Armazém Aério – Academia de Novo Circo

Armazém Aério is a new circus academy and company specializing in aerial arts, based in Lisbon and Almada in Portugal.

The project was founded in 2004 by several artists from the LUA show at Circo da Lua .

In its early days, the artists trained in an old Benfica warehouse, which is the origin of the name Armazém Aério .

The project has gradually developed around two complementary activities: professional creation and the transmission of circus arts .

The academy

The academy now welcomes children, teenagers and adults.

The courses are accessible to both people with no experience and those already practicing aerial disciplines.

Teaching is organized by levels to allow for progression adapted to each student's abilities.

• Beginners gradually learn the fundamentals necessary for safe aerial practice.
• The experienced and advanced levels then allow for a deeper understanding of the technique and the development of more complex movements.
• A Masters class also welcomes students selected and invited by the teaching team.

The subjects taught

Aerial acrobatics form the core of the teaching.

• Aerial silks are among the main apparatus used.
• The trapeze allows for the development of a different approach to suspension and movement.
• The lira , or aerial hoop, completes this training.
• The rope and the aerial net are also among the apparatus used by the academy.

The training places great emphasis on the development of strength , body control , and technical precision .

Students gradually learn to understand the different supports needed to perform aerial movements.

A pedagogy centered on safety

Safety is a central element of pedagogy.

The inherent risk in aerial disciplines is introduced gradually and accompanied by the teachers.

The goal is to allow practitioners to progress while developing their autonomy and understanding of the techniques used.

Physical preparation

Physical preparation naturally accompanies this work.

Practice helps develop strength , flexibility , balance and coordination .

It also requires concentration and body awareness .

A holistic artistic approach

However, Armazém Aério does not limit its teaching to the purely technical dimension.

The academy also offers work around performance , dance and theatre .

These disciplines allow students to explore interpretation and stage presence .

Artistic creation thus occupies an important place in the educational process.

A non-competitive environment

The educational environment is intentionally non-competitive .

Students are encouraged to learn from each other and share their knowledge.

The groups can bring together different levels of practice.

This organization promotes observation , mutual support and transmission among practitioners.

Teachers support each student according to their level and progress.

The academy seeks to develop physical qualities as well as confidence , resilience and concentration .

Freedom to experiment and discover is also encouraged.

Workshops and stage experience

Multidisciplinary workshops are regularly offered to complement the weekly classes.

They allow students to discover new techniques and broaden their artistic practice.

The training also includes real-life stage experience .

Throughout the year, students can participate in several public performances.

The techniques learned during the courses are then integrated into original thematic creations.

Each group participates in a collective task adapted to its level.

These performances allow for the development of stage experience alongside technical learning.

The shows are notably presented at the Teatro da Luz in Lisbon and at the Incrível Almadense in Almada.

Activities during the holidays

Armazém Aério also develops activities for children and teenagers during the holidays.

These projects combine physical activity , artistic discovery , creativity and conviviality around the world of the circus.

The professional company

The professional company constitutes the other major component of the project.

She has been creating and presenting new circus shows and performances since 2004.

Its artists perform in theatres and cultural spaces as well as in urban or natural settings.

Aerial disciplines can thus utilize buildings, architectural structures and various unconventional spaces.

Over the years, the company has developed its own creations and collaborated with numerous artists, producers and cultural organizations.

This professional activity helps to maintain a direct link between the academy and the world of circus arts creation.

A comprehensive project

Armazém Aério also has spaces that can accommodate work , training and creation .

The project thus combines amateur practice, technical improvement, stage experience and professional artistic activity.

For more than twenty years, Armazém Aério has contributed to the development and dissemination of aerial arts and new circus in Portugal.