The coaches are nice so it's easier to follow their directions.And the camps there are really good because there's a nice schedule.- this is the opinion of my kiddo based on aerial classes and camps. read more

Customer service 5/5 Environment 5/5 Quality of teachers 5/5 I have been going to Kinetics Art Center for over a month now and it has exceeded my expectations overall. The adult drop in class packages work best for me and I've been consistently attending Sam (primarily silks and lyra) and Megan's (trapeze) classes. I called the front desk to make my initial purchase because there were so many options, I couldn't decide what I wanted based on my schedule. Fortunately, Janelle (front desk) was very patient and helpful, and I ended up getting the 10 class pack. When I got there, it was a bit intimidating because I was more used to smaller studios, but everyone here was so nice. Janell also made sure to check on me to see if I was doing ok when I took my first class. The other students and teachers were very welcoming and supportive to check out other classes, which is how I ended up with taking two classes back to back at-least once a week instead of just one class. In regards to the teachers, "great" would be such an understatement. I love Sam's class because even though it's primarily silks, they'll put one other apparatus (hoop mainly, and recently flying pole!) for us to try out-so it's more than just one apparatus in this one class. I also really like that they'll give us challenging *enough* moves because it's so satisfying to execute steps after struggling so much for it. I also love Megan's trapeze class because she's very flexible with our experiences. This pace is great for me because I don't have alot of experience with trapeze and the ropes on it feel so different from silks! Nikki and Zi have substituted for their classes and they're both amazing as well. I'd highly recommend taking classes here. It's a fun and challenging workout compared to a regular gym...I also love that it's spacious too! read more

This review is not about the service this place provides. This is about how i was treated as a parent of a student, you know, the one who pays the bills. Apparently, parents arent allowed to watch classes their children are enrolled in. Ive been kicked out of watching several times. Why arent parents allowed to watch? Noone will tell me. The teacher said that some students might not like it. She wouldnt say if someone in the current class felt that way. So i asked the "facilities manager" who couldnt or wouldnt explain it. She said she'd look into it but never contacted me again. Also, the areas you can sit in are super uncomfortable. You cant watch and there is nowhere comfortable to be while the classes you cant watch are going on. This woud be a major flaw in their scheme except that they dont give an f about parents. As soon as my daughter loses a touch of excitement about this terrible place, we're going to stop going and find somewhere tht isnt hostile to parents. read more

I bought tickets to the Circus Austerius for myself, my husband and 6 yo daughter. The show was amazing! I had never heard of Kinetic Arts Center until I had come across it in 510familes.com, just looking for something to do this weekend. The show's performers ranged from 12-18 yo and the acrobatics, contortions, juggling and clowning were just beautiful, funny and awe inspiring. There's floor seating which is fine if you have little kids and they like to move around. We bought chair seating only because I know my back and neck would not tolerate sitting on the floor for 2 hours. There are snacks available for a nominal price. Doors open 30 min before the show starts. The staff are friendly and helpful. Tickets range from $24-36, I believe more if you go VIP. There's not a bad seat in the house. In addition to the shows, they offer classes and camps. Check out the show! It runs until the last weekend in March. My daughter who is 6 thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the show. read more

Kristin Robsen ("TT") was our instructor and she was incredbly professional. She made it fun while offering us a good challenge at the same time. The girls loved it . TT you are a great ambassador for this sport. Thank you for a great time! we highly recommend the Kinetic Arts Center! read more

Kinetic Arts Center - Fitness & Instruction Near Me - Oakland, California

So this is a covid change review, disclaimer for that up front. I signed my daughter up for the entire September- December aerial session because requiring longer sessions is part of the new covid era changes. Fine, it's expensive but it's worth it. I showed up on the second one of her classes to find out the parents are not allowed in the studio to observe. My daughter is seven. I would like to be able to see she's how she's doing, how she's progressing, and encourage her. This is extremely frustrating. Added to this, there was no indication of this when I signed her up. The policy is not posted on signs anywhere in the building, nor does it appear anywhere on their website. The seems incredibly arbitrary. I am a high school teacher and have been teaching 30 kids in a classroom for the last month. Everyone is masked, air purifier is going, and windows are open. All teachers are required to be vaccinated. This "No Parents" policy does not seem wholly supported by science or CDC recommendations. The whole thing is extremely disappointing and has made me decide against signing my other child up for a session, which they had expressed interest in. I understand that they are making an attempt to keep everyone safe, but requiring vaccination cards and masks to enter would have made much more sense than a blanket ban on parents in the studio. read more

Oooh. I took my first ever class here. I was really nervous but the staff was friendly and encouraging. My instructor was really patient with me and I learned a lot. They have a big parking lot, clean bathrooms, and you can make reservations online or over the phone. CONVENIENT! read more

My 11 yr old daughter has been attending a beginner class since doing a summer class here (2019) in the summer. I appreciate the fun, firm, caring instruction in this non-competitive, collaborative environment. I like that my daughter is gaining interesting experiences and skills in a supportive, fun community. read more

Dear Kinetics Center, I really like what you are doing for the children and I applaud the parents who take the time out to take their children there. I'm the audience who buys tickets and don't know anyone personally involved. The last performance 12/2019 was clever in some respects but lacked what I seek, which are the kinetics, the acrobatic scenes. So to an audience who is drawn to purchase tickets not only because of the story but also for the acrobatic stunts, it seems like consistency is lacking considering the namesake of your company. Also I notice there were not children involved except from the audience. I thought this was a family center. I paid VIP tickets for the donation aspect, knowing it went to a good cause and I have no problem with that. read more

I looooooove exercising here. It's rigorous but fits your ability where you are. I feel like I've gotten so strong and I love coming.

It's like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, except in the air, and you might keep your arms. I said *might*. The rope work alone is everything you are or aren't familiar with about "This hand goes there, and you put your other hand there. Now hook your leg around and grab this...", but hanging upside-down and every which way. If you're totally unfamiliar with what I'm saying, think of it as chess in outer space - thoughtful moves and everything's floating. It is a mental x physical challenge of using the brain + the muscles to figure out new movements. I got a li'l 3-pack of classes which I used for "Rope & Tissue", "Parkour / Circus Acrobatics", and "Trapeze (Static), Rope & Tissue". The whole reason I signed up in the first place was because I'd for the longest time wanted to try Parkour. Yet the class schedule didn't fit with mine, so I decided to branch out; I'm glad I did. My Rope & Tissue class was taught by Jaron. He had an injury that day which prevented him from getting on the rope, so an assistant demoed the moves. What was cool to me was that, solely by his verbal directions, people followed the intricate steps involved in the tricks (or whatever you call them). This included my day 1 novice self. There were plenty of "What the...?!" moments as I was instructed to do things like flip over, let go with one or both hands, etc.. But I was totally guided the whole time. People sometimes spotted me too, which I of course needed. My Parkour class was with Zach. Two words: instant addiction. Yet I still feel a little whirlwinded as to what exactly I'm addicted to because the moves kept outpacing my slow 'n' steady learning style. The students in my class were myself and this ex-gymnast girl. Maybe that's part of why after trying a trick just two or three times, another thing would be added, then another, and another. This instructional flow seemed to work, and he said we were getting the hang of the moves. So it wasn't long before an entire obstacle course formed to let us practice the budding arsenal of maneuvers non-stop. "Cardio" is an understatement for this type of workout. My Trapeze x Rope x Tissue class was by Emily. It was in a back-and-forth style, doing some work on the rope / tissue, then the trapeze, then the rope / tissue, and so on. I was so new that I didn't get around to the tissue, but the trapeze and rope were each more than a handful on their own. I'd had Jaron for a bit of rope previously, and Emily's teaching style was a little different (which was only natural since they're different people). What I liked is that she showed various ways to get into the positions, so if you weren't able to do one, you could try versions two through four - that kind of thing. Do I need to take more classes here? Duh. If I lived in Oakland, it would be a no-brainer. But I don't live in Oakland, so it's a brainer. One consideration is that, for those walking to and from BART, it can feel a little sketchy, especially if you're alone, especially if it's after nightfall, especially if you're not wearing all black and walking with swagger, especially if you don't know the slang for the different blocks along 7th Street. I'm kidding about that last one. Another thing is that some of the classes are only on particular days of the week. So if you're the type who does your workouts Mondays & Wednesdays or Tuesdays & Thursdays or just weekends, you might find yourself outright unable to take the special class you'd been eyeing. Be ready to flex your work / life schedule or explore classes you may not have initially considered. In fact, the schedule is the reason I wanted to give a 3-star rating. But the 5 emerged when I took into consideration all the community work this place does. Before taking my classes, the first time I was here was to see a production of Shakespeare's "The Comedy of Errors". Such theater presentations which collaborate with local drama troupes and the myriad programs for children are wonderful resources to cultivate youth. I wish I'd had such opportunities when I was growing up. read more

I appreciate the art that they teach, and the wealth of knowledge you can get in a single class. What I did not, and will never appreciate is the lack of cleanliness. Our instructor was leading us through a series of stretches, some of which required us to lay on the ground, and even put our faces on the floor. I was laying in dirt, hair, and even dog hair I noticed, and didn't want to do the full stretches on account of how disgusting the floor was. That being said, I would have rather stretched on the bathroom floor. It was a little cleaner. Someone really needs to steam clean that carpet, and vacuum regularly...and regularly means everyday as they have a number of groups in there everyday. I think a clean floor would have made it a much more enjoyable experience. read more

I just had to update this to say that the receptionists and the people running Kinetic are amazing and totally made my day! My Groupon package was expiring but I could not make my classes due to a personal injury. The Kinetic staff were incredibly patient, accommodating and generally wonderful about extending my package AND enrolling me into all the classes I wanted to be in. This was way beyond what my expectations and it just made me love them that much more, and made me that much more excited to attend my next class. This is not the first time I've received such amazing compassion and service from Kinetic. If you're looking for a place to try circus arts with wonderful teachers in a warm atmosphere, YOU CANT GO WRONG WITH KINETIC! read more

Disclaimer - I've only taken Pole Fit & Play classes here These are the most affordable, encouraging, fun, supportive, and ass kicking pole dance classes in the bay. read more

WOW! Saw a show here (Circus Odious), for the first time last night and was completely blown away by this place on every level. Show wise-Cirque du Soleil this is not folks....if you are looking for world class polish in performance, that is a machine ready to take yer doubloons. Rather, come here to have your socks charmed right off your feet. This place puts on an incredibly well produced production with 12-17 yr young kids who try their absolute hearts out. INCREDIBLE what they do. And it is wicked fun. The setting, the set, the costumes, the music, the content, the kids, OMG-who knew you could pull this off! The staff and facility are just excellent-place is run like a Swiss Watch With A Smile. Major Applause for what they are doing. We'll be regulars here now we know it exists..... Dear Kinetic Art Center: THANK YOU! read more

Trying to start doing aerial conditioning again, preferably trapeze or tissue. Rolled in there one weekend and encountered a very informative and friendly staff member, who didn't try to pressure me into any class ticket packs. Very helpful staff. Easy to get into classes even after the start of the term. Lots of class options. First class free! read more

I did about 20 weeks of classes at the wonderful Night Flight studio in Portland before moving south and coming here. This place is friendly and affordable but as an aerial beginner I didn't feel safe. The student/teacher ratio was higher than I'd like and I didn't feel confident that there was enough of an emphasis on core strengthening or technique to prevent injury. If you already know what you're doing this could be a great place to practice but I wouldn't go back and I DEFINITELY don't trust them enough to send a child to one of their classes. read more

Friendly staff, great space. There are a lot of things going on, but I thought it was really nice that Sara at the front desk gave me a tour of the space, since it was my first time there. It made me feel very welcome. How does it stack up to other circus arts gyms in the area? It smells less of BO, the staff was more patient, and they have "tester classes, where you can try out a bunch of different things if it's your first time to get a feel of what you might want to pursue. I've only been here once so far, but I like it better than any other gym of this sort I've visited in the Bay Area. read more

This place is the bee knee's for circus training and fitness! Jaron is top notch for character work and rope work. Here, there is literal clowning around, as I think a proper circus school should have. The staff and faculty here are great! They care about their students and recognize that customer service is truly an important thing. Tall ceiling and huge sapce! This place is cavernous. It feels like about 25 ft when I climb their silks and rope. Lots of points to hang silks and ropes, at least 7 I believe. I love the 3 trapezes set up in the back that is great for warm ups and conditioning. My complaint is that they don't have a dance rack. I truly miss torturing my poor muscles and tendons. Now I must stretch for my splits on the.... FLOOR! Great tragedy, i know.... Their squishy blue mat, totally does NOT smell like feet! Whenever I go into a fitness facility I always expect a certain fragrance about the place. It is such a treat to be training in a school that doesn't smell like a good cheese. Don't get me wrong, I love cheese and I really do enjoy the various other circus schools around the Bay, but cheesey mats while training is not the most ideal of situations. They also have a pretty dance studio that gets used for yoga or whatever else requires hardwood floors. They also have the most giant bathrooms. Someone put some though into designing that womens bathroom. That bathroom has 3 of the biggest stalls, plus plenty of open space to change in. I cannot vouche for or critique the mens restroom. My only complaint is that their water spigot is a little low for my fancy stainless steel water bottle, but alas.....i will live.... KAC I hearts you! =) read more

Recently went here for a Circus show. Was, as expected, blown away by the performances. The show incorporated lyra, Chinese pole, silks, trapeeze, acrobalancing, acrobatics, and bits of parkour. The performers were strong and graceful and immediately captivated our attention. The costuming and theming was intelligently done and helped to create a cohesive narrative for the piece. read more

Get the fitness on clown style!!! KAC has classes for the whole family. You get a workout and learn. From juggling to trapeze this joint has all the circus you can handle. My kiddo loves coming and has no idea he's getting the core workout of his life. He has a blast. Classes are reasonable and the first time is free! Private parking lot and well broken in sofas if your just waiting. You gotta check it out. p.s. Don't be tempted by Micky D's, Pizza Love, the donut shop, or Hong Kong Chinese across the street. Just saying. read more

My daughter loves it! So fun, creative & great exercise. The space is really awesome & it's more than just a gymnastics class. Also very flexible schedule. read more

I was looking for a teacher for tissu and trapeze and Emily came highly recommended. She's very straightforward in her approach. Her training is broad so she can explain how to approach the moves in a variety of ways that really help your kinesthetic awareness. She focuses a lot on technique and skills/strength building. From what I've heard from folks who's studied under a variety of teachers, she gives some of the best foundational training around. Whether your a beginner or a seasoned pro, her teaching will definitely help you improve your aerial performance skills. read more

What a great time! We just saw the show "Inversion: A Disobedient Circus" at the Kinetic Arts Center. The all tween and teen troupe wowed the audience with daring kinetic and entertaining circus acts -- climbing/spinning/hanging from ropes, straps, hoops, trapeze, and "tissue"; crazy group juggling; flips/rolls/group and solo balancing/hand stands/contortion; and fun comedic episodes woven in. The art director obviously had a good eye and good feel -- the visuals from make-up to sets to choreography of stunts were a treat; and the characters, storyline, and rhythm kept the audience well-entertained. To top if all off, the Kinetic Arts Center doesn't just host these fun shows -- they offer classes for kids of all ages to learn the skills required so they can participate themselves. Cool stuff. Our son is taking one of the introductory Parkour classes and can't get enough. read more

We brought our 2 year old here for a Wee Circus class one Sunday. I don't know how many people know this class if offered, as I've never really seen it advertised, nor heard any of my friends talk about it. However, my husband and son learned about it during a random visit to see what the Kinetic Arts Center is all about. The class itself was great! It was different than a standard gym class you might find for toddlers. Although it of course had some of the same elements (running, tumbling, swinging, etc.) - I felt it was much more unique and entertaining. I love that the instructor brought down the aerial silks (yes, I had to look up what these are called!) for use at the end of class. I look forward to taking my son to additional classes, as well as attending a circus performance (when grandparents, aka babysitters, are present!) It's exciting to have such a unique performing arts center in our backyard. read more

I was introduced to the Kinetic Arts Center via a Living Social voucher. After my voucher was completed I bought a package deal, because I love tissu aka Aerial silks!!! I've been to studios on west side of the bay, but have remained at Kinetic Arts Center because the classes give me flexibility both literally and figuratively (don't have to sign up for 8 weeks consecutively, class is also taught mid-day, rope is taught in addition to tissu, parking is available in a small private lot, and I'm not paying an additional yearly registration and insurance fee above what I'm already paying per class. It's located in a large warehouse structure that has easy access to and from 880. Wi-Fi is also available if you have a guest who has to wait for you. Other circus themed classes are available for the entire range of ages. The teachers are great and you'll surprise yourself with what you can do. read more

I am a coach at the Kinetic Arts Center and I love working here. Its a great facility, amazing staff, and the community that I have been searching for as an artist. I also take classes are generally very small and I get the attention that is often lacking in fitness classes. GO KAC read more

Had a great time taking an aerial / trapeze intro class on a Sunday night. Plenty of parking, and easily accessible from the freeway. A friend brought us here, and your first class can be taken free. What a great workout and learning new skills. The instructor was inspiring, and she fit in a good number of new skills on both trapeze and rope for us to learn. She definitely helped build up our confidence, and we were able to do 3-4 neat little tricks by the end of class. Would love to come back. read more

I just saw Inversion last night. What an unexpected surprise. It was fantastic. I was expecting to enjoy myself and see a lot of kids who were good from some classes at Kinetic Arts, and what I got was not only some VERY skilled acrobats, trapeze/ropes, parkour, but a very creative, intelligent, well put-together theatrical production. I have a theatre background so I really appreciated the characters and theme that went along with it. Really great comedic/dramatic acting. Very clever set. Lot's of unexpected bits. Loved the part where my husband got a cat face drawn on him by a "disobedient" circus performer! Hilarious! Was sad when it ended! Hats off to the director of this show and all the young performers who put a lot of heart and sweat into it! Yea! read more

We had our son's 8 yo bday party here and it was a HUGE hit!!! The staff was exceptional with all the communications and planning!! The coaches were amazing with the different age groups and really kept the kids engaged!! We were super impressed by Kinetic Arts Center!!! read more

Just had my 50th birthday party at Kinetic Arts Center and it was AMAZING! In one place...acrobatic class for kids; aerial class for teens/adults; buffet style food service; entertainment (psychics and flash tattoos); beverage/bar service AND dancing. Everyone was thrilled with all the entertainment; space, and most importantly, service. KAC staff took care of all my needs intuitively. All I had to do was enjoy my guests. I will be shouting their praises for a long time to come. Thank you Kinetic Arts Centers! read more

I took a few contortion classes with Elliot. He is great! He's nice enough to add things to the class if there is stuff you particularly want to work on. Before coming here, I couldn't get into the posture in my profile photo without someone putting my hands on my feet. He showed me some great back and shoulder openers that I continued to do outside of class...and not long after, I could get into that pose by myself! The class sizes are really small! I think one time there was 3 of us. Leave your ego at the door, because the classes can be mixed ages...and those kids are amazing. My 32 yr old butt was one of 4 students in a class with three very impressive pre-teens! I loved it because it made me feel like a kid again! read more

Our family of 4 watched a show here (Circus Veritas). We did not know exactly what to expect but left amazed and dazzled by the talent and strength of the performers! Our 10 year old hates having to sit through shows, musicals... anything that forces him to leave the house, but having taken gymnastics, he was able to appreciate the show and feats that made your jaw drop. Our teenager also took boys gymnastics and knows what incredible strength you need to perform the "flag", which is where you hold your body perpendicular to the pole you're holding onto! The performance was executed smoothly, with grace and a quickness that made it look deceptively easy! An intimate venue where there is no bad seat in the house. We can hardly wait for the next one! The theme of this show was about how everyone lies. We could not fully appreciate much of the banter of the performers, but loved the humor the lead male talent brought to the stage! Overall, many thanks to the team for an amazing evening! read more

Fantastic large space with plenty of parking in the back. Kinetic Arts Center has classes for everyone, and not just kids. Wonderful helpful staff. Attended Kinetic Art's grand opening yesterday. Relaxing yoga class in the morning followed by an amazing display of virtuosity during their evening open house show: clowns, aerial arts, tumbling! If these folks teach as well as they perform--and so far they have for me--this place is going to be amazing. Check it out. read more

This place was way tougher than I thought, and all I did was the handstand class. When in my handstand, I kept saying how I need to hold the pose and at the minimum outperform the 12 yr olds. I didn't. There's a reason everyone here is buff. This stuff is hard. But fun. So if you're an adult and want to do something fun to kill some time on a rainy day, or just be a kid again, or calibrate on how weak you are, check out their class schedules. The flying trapeze shops (in Oakland and SF) are also a blast. It's too bad bars are what most adults are interested in. Sigh. read more

My 8 year old daughter has been attending classes for almost a year now and has been very happy. We introduced circus to her through there summer camps. She was taken by the stilts, the tissue, and the group acrobatics. SInce camp was such a good experience, we started a performance class that has the kids learning rope, tissue and trapeze. They always begin with a warm up in order to safely move into more rigorous muscle training. I love that she is building strength and stamina through such fun and creative activities. It is such good upper body work that kids normally don't get through daily play. They have a great space there and a very friendly and supportive environment for learning. It's been a wonderful, creative outlet for her. read more

I signed my daughter up online for a parkour class. To get to the first class, we raced across town, getting stuck in traffic (the normally 20 minutes drive ended up being 45 minutes) arriving 12 minutes late to what is basically their gussied-up shed in West Oakland (the class runs 55 minutes). The desk person told my daughter to hurry up and go to the bathroom, and had me hastily fill out the waivers. She then went to tell the instructor that my daughter had arrived. The desk person came back and said we couldn't do the class -- my daughter had missed the warm period and would have to return another day. Explaining they have a policy -- claiming this is somehow related to safety -- no to allow latecomers into class. When I pointed out there was nothing online that said if you were late you weren't allowed to attend, the desk person invited my daughter to sit and watch the class. How f-ing insensitive to tell a kid no you can't do the class but you can sit on your -ss and watch ohter kids do it? Don't waste your money on this place. read more

Our 7 year old has been taking circus classes here for a couple of months and I can not say enough good about the place! The teachers (in our case Slater and Gina) are fun, funny, kind, attentive and also have as much energy as the kids! read more

I've taken two classes here so far. The instructors are very knowledgeable but not the most friendly. They seem very fact oriented and not always the most encouraging. That said, I would still return because I can gain a lot from their knowledge. read more

I go to KAC three times a week for the noon Anusara yoga class that is taught by Liz Maxwell. Her hour long class quickly became part of my weekly routine. The classes are small. Liz does hands on adjustments and give back & foot massages (feels so good!). This is my first experience with Anusara yoga - having practiced Vinyasa and Iyengar and Yin back when I lived in San Mateo. In Liz's class, we hold postures and are mindful of breathing. However, you will feel the burn. (She holds splits for 5 minutes, I swear...) Every class is different. Liz has a good sense of humor. On the day before Thanksgiving, she had us do "bird poses". Liz offers beginners a positive, encouraging environment, gives modifications for people with injuries and challenges more advanced students. She also plays music (eclectic modern rock/pop collection) that underscores the mood evoked by the posture (amazing, how that happens). I have surprised myself 3 times thus far in her classes by doing Crane, Full Wheel and Bird of Paradise poses. I attribute my accomplishments in part to Liz's non judgmental, very mellow approach. In addition, after 8 classes, I feel as though my shoulders are much more open and mobile. There is a Pilates mat class on Thursdays at 9:30a taught by Emily, who teaches Trapeze. I went to one class and enjoyed Emily's demonstration of proper Pilates breathing by having us wrap a belt around the rib cage. There is a 90 minute Kinetic Flow class taught by Michelle on Thursday nights. Will check that out in the future. The yoga studio wood floor is brand new. There are space heaters (thanks Jaron!) that are on during class. There are thick, high quality mats (free rental) provided. There are also blocks, bolsters, blankets, straps. Bathroom is clean. One thing I noticed - there are No mirrors - even in the bathroom. I don't mind, however, it does present a challenge in some postures when I'm trying to get my hips in one line. The staff (Victoria, Jaron, Jen) are very friendly and enthusiastic. Jen, who is the KAC administrator, invited me to her dance company's performance (A-mused Collective) the other evening in Berkeley. J and I enjoyed it very much. There is a large, free parking lot adjacent to the center, so parking is never a problem. I'm glad to be part of KAC and support this local business. read more