Academy Circus – Foligno

Academy Circus is a laboratory dedicated to circus arts located in Sant'Eraclio , in the municipality of Foligno , in the province of Perugia in Umbria .

The project is supported by the Associazione di volontariato Carnevale dei Ragazzi di Sant'Eraclio , a local association strongly linked to popular culture, creation and entertainment.

An open approach to circus practice

Academy Circus develops a particularly open approach to circus practice. The venue is not designed as a traditional school where all participants must follow exactly the same program. It functions more as a permanent laboratory for practice, learning, and exchange.

Juggling, the main discipline

Juggling is one of the project's main disciplines. Academy Circus aims to demonstrate that it's not just for professional artists. Anyone who wants to learn how to manipulate objects and gradually develop new skills can take it up.

Learning can begin very simply. A ball and the desire to experiment are all you need to enter the world of juggling. This ease of access perfectly reflects the general philosophy of Academy Circus.

Beginners are welcome. Those with prior experience can also come to further develop their skills. The lab thus welcomes people of all levels in the same environment.

Two ways to learn

The sessions combine two learning methods. One part is dedicated to transmission . Those who have mastered a technique can explain to others how to perform it. Practitioners can thus share their knowledge and experiences. This approach promotes collective learning rather than a purely hierarchical relationship between teacher and student.

The second part of the sessions is devoted to free practice . Each participant can then review what they have just learned. They can work on a technique they have already mastered. They can also try out a new discipline.

This organization gives its members a great deal of autonomy . Everyone can progress at their own pace. Open training also allows participants to dedicate more time to a particular discipline when it becomes especially interesting to them.

Beyond juggling: aerial dance and stilt walking

Academy Circus is not limited to juggling, however. Aerial dance is another important aspect of the workshop. It allows participants to approach circus arts through working at height, movement, and physical expression.

Stilts constitute the third major category explicitly highlighted in the current program. Working on stilts profoundly alters the perception of the body and space. Participants must regain their balance at an unusual height. They must gradually learn to walk and control their movements.

Academy Circus presents this experience as a way to overcome certain apprehensions and relearn how to walk in a new situation. The practice naturally develops balance and coordination . It also has a strong spectacular dimension.

Stilt walking is historically linked to the circus, street arts, carnivals, and parades. This discipline therefore fits particularly well with the project's identity.

A free, creative, and intergenerational environment

The learning environment is presented as free and creative . The goal is not to place participants in a competitive mindset. They are encouraged to explore different practices. Curiosity plays an important role.

A participant might initially come for juggling and then discover stilt walking or aerial arts. Conversely, someone drawn to aerial dance might use the workshop to begin manipulating objects. This movement between disciplines helps create a broader circus culture .

The project also has an intergenerational dimension. Academy Circus presents its activities as open to participants of all ages. However, the current offerings particularly emphasize adult sessions and open training.

Regular meetings for the 2026-2027 season

For the 2026-2027 season, regular sessions are held twice a week . Participants can come on Wednesday evenings . A second session is organized on Fridays . These sessions allow for regular practice throughout the season.

One place: the Cartoon Park of Sant'Eraclio

The laboratory takes place at the Cartoon Park in Sant'Eraclio . This place is part of the world of the Carnevale dei Ragazzi di Sant'Eraclio .

The connection between Academy Circus and carnival is particularly interesting. Circus arts have historically had many links with popular festivals, street performances, costumes, object manipulation, and street art. Stilt walking fits naturally into this environment. The presence of a circus workshop within this association therefore helps maintain a link between technical practice and performance culture .

A continuity for several years

Academy Circus also possesses a genuine continuity . The project's archives show that the laboratory already existed several years before the current season. In 2022-2023 , for example, its operation was already based on the same fundamental idea.

The laboratory was presented as a free space where participants could train. The sessions were already divided into a teaching component and an independent training component. This continuity demonstrates that the current operation is not a one-off experiment. The project has maintained its philosophy while adapting its schedule.

The 2026-2027 season

The 2026-2027 season is an excellent confirmation of its activity. The resumption of activities has been set for Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Matches are held on Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The program explicitly features juggling , aerial dance , and stilt walking . Beginners are welcome. Those already familiar with certain disciplines can also participate. This coexistence of different skill levels is probably one of Academy Circus's main distinguishing features.

The workshop can serve as an entry point into circus arts. But it can also provide a regular training space for people who already have experience. This approach is particularly valuable in a city that may not have a large professional circus school.

A horizontal pedagogy

It allows for the creation of a local community of practitioners . The transmission of knowledge between participants then plays an essential role. A person who has mastered a technique can help another. The roles can then be reversed when another discipline is introduced.

This horizontal teaching approach naturally fosters cooperation and exchange . It also helps make the practice more accessible. Academy Circus does not require new participants to arrive with a specific skill level. The desire to learn is the main prerequisite.

There is currently no selective annual program available to prepare students for entry into a higher circus school. Nor is there any advertised artistic diploma.

A clear and relevant positioning

For the NetJuggler directory, Academy Circus should therefore be classified among amateur schools and workshops . The term "laboratory" is particularly apt to describe its operation. The structure lies somewhere between a recreational school , a training space , and a community of practice . This identity deserves to be retained in its presentation.

The advertised technical variety is less extensive than in some major Italian schools. But this isn't necessarily a weakness. On the contrary, Academy Circus has a clear positioning .

• Juggling forms its historical foundation.
• Stilts bring a strong street art dimension.
• Aerial dance allows the practice to be broadened towards acrobatic and expressive disciplines.
• Free training then allows participants to develop their own route.

This format is particularly suitable for adults wishing to discover circus arts without committing to a highly structured program. It is also appealing to local jugglers or artists simply looking for a place to practice regularly. Offering two weekly evening sessions makes this easier.

A strong local identity

Academy Circus thus contributes to maintaining a regular practice of circus arts in the Foligno area. Its connection with the Carnevale dei Ragazzi di Sant'Eraclio also gives it a distinctive local identity. The project combines circus practice , community culture , and festive tradition .

For anyone looking to practice juggling, stilt walking, or aerial arts in Foligno, Academy Circus is a particularly relevant option. Its open approach encourages both discovery and personal development .

Beginners are welcome to come and try it out. More experienced practitioners can continue their training. And knowledge is shared among the participants.

For NetJuggler, it also strengthens coverage in Umbria , with a regular and clearly active offering in 2026-2027 in the Foligno area.