Dear Circus Spot Families,
I’m writing to let you know that The Circus Spot will be closing its doors on Saturday, 31st May 2025.
After almost 15 years of running this school, this has been an incredibly difficult decision to make. The Circus Spot has been a huge part of my life — and of many of yours — and I want to start by saying thank you. Thank you for being part of this community, for trusting us as your coaches and your children’s coaches, and for helping shape something so joyful, creative, and unique.
While the school still has a strong base of students, I’ve reached a point where continuing to operate the business no longer aligns with my capacity or direction. Over the past 18 months, I’ve faced some significant health challenges that have led me to reassess what I can sustainably manage. Ultimately, I’ve realised that I need to prioritise my wellbeing and step away from running the school.
The demands of running The Circus Spot have become increasingly stressful, and it’s been difficult to maintain the environment in line with the vision that originally inspired me — a warm, inclusive, and creative space for people to grow through circus. Letting go of that vision has been painful, but necessary.
I’m proud of what we’ve built — and deeply grateful for the support we’ve received from families, students, and coaches over the years.
To our coaching team — past and present — thank you. Your dedication, care, and passion have shaped this school and left a lasting impact on the lives of our students.
I’d also like to make a special acknowledgement of Free Coulston, whose contributions over many years — both as a leading coach and in designing our aerial curriculum — were instrumental in shaping The Circus Spot. Free supported me long before the school existed, believed in the dream of creating a circus space, and has continued to be one of my strongest supporters. Even after moving into academic work, her passion for teaching circus and sharing knowledge freely has never wavered.
One of the things I’m most proud of is the effect The Circus Spot has had on the people who’ve trained here. Beyond circus skills, this space has helped students grow in confidence, develop a strong sense of identity, physicality, and self-worth. For many, it’s been a safe and energising place to express themselves, challenge themselves, and build community. That kind of impact — though harder to measure than career milestones — is deeply important, and I carry it with me as one of the most meaningful legacies of this school.
We’ve also had the privilege of seeing many students and coaches go on to professional careers in circus, and our studio has quietly supported the development of countless shows. But even for those who’ve since moved on from circus entirely, I know that their time at The Circus Spot has shaped them — and that’s something I will always be proud of.
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Important Information:
Final classes will run through Saturday, 31st May.
No fees will be charged for June, as billing operates on a calendar-month basis.
Students may attend their usual classes until the end of May.
Make-up tokens may be used during the final two weeks, but cannot be redeemed for refunds or credits.
No refunds will be issued for fees already paid.
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Looking ahead, we’ll be liquidating our equipment and other assets. The school has continued operating in recent times thanks in part to external financial support, and the proceeds from this process will go towards meeting those obligations. It’s important to me that we close with integrity and transparency, but I won’t go into all the financial details here.
There are many, many people — staff past and present, collaborators, and supporters — to whom I owe a great deal of thanks. I hope to share a fuller expression of that gratitude in the coming weeks.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. I know this news may come as a surprise — some of you might feel sadness or disappointment. I feel it too. But I also believe that endings can be meaningful, and I hope we can make these final two weeks as fun and memorable as possible.
With deep gratitude,
Dan Rabin
Owner & Director
The Circus Spot