Skip to main content

Great Lakes Circus Center

We are a new, circus focused studio offering training, classes, professional development, and artistic collaboration in West Michigan!

$10,890
pledged of$20,000 goal
41
0Days Left

Project Description

Great Lakes Circus Center is looking for your support to help ease the burden of our initial start up costs. Our goal is to get ahead on paying off the start up costs we have accumulated and focus our attention on our future goals and plans while rewarding the community for their support!

With your support in this campaign, we will be able to focus our attention on our future goals, which include investment into additional equipment and resources for new disciplines, setting up assistance for those in West Michigan that need financial assistance towards their circus experience, and exploration of avenues that will allow our staff and students to share their talents with their community. 

About Great Lakes Circus Center

Great Lakes Circus Center is a new, all-encompassing circus arts focused studio located in Grand Rapids, MI. Our goal is to be the leading circus facility for training, professional development, and artistic collaboration in West Michigan. Founded by Jennifer Young and Katherine Rodge in 2022, Great Lakes Circus Center is driven to provide safe, accessible circus training and professional growth opportunities for kids and adults in a non-competitive , collaborative, socially enriching, nurturing environment. With a particular emphasis on safety, inclusivity, and collaboration Great Lakes Circus Center truly hopes to offer a full, welcoming experience to all those who wish to run away and join the circus. 

In late 2022 Great Lakes Circus Center found and secured its first home at 3516 Roger B Chaffee Memorial Blvd in Grand Rapids Michigan. We have invested significant time and finances into ensuring our facility and equipment are up to the highest safety standards of the aerial arts industry. We have secured our first round of staff with decades of experience and a passion for teaching their art to others. We have generated countless ideas and plans and are extremely excited to positively contribute to the future of circus in West Michigan. 

Upon opening in March we are looking to offer a wide range of circus classes for both kids and adults of all levels and abilities including aerial silks, lyra, flexibility, conditioning, flow art movement, choreography, and more!  

About Our Founders

Jenn found the circus arts in 2011 and began her journey as an instructor and performer in 2013. Since beginning her circus journey Jenn has had the opportunity to train and learn from professionals and organizations like NECCA, Jen Bruyer, Lady Base, AcroYoga International, and Brett Copes of Fight or Flight Entertainment. Jenn has experience in a wide variety of circus disciplines including aerial, partner acro, rolla bolla and more! When she is not in the studio or traveling the country performing, Jenn can usually be found doting on her two rather magnificent cats or playing D&D.

Katherine began her circus journey in early 2017 and has since explored many realms of circus including aerial, flow, and fire eating. In 2020 she took an aerial teacher training hosted by Nimble Arts/NECCA which ignited a love for teaching and began her journey an instructor in the circus arts. Katherine enjoys spending her free time exploring Grand Haven and hanging out with her uniquely lazy Australian Shephard.

 

Updates

The Campaign FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • I want to support a reward that has a membership or class option, but don't live nearby. What's going to happen to that reward? 
    • It will not be going to waste! If you are unable to use part of your reward for any reason we will be counting in our scholarship program assets that we will be getting up and running once we are financially able. 
  • How often are the membership discounts applied?
    • Your discount will be valid on the first membership you purchase. When it comes up for renewal, our standard rate will then apply.
  • What have you already invested in and what is this campaign helping finance?
    • Our building is already getting prepped for our opening in March. Our contractor has put time into general fix ups and safety measures around the warehouse plus adding a changing room area to our bathroom for those coming to the studio from other obligations. Our bigger categories of purchase include having invested in a truss system that is scheduled to be installed by a professional aerial design company, our aerial equipment and hardware, mats, flooring, and other general startup costs.
  • What is covered in the unlimited classes/training?
    • Any of our weekly level appropriate classes or open training times including acro jams, flow jams, opening gym (with instructor/owner approval). Any workshops or rentals we are offering will be at their regular cost.
  • What if I want to give more than $2,500?

 

 

Sara Buzzitta-Johnson
04/16/2023
Water Bottle & Drawstring Bag
$50
Tyler W
03/31/2023
Water Bottle & Drawstring Bag
$50
Megan & Dan Smit
03/31/2023
Founders Wall Tier 2
$250
Tori
03/29/2023
Founders Wall Tier 1
$100
Andrea Rose Woody
03/14/2023
Drawstring Gym Bag
$25
Siobhan Johnson
03/13/2023
Founders Wall Tier 1
$100
Maria Melocchi
03/12/2023
Founders Wall Tier 2
$250
Mark and Carol Rodge
03/10/2023
Founders Wall Tier 5
$2,500
Mary
03/09/2023
Water Bottle & Drawstring Bag
$50
Frank C. Fromherz II
03/04/2023
Founders Wall Tier 3
$500
Monetary Contribution

Your name on the sponsors page of our website

 

3 Supporters
Select this reward
10.00 USD
Sticker

Your name on the sponsors page of our website

Great Lakes Circus Center Sticker

 

2 Supporters
Select this reward
25.00 USD
Drawstring Gym Bag

Your name on the sponsors page of our website

Great Lakes Circus Center Sticker

Great Lakes Circus Center Drawstring Gym Bag

2 Supporters
Select this reward
50.00 USD
Water Bottle & Drawstring Bag

 Your name on the sponsors page of our website

Great Lakes Circus Center Sticker

Great Lakes Circus Center Drawstring Gym Bag

Great Lakes Circus Center Water Bottle

8 Supporters
Select this reward
250.00 USD
Founders Wall Tier 2

Your name on the founders wall of our studio

10% off any studio membership 

Great Lakes Circus Center T-Shirt

Great Lakes Circus Center Water Bottle

Great Lakes Circus Center Drawstring Gym Bag

Great Lakes Circus Center Sticker

Your name on the sponsors page of our website

5 Supporters
Select this reward
500.00 USD
Founders Wall Tier 3

Your name on the founders wall of our studio

20% off any studio membership 

Great Lakes Circus Center T-Shirt

Great Lakes Circus Center Water Bottle

Great Lakes Circus Center Drawstring Gym Bag

Great Lakes Circus Center Sticker

Your name on the sponsors page of our website

1 Supporter
Select this reward
1,000.00 USD
Founders Wall Tier 4

Your name on the founders wall of our studio

3 months of unlimited classes/open training on us

20% off any membership 

Great Lakes Circus Center T-Shirt

Great Lakes Circus Center Water Bottle

Great Lakes Circus Center Drawstring Gym Bag

Great Lakes Circus Center Sticker

Your name on the sponsors page of our website

2 Supporters
Select this reward
2,500.00 USD
Founders Wall Tier 5

Your name on the founders wall of our studio

6 months of unlimited classes/open training on us

20% off any membership

Great Lakes Circus Center T-Shirt

Great Lakes Circus Center Water Bottle

Great Lakes Circus Center Drawstring Gym Bag

Great Lakes Circus Center Sticker

Your name on the sponsors page of our website

2 Supporters
Select this reward

About the Entrepreneur

Rewards

Monetary Contribution

Your name on the sponsors page of our website

 

3 Supporters
Select this reward
10.00 USD
Sticker

Your name on the sponsors page of our website

Great Lakes Circus Center Sticker

 

2 Supporters
Select this reward
25.00 USD
Drawstring Gym Bag

Your name on the sponsors page of our website

Great Lakes Circus Center Sticker

Great Lakes Circus Center Drawstring Gym Bag

2 Supporters
Select this reward
50.00 USD
Water Bottle & Drawstring Bag

 Your name on the sponsors page of our website

Great Lakes Circus Center Sticker

Great Lakes Circus Center Drawstring Gym Bag

Great Lakes Circus Center Water Bottle

8 Supporters
Select this reward
250.00 USD
Founders Wall Tier 2

Your name on the founders wall of our studio

10% off any studio membership 

Great Lakes Circus Center T-Shirt

Great Lakes Circus Center Water Bottle

Great Lakes Circus Center Drawstring Gym Bag

Great Lakes Circus Center Sticker

Your name on the sponsors page of our website

5 Supporters
Select this reward
500.00 USD
Founders Wall Tier 3

Your name on the founders wall of our studio

20% off any studio membership 

Great Lakes Circus Center T-Shirt

Great Lakes Circus Center Water Bottle

Great Lakes Circus Center Drawstring Gym Bag

Great Lakes Circus Center Sticker

Your name on the sponsors page of our website

1 Supporter
Select this reward
1,000.00 USD
Founders Wall Tier 4

Your name on the founders wall of our studio

3 months of unlimited classes/open training on us

20% off any membership 

Great Lakes Circus Center T-Shirt

Great Lakes Circus Center Water Bottle

Great Lakes Circus Center Drawstring Gym Bag

Great Lakes Circus Center Sticker

Your name on the sponsors page of our website

2 Supporters
Select this reward
2,500.00 USD
Founders Wall Tier 5

Your name on the founders wall of our studio

6 months of unlimited classes/open training on us

20% off any membership

Great Lakes Circus Center T-Shirt

Great Lakes Circus Center Water Bottle

Great Lakes Circus Center Drawstring Gym Bag

Great Lakes Circus Center Sticker

Your name on the sponsors page of our website

2 Supporters
Select this reward