safe and supportive environment.

From beginner gymnastics and circus classes to advanced aerial silks, hammock, hoop, and tumbling programs, students can progress according to their experience, ability, and skill development.

Before Your Child's Class

What to Wear:

For your child's safety and to protect our equipment, clothing should be comfortable and fitted appropriately for gymnastics and circus activities.

Please do not wear clothing or accessories with:

• Buckles or belts

• Buttons

• Zippers

• Loose items

• Watches or fitness trackers

• Jewellery

Recommended clothing includes:

• Shorts

• T-shirts

• Bike shorts

• Leggings or tights

• Leotards

Long hair should be securely tied back, preferably in a ponytail, to make rolling, tumbling, and other movements safer and more comfortable.

Starting the Class

The first five minutes of class normally include an active group game. These activities help prepare students for physical activity by increasing their heart rate and getting their bodies ready to move.

After the game, students participate in a structured warm-up before coaches take their groups to their first apparatus or training station.

At times, there may be up to three classes training in the gym simultaneously, including beginner, intermediate, and advanced groups. The gym may therefore feel particularly busy during certain class times.

Arrive on Time

Warm-up is an essential part of every gymnastics and circus program, including our preschool classes. It prepares students physically and mentally for the activities ahead.

Please arrive early enough for your child to:

• Get changed

• Use the washroom

• Put away personal belongings

• Be ready to participate when the class begins

Please note that no refunds or make-up classes are provided for missed lessons.

Missed Lessons

A missed class does not qualify for a refund, credit, or make-up lesson, unless approved by the office.

Your session fee reserves your child's place in the class for the entire session, regardless of attendance. Our staffing, facility, and class-size costs remain the same when a student is absent.

Because we maintain specific coach-to-student ratios and class sizes, make-up lessons are not available, unless approved by the office.

Parent Involvement

Preschool Classes – Ages 4–5

Parents are not required to enter the class area. However, we ask parents or guardians to remain in the office/viewing area and be available if their child needs to use the washroom or requires comfort or assistance.

What Happens During Class?

Our programs use a station-based training system whenever appropriate. Students rotate through different apparatus and activities while coaches provide instruction, demonstrations, corrections, and assistance.

Depending on the program, students may work with:

Floor • Balance Beam • Bars • Vault • Trampoline • Tumble Track • Aerial Silks • Aerial Hammock • Aerial Hoop • Trapeze • Juggling

The coach will normally remain at the station where the most challenging skill of the day is being taught. This allows the coach to provide focused instruction while ensuring that students receive appropriate supervision.

Students also learn to take turns, follow instructions, work independently, and safely participate as part of a group.

Our coaches use different learning approaches, including:

Visual learning • Auditory instruction • Kinaesthetic learning

Students may listen to an explanation, watch a demonstration, and then practice the skill with coaching and assistance.

Parents Observing Classes

Parents are welcome to watch classes from our designated viewing area.

We encourage parents to occasionally observe their child's progress and celebrate their achievements. However, watching every class may make it more difficult to notice gradual improvements.

During class, please allow our coaches to provide corrections and behaviour guidance as needed. Students generally learn best when they can concentrate without receiving additional instructions from parents while training.

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Gymnastics & Circus Program Descriptions

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Beginner Circus Class

Our Beginner Circus Class is designed for children who are new to circus arts.

Students have the opportunity to experience a variety of circus equipment and learn fundamental skills on:

• Aerial Silks

• Aerial Hammock

• Aerial Hoop

• Trapeze

• Juggling

The class focuses on basic circus skills, coordination, strength, body awareness, and confidence.

Duration: 60 minutes
Experience: No previous circus experience required

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Beginner Gymnastics Class

The Beginner Gymnastics Class introduces students to fundamental gymnastics skills on a variety of apparatus, including:

Floor • Balance Beam • Vault • Bars • Trampoline

Students work on foundational skills such as:

• Forward and backward rolls

• Cartwheels

• Handstands

• Bridges

• Basic jumps and movement skills

• And more

This program is designed to build a strong foundation for future gymnastics progression.

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Beginner Circus & Gymnastics Class

Our Beginner Circus & Gymnastics Class combines introductory gymnastics and circus arts in one program.

Students experience circus equipment including:

Aerial Silks • Hammock • Hoop • Trapeze • Juggling

They also develop fundamental gymnastics skills on:

Floor • Beam • Vault • Bars • Trampoline

Students may work on rolls, cartwheels, handstands, bridges, and other foundational skills.

Duration: 60 minutes
Experience: No previous gymnastics or circus experience required

The lesson plan includes participation on gymnastics equipment, while circus equipment rotates so students have the opportunity to experience the different apparatus throughout the program.

Intermediate & Advanced Gymnastics

Intermediate Gymnastics:

The Intermediate Gymnastics Class develops intermediate-level skills on:

Floor • Balance Beam • Vault • Bars • Trampoline

Students must have the required foundational gymnastics skills before registering for this level.

Duration: 90 minutes
Experience: Previous gymnastics experience required

At the end of the year, participants may have the opportunity to participate in a friendly gymnastics competition.

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Advanced Gymnastics

The Advanced Gymnastics Class is designed for students who have progressed beyond the intermediate level.

Training includes more advanced skills on:

Floor • Balance Beam • Vault • Bars • Trampoline

Students must demonstrate the required intermediate skills before registering.

Duration: 120 minutes
Experience: Previous intermediate gymnastics experience required

At the end of the year, participants may have the opportunity to participate in a friendly gymnastics competition.

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Aerial Circus Programs

Our aerial programs provide progressive training in aerial silks, aerial hoop, and aerial hammock.

Students develop strength, flexibility, coordination, body awareness, technique, and confidence while learning skills on suspended aerial apparatus.

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Beginner Aerial Silks:

Designed for students who are new to aerial silks.

Students learn foundational skills including:

• Basic climbing

• Foot locks

• Safe hanging positions

• Basic poses and movements

• Upper-body and core conditioning

Aerial silks is a challenging and creative circus discipline using suspended fabric to perform poses, locks, wraps, and movements.

Duration: 45 minutes
Experience: No previous experience required

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Intermediate Aerial Programs​

Intermediate Aerial Silks

The Intermediate Silk program is designed for students progressing from beginner silks, circus, or appropriate gymnastics training.

Students work on:

• Different locks

• Intermediate drops

• Inversions

• Poses

• Transitions

• Strength and conditioning

Duration: 60 minutes
Experience: Previous aerial or appropriate gymnastics experience required

Students must be able to perform a clean single and double foot lock and the required basic movements before registering.

Participants may have the opportunity to perform in our Year-End Circus Show.

Students wishing to participate in the show are required to take the appropriate additional training and choreography sessions when offered.

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Intermediate Aerial Hoop:

Designed for students progressing from beginner hoop, silks, circus, or appropriate gymnastics training.

Students develop:

• Intermediate locks

• Transitions

• Inversions

• Poses

• Strength and conditioning

Duration: 60 minutes
Experience: Previous experience required

Participants may have the opportunity to perform in our Year-End Circus Show. Additional training and choreography may be required for show participation.

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Intermediate Aerial Hammock:

Designed for students progressing from beginner hammock, silks, circus, or appropriate gymnastics training.

Students work on:

• Intermediate locks

• Drops

• Inversions

• Poses

• Transitions

• Strength and conditioning

Duration: 60 minutes
Experience: Previous experience required

Participants may have the opportunity to perform in our Year-End Circus Show. Additional training and choreography may be required for show participation.

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Pre-Advanced Aerial Programs​​

Pre-Advanced Aerial Silks:

The Pre-Advanced Silk program is designed for students progressing from the intermediate level.

Training includes:

• Pre-advanced locks

• Drops

• Inversions

• Poses

• Transitions

• Strength and conditioning

Duration: 60 minutes
Experience: Previous intermediate aerial experience required

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Pre-Advanced Aerial Hoop:

Designed for students progressing from intermediate aerial hoop or an equivalent level.

Students develop more advanced:

• Transitions

• Inversions

• Poses

• Strength

• Conditioning

Duration: 60 minutes
Experience: Previous intermediate experience required

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Pre-Advanced Aerial Hammock:

Designed for students progressing from intermediate hammock or another appropriate intermediate aerial program.

Students work on:

• Pre-advanced locks

• Drops

• Inversions

• Poses

• Transitions

• Strength and conditioning

Duration: 60 minutes
Experience: Previous experience required

Advanced Aerial Programs

 

Advanced Aerial Silks:

The Advanced Silk program is designed for students progressing from the pre-advanced level.

Students work on advanced:

• Locks

• Drops

• Inversions

• Poses

• Transitions

• Strength and conditioning

Duration: 60 minutes
Experience: Previous pre-advanced experience required

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Advanced Aerial Hoop:

The Advanced Hoop program develops advanced aerial skills including:

• Advanced transitions

• Inversions

• Poses

• Dynamic movements

• Strength and conditioning

Duration: 60 minutes
Experience: Previous pre-advanced experience required

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Advanced Aerial Hammock:

The Advanced Hammock program is designed for students progressing from the pre-advanced level.

Students work on:

• Advanced locks

• Drops

• Inversions

• Poses

• Transitions

• Dynamic movements

• Strength and conditioning

Duration: 60 minutes
Experience: Previous pre-advanced experience required

Tumbling Programs

Our tumbling classes focus on progressive floor and acrobatic skills while developing strength, flexibility, coordination, body control, and technique.

Advanced tumbling programs require specific prerequisite skills before registration.

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Front & Back Walkovers:

Students work on:

• Cartwheels

• Handstands

• Bridges

• Splits

• Front walkovers

• Back walkovers

• Round-offs

• One-arm cartwheels

• And additional progressive skills

Duration: 60 minutes

Required Skills

Students must be able to demonstrate:

• Bridge from standing to standing without assistance

• Two-hand cartwheel

• One-hand cartwheel

• Handstand without assistance or support

Previous tumbling experience required.

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Side & Front Aerials:

This program focuses on developing side aerials and front aerials.

Required Skills

Students must demonstrate:

• Bridge from standing to standing without assistance

• Two-hand cartwheel

• One-hand cartwheel

• Handstand without assistance or support

• Front walkover

• Back walkover

Duration: 60 minutes
Previous tumbling experience required.

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Back Handspring & Flips Tumbling:

This program is designed for students developing advanced tumbling skills including:

• Back handspring

• Round-off back handspring

• Flips

• Round-off back handspring flips

Required Skills

Students must demonstrate the required intermediate tumbling foundation, including:

• Bridge

• Two-hand cartwheel

• One-hand cartwheel

• Handstand

• Front walkover

• Back walkover

Duration: 60 minutes
Previous tumbling experience required.

Conditioning & Flexibility

Our Conditioning & Flexibility Class is designed to help participants improve:

• Flexibility

• Core strength

• General strength

• Body control

• Physical preparation for gymnastics and circus arts

This program is suitable for all levels and does not require previous gymnastics or circus experience.

Class options: 30 minutes or 60 minutes

Experience: No experience necessary

Skill Progression at Prestige

Our programs are designed to provide a clear progression from beginner to intermediate, pre-advanced, and advanced levels.

Students may progress through:

Beginner → Intermediate → Pre-Advanced → Advanced

Progression is based on the student's demonstrated skills, strength, technique, experience, and readiness for the next level.

For intermediate and advanced programs, students may be required to demonstrate specific prerequisite skills before registration.

If you are unsure which class is appropriate for your child, please contact us before registering. We are happy to help determine the most appropriate starting level.

Experience Gymnastics & Circus Arts in Burlington

At Prestige Circus & Gymnastics School Inc., our goal is to provide students with a positive environment where they can learn new skills, develop strength and flexibility, build confidence, and enjoy the challenge of gymnastics and circus arts.

Whether you are looking for kids' gymnastics classes in Burlington, aerial silks, aerial hammock, aerial hoop, tumbling, circus classes, strength training, or flexibility training, Prestige offers programs for a wide range of ages and abilities.

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