Circus Pedagogy! Could It Be Truth?

Those days, such words as “education”, “non-formal education”, “learning tools”, “education methods”, “practical education” etc. are enough popular in many people minds and lips but usually stay there just in words. I have read somewhere in social media “show me – don’t tell me!”

Tell me, have you ever been in circus? I guess “Yes” and not only once or twice… but could you tell me, what do you know about circus pedagogy? Being honest, before the project “Circus pedagogy as a tool for youth work development” I haven’t known anything, I wasn’t even sure if it exists. So, took a risk prepared and applied project in Erasmus plus programme KA1 framework together with 11 countries – Finland, Denmark, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Greece, Italy and Portugal. I don’t know, what reasons caused the success of confirmation the project as the successful one, but truly believe – this is important not only in local level but international too. If experts of Finish National Agency agree (and we all know Finish education system and learning outcomes are the best) so who else could be against?

We used circus activities as a form of pedagogy in teaching and in non-formal education. Our main idea is that circus activity is appealing and fun for everybody, making it ideal as a tool for educational work with youngsters. The aim is to introduce youth workers and youngsters too positive, healthy activities that encourages co-operation, and strengthen confidence, while developing co-ordination and persistence. The end result is much more than learning these skills – it also helps to improve self-esteem, build on a social capital and direct people towards positive ways of living.

The main goal of our project is to teach the participants basics of various circus skills such as partner and group acrobatics, juggling, diabolo, balloon modeling… and show them how to prepare and implement a circus workshop which they can use as a tool in their work with youngsters. On the end of our training course all the participants will be equipped with knowledge how to prepare and implement a basic circus pedagogy workshop on their own. After the project their task will be to lead a circus pedagogy workshop for youngsters in their country.

During the project 26 participants (with the help of trainers) have prepared a short circus show which they have performed for the local community. It’s important to note mostly all of them tried to prepare such kind of show first time in life. After the show the participants have been leading the circus pedagogy workshop for the local community and test their newly learned skills.

Let’s think about continuity of project activities. Some circus activities could become a part of physical education classes, could become like extra non-formal education activities at school or non-governmental organisations and of course could become like good practise for sharing in the future projects and collaborations. You know: “Sharing is caring!” and this is the most important whatever you do. Any knowledge, competences or attitudes doesn’t matter anything if you don’t share it with others surrounding you.

Host organization: Haminan Teinisirkus

Trainers: Anja Mikič and Denis Crovella, Association CIK and Cirkus La Bulle

Project consortium:

1.Finland – Haminan Teisisirkus ry (hamina youth circus)

2.Slovenia- Association CIK & Cirkus La Bulle

3.Italy – Associazione Giocolieri e Dintorni

4.Danmark – Cirkus stjerneskud (Circus Shooting Star)

5.Lithuania – VsI “Idejos ir sprendimai” (PI “Ideas and solutions”)

6.Romunia – Centrul de Voluntariat Resita (Resita Volunteer Center)

7.Slovakia – A.D.E.L. – Association for Development, Education and Labour

8.Bulgaria – Foundatsiy “ADELE” (ADELE foundation)

9.Greece – POLIANA