Bianca Smith
•6/15/2026
BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. (WINK) — For many people, joining the circus sounds like a childhood dream. At Citrus Circus Center in Bonita Springs, it's something you can actually do after work, on the weekend or even as part of a fitness routine.
Inside the colorful training facility, students of all ages are learning skills that look straight out of a big top performance. From aerial silks and trapeze to juggling, acrobatics and balancing acts, Citrus Circus Center offers classes designed for beginners and experienced performers alike. The center opened in 2023 with a mission to create a safe, welcoming space where people can build strength, confidence and community through circus arts.
Co-owner Brittany Sparkles believes the circus is about much more than performing tricks.
"I realized I loved the circus when I saw how it combined fitness and the arts. That's when I was hooked," said Sparkles. "We want this to be a comfortable space for everyone to learn, whether you're 3 or 103."
According to Sparkles, students develop physical fitness, coordination, creativity and teamwork while learning skills that challenge both the body and mind.
"Whether someone is climbing aerial silks for the first time or perfecting a handstand, the focus is on having fun and challenging yourself," said Sparkles.
Sparkles brings years of professional circus experience to the center. She spent years touring and performing aerial silks and other circus acts before bringing her passion to Southwest Florida.
Her business partner, co-owner Mary Jain, took a very different path to the circus world.
"I met Brittnay through lyra lessons," said Jain. "I'd never done anything circus-related before. We clicked. If I could learn lyra at my age, I know anyone can come and try this."
That shared belief inspired the pair to open Citrus Circus Center.
"We decided to open this place because Southwest Florida had nothing quite like it," Jain said.
Today, the center offers classes for children, teens and adults, with instructors adapting lessons to meet students at their individual skill levels. The facility features a variety of activities, including aerial hoop, hammock, straps, trapeze, hula hooping, flexibility training, acrobatics, hand balancing and even bungee fitness.
For anyone who has ever watched a circus performer and wondered, "Could I do that?" Citrus Circus Center's answer is yes. In Bonita Springs, the circus isn't just something you watch. It's something you can be a part of.
