Come to the Santa Monica Pier and imagine you’re flying over the ocean when you take a lesson at the Santa Monica Trapeze School.
History of the Trapeze School on the Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica Trapeze School was originally an offshoot of the Trapeze School New York (TSNY), founded in December 2001 by three people who were inspired by the power of flying trapeze to provide people with a renewed sense of possibility and transform their outlook on life. What started as a a small seasonal school in Manhattan, expanded into a business with schools in 5 different cities – New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Boston and Santa Monica.
TSNY opened their Santa Monica location in Spring 2008 with panoramic views of the Southern California coastline. Opening day was filled with a spectacular first show along with a performance by members of the LA Philharmonic Orchestra. The Pier has been a great venue ever since, with it’s iconic location and Pacific Park’s Pacific Wheel Ferris wheel shadowing in the background for flyers. Every class seems like a show with thousands of visitors and people walking by and watching each day. The school has also been featured in several film projects, including the sitcom Modern Family. TSNY sold the Santa Monica location to its manager in 2023; it is now just Santa Monica Trapeze School.
Classes and Birthday Parties at the Trapeze School
Santa Monica Trapeze School offers a variety of classes and workshops to accommodate flyers of all experience levels, from the novice to seasoned flyers. Classes range from around $40-$60 and it is recommended you sign up in advance online or at the school. The Trapeze School also hosts birthday parties on the Santa Monica Pier, in addition to corporate team building events, school outings and more. Private classes can be scheduled.
Location and Hours
Hours and days of operation vary; please check the schedule ahead of time online prior to visiting. The Trapeze School is located at 370 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica CA 90401. If you’re walking down the main boardwalk of the Pier, you’ll find it on your left side just after Playland Arcade and right before Pacific Park’s Pier Gear and food court. Their telephone number is (310) 394-5800.
Feature image courtesy of @kellygwynn.