Cirque Wonderland

What dancers say

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  Stephen Mahoney

  Google

  · 6d ago· 2 reviews

  My daughter takes a class here every week. It’s a perfect space for kids and teens to build confidence and strength.

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  Matthew McIver

  Google

  · 6d ago· 3 reviews

  Our kids have taken classes here for years and loved it. The coaches are knowledgeable and supportive, and Felicia create a wonderful environment

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  Mary Edwards

  Local GuideGoogle

  · 6d ago· 8 reviews

  Amazing program! This is a welcoming and supportive space and the coaches, owner, & staff are all amazing!

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  Bridget Edwards

  Google

  · 6d ago· 4 reviews

  This is a fantastic studio with incredible coaches and a welcoming environment. They also do fun events!

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  Malia Hansen

  Local GuideGoogle

  · 6d ago· 14 reviews

  My experience with Cirque Wonderland was not a positive one, and it has been frustrating to process over time. What was presented as a welcoming and inclusive space did not always align with my personal experience there. When I spoke up about my concerns, I felt they were dismissed or minimized, which made it difficult for me to feel heard or supported in the space. This came after I shared that I experienced what I perceived as confrontational and inappropriate verbal behavior from a neighboring business owner at the time. I was told the cameras in the building were not working at that time, which added to my discomfort with the situation. I rented a room in the space for four years, prior to its expansion. In April 2023, I was told via phone call that a change in my massage clientele to better fit the space would be something to consider to fit the gym more, or that it might be best for me to leave. Later , I received an email stating it would be best for me to leave, along with a move-out timeline. I asked to have a conversation in person or by phone to try to come to a more mutual agreement, especially since I was there regularly, but that request was declined. I then received formal communication via email, which felt abrupt and uncomfortable, and reinforced my concerns based on my experience about how situations like this were handled compared to what I had understood when I first joined the space. In private conversations, I've heard perspectives that echoed some of my concerns around a disconnect between stated values and lived experiences. I understand that others may have different experiences, and I can only speak to my own. One example of that disconnect, from my point of view, was messaging like "any body can do aerial" not always feeling fully reflected in practice, particularly when some policies felt like they created barriers for people with different needs in my experience. For me, what started as a business misalignment became more personal over time. I’m sharing this to bring awareness and to encourage better alignment between values and action. I also always wondered why they seemed they were the only aerial arts place in des moines when they werent I do want to acknowledge that there were coaches I appreciated working with, including Bonnie, who I felt did embody the values that were expressed. This is being shared in the hope that it encourages reflection. My experience was disappointing, both as a business owner and as a person navigating the situation. TO CIRQUE AND FELICIA IN RESPONSE TO THEIR RESPONSE Thank you for your response. I understand that your perspective may differ. What I've shared reflects my personal experience with Felicia , our shared records of emails + the leasing agreement and how I was approached and was impacted by those interactions at the time. I'm not interested in continuing this conversation privately, as I've already attempted to have direct discussions in the past with Felicia without resolution or response. Many others have told me they experienced this as well. This comment feels like it is for show and not action. Many have stated that this gym might as well just be for kids because the adults often feel disregarded , lied to and unheard.

  Response from Cirque Wonderland

  Our records of our communications tell a different story; I'd welcome the chance to discuss that with you directly. Please feel free to reach out by phone or email; we take concerns like these seriously.

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  Eugen Burianov

  Google

  · 1w ago· 12 reviews

  We did two birthday party classes already for our children and we greatly enjoyed the experience and the fun the kids had.