I. Inclusivity
Wise Fool believes that creating a safe environment goes beyond physical safety, but includes emotional and social safety. Wise Fool strives to be a safe space for folks of all ages, genders, ethnicities, immigration status, abilities and religion. Please feel free to let a staff member know if you experience or witness someone experiencing an interaction that does not respect their dignity, and social or emotional health.
All students, staff, and instructors are expected to respect individuals’ chosen names and pronouns. If you don’t know someone’s pronouns, don’t assume – ask!
Negative self-talk is not allowed in the studio. Students are prohibited from commenting on other people’s bodies, weight, or appearance. Encouragement, supportive language, and constructive feedback (with consent) are welcomed.
Harassment, bullying, or discriminatory behavior of any kind will not be tolerated. Any incidents should be reported immediately to staff.
II. Safety Policies
Please familiarize yourself with the location of our exit paths, fire extinguishers, and First Aid cabinet. View our studio’s Emergency Plan.
All accidents must be reported to staff & recorded in the Incident Report Log. This is located next to the First Aid Cabinet. If you witness an incident or accident, please let a staff member know.
Appropriate clothing is required for aerial classes to reduce the risk of injury or accident, as well as damage to equipment. Suggested attire includes exercise clothing that accommodates free movement, and covers armpits, knees, and midriff areas. Shirts long enough to be tucked into your pants are ideal for inverting. Long hair should be tied back, and caution exercised with excessively long nails.
Not Allowed:
- Rings, watches, bracelets, necklaces, or dangly earrings
- Zippers, metal studs, anything on clothing that could snag aerial apparatus
- Ties, strings that dangle, excessively baggy clothing, or anything that could wrap around or snag aerial apparatus
- Chewing gum
A crash mat must be in place prior to any aerial training. Each aerial point should have its own crash mat.
No one may touch, use, or adjust aerial rigging equipment under any circumstances – unless they have been trained as an Approved Rigger. No one may use aerial apparatuses outside of class or without instructor supervision.
Training on aerial apparatuses or stilts is not permitted without at least one other person present in the studio – never train alone! Only approved Cirque Atelier members (formerly referred to as Open Trainers) may train in the studio space outside of scheduled class or Open Studio times.
Members of our Cirque Atelier program are bound to additional policies: POLICIES: Cirque Atelier Program (Open Training)
Do not attend class if ill or injured. Please do not come into the studio if you have had a fever within the last 24 hours, vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours, worsening or non-improving respiratory symptoms (persistent cough, shortness of breath), or draining skin sores that cannot be covered. Report any injuries or health conditions to the instructor before class. Instructors will provide modifications for diverse needs wherever possible. We want to make sure you stay safe and feel supported in class.
III. Studio Etiquette
Outside of water – NO food, drink, or gum in training areas. No glass containers in the space. Please take all food trash with you to dispose of outside of the studio. Respect the shared space and please clean up after yourselves!
Personal belongings can be stored in cubbies during class. Please contact staff if you have lost something and they will direct you to our Lost & Found. Lost items are kept through the end of each session, and then donated if unclaimed.
Do not wear shoes on acromats or crash pads. Shoes are OK on bare floors, or when stilting. Exceptions can be made for access needs.
Follow instructor guidance at all times. Do not attempt to assist, spot, or teach other students – whether in or out of class.
IV. Attendance Policies
Wise Fool operates on an eight (8) week session format. Most sessions are followed by a two (2) week long studio break so that staff can maintain equipment and deep clean the studio. There may be some exceptions in session length based on other programs or events.
All classes require a minimum enrollment of 4 students. Both Series & Drop-In classes may be subject to cancellation if they are under-enrolled. In these cases, students will be issued refunds via class credits.
Students who can no longer attend a class they registered for are asked to cancel with 24+ hour notice. They will receive class credits equivalent to their original payment.
If notice is given in under 24 hours, it is considered a Late Cancel and the student will not receive their class credits back.
If a student does not cancel and does not attend class, it is considered a No Show and they will be charged a $10 No Show Fee. Of course, we realize that life happens – so please reach out if you have an extenuating circumstance.
V. Payment & Refunds
Classes are nonrefundable and nontransferrable. In some cases, we may provide account credit equivalent to the original payment, which can be applied towards future classes or programs.
Payment by cash or check is accepted with 36 hours prior notice.
Drop-In Classes are offered on a weekly, recurring basis. While it is not required to sign up ahead of time for drop-in classes, we highly recommend reserving your spot in advance! Drop-in classes can be paid for using our Drop-In rates, Class Packages, or Monthly Membership options.
Series Classes are multi-week courses that meet on a weekly, recurring basis throughout a session. Students must commit to the full duration of the program, with limited make-up passes offered to students who can’t attend every single class date. Series classes can be paid for using our Series rates or Unlimited Monthly Membership options.
Makeup Passes: Valid for 2 weeks and can be used towards any Drop-In class of the same type as the original Series.
- Full Session – 3 makeup passes
- Half Session – 1 makeup pass
Monthly Recurring Memberships become effective on the day of purchase. After the minimum commitment has been fulfilled, the membership will continue being billed on a month-to-month basis. Monthly Memberships can be used towards Drop-In Classes only.
Financial Assistance is available for those in need. We have several options available for our students.
- Work-Trade Credits: Students can commit to a number of work tasks in exchange for credits that can be applied towards classes or memberships. Read more on Work-Trade policies here.
- Tuition Assistance: Wise Fool has limited grant funding that can be used to subsidize costs for community members in need. Submit an application for tuition assistance here.