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.