Bolla di Sapone – Scuola di Circo

Bolla di Sapone is a fun and educational circus school located in Trento, in the Trentino-Alto Adige region.

Supported by the Mercanti di Luce ASD sports association, it is one of the main structures dedicated to learning circus arts in the Trentino region.

The school is run by Tommaso Brunelli , an artist, educator and head of Bolla di Sapone for many years.

A contemporary approach to the circus

The project was born with the desire to offer Trento a contemporary approach to the circus, far removed from a logic of sporting competition.

The school places greater emphasis on body awareness , creativity , personal expression , cooperation , and the joy of progress .

Bolla di Sapone is aimed at children, teenagers and adults.

As it has developed, the school has welcomed more than 150 students and built an offering that allows students to discover a very wide range of circus disciplines.

The subjects taught

Children begin with a multidisciplinary approach.

Juggling

Juggling is one of the major families of techniques taught. Students learn to manipulate different objects.

• The balls help to develop coordination, rhythm and precision.
• The diabolo is also part of the equipment regularly used.
• Clubs then allow for further development of juggling skills and, in particular, the introduction of passing techniques.
• Hoops and various manipulative objects can also be incorporated into training.

The balance

Bolla di Sapone is also developing significant work around balance .

• Unicycling is one of the disciplines taught.
• Stilts allow you to work on another form of dynamic balance and movement.
• Tightrope walking is also part of the curriculum.
• Various objects and balancing apparatus complement this practice.

Acrobatics

Floor acrobatics is another pillar of the training. Students gradually learn the basics that allow them to develop mobility, coordination, strength, and body awareness.

The school also offers dynamic acrobatics . Vertical exercises allow for a specific development of hand balance.

Acrobalance is an important discipline offered by Bolla di Sapone. This practice is based on sharing weight and balance among several people. It can incorporate elements of acroyoga and acrobatic partnering . The work can be static or dynamic. Students progressively learn lifts, counterweights, transitions, and different ways to build group figures.

Aerial disciplines

Aerial disciplines also occupy an important place in the school.

• Aerial silks are taught in specific courses. Adults have access to beginner and intermediate groups.
• The trapeze is integrated into multidisciplinary curricula.
• Aerial hoop is also taught.
• The Chinese pole completes the offering aimed particularly at teenagers.

The diversity of techniques thus allows a young student to discover several families of circus arts before possibly identifying the disciplines he wishes to pursue further.

The courses

The multidisciplinary curriculum for high school students

The school notably offers a multidisciplinary curriculum for high school students. For the 2026-2027 season, this program combines aerial acrobatics, ground acrobatics, juggling, balancing, and elements of dance.

• The young people there work on aerial silks , trapeze , aerial hoop and Chinese pole .
• The acrobatics program includes acrobalance , verticals and dynamic acrobatics .
• The juggling section includes balls , diabolo , clubs and passing .
• Balancing techniques include tightrope walking , unicycling , and stilt walking .

Specialized teachers may intervene on an ad-hoc basis to delve deeper into certain disciplines. This structure gives teenagers a particularly comprehensive view of contemporary circus .

The offer for adults

Adults also have a diverse range of options.

• Aerial silks classes are offered at several levels. A complete beginner can therefore start without any prerequisites before progressing to an intermediate level.
• Acrodance is also part of the adult program. This discipline combines the fluidity of dance with the dynamism of acrobatics. It allows for the development of physical work in which technical elements are progressively integrated into movement.
• Acrobalance also has its own courses and workshops.

Spaces dedicated to juggling

Bolla di Sapone also offers spaces specifically dedicated to juggling. The palestra allenamento giocolieri welcomes teenagers and adults.

Participants can practice individual juggling with balls, clubs, hoops, diabolo or poi . Group juggling is also practiced through partnering , passing and different forms of object exchange.

The school is also interested in contemporary forms of juggling. The work may incorporate mathematical juggling , the relationship between body and movement, or creative exploration with objects.

An educational and non-competitive pedagogy

This dimension perfectly illustrates Bolla di Sapone's contemporary approach. The goal is not simply to reproduce technical figures. Students are encouraged to understand how a technique can become a means of expression and creation .

The school also considers circus arts a powerful educational tool . Practice develops body awareness and movement skills. It allows students to work on precision, harmony, and rhythm.

Cooperation and teamwork are central. Unlike many traditional sports, learning is not primarily based on competition . Students can have very different abilities while participating in the same project. This philosophy allows individual achievements to be valued while maintaining a collective dynamic.

School interventions and internships

Bolla di Sapone also works with schools and educational institutions in the area. In 2026 , for example, the school participated in summer activities that allowed children to discover juggling, balance, and acrobatics. The exercises were used to develop concentration, coordination, body awareness, collaboration, and mutual trust.

The school also organizes internships and workshops . These events allow students to occasionally discover new techniques or work with specialist instructors.

A significant artistic activity

Bolla di Sapone also has a significant artistic activity. The team develops various shows combining circus, theatre and music.

The Microcirco project is one of his most original creations. It's a veritable small, traveling circus tent designed for a deliberately limited audience. Circus performances are presented there in a particularly intimate atmosphere. The project can also be complemented by wooden games, circus and theater workshops, and other activities that bring the space around the tent to life.

The school also organizes or participates in various festivals and events in Trentino. This activity creates a direct link between teaching , creation , and the dissemination of contemporary circus . Students thus become part of a structure whose activities extend far beyond weekly classes.

Cultural and scientific development

Bolla di Sapone also contributes to the cultural development of circus arts in its region. In 2026 , Tommaso Brunelli participated in the artistic and scientific direction of CircoXperience , a festival combining circus and science, organized in partnership with the MUSE – Museo delle Scienze in Trento. This type of project illustrates the team's interest in the intersection of circus, education, culture, and science.

The places

The school currently has its main hall at the Oratorio di Sant'Antonio , Via Sant'Antonio 20 in Trento. Another hall, the Kripta del Cirque , is also mentioned by the organization. Activities can also be organized at other partner venues in Trento and the Trentino region.

A leading school

The 2026-2027 season confirms the current vitality of the school with courses for young people and adults and several levels of practice.

After more than fifteen years of development, Bolla di Sapone has become a particularly comprehensive school. Its wide range of techniques allows students to discover juggling, balancing and unicycling as well as aerial disciplines, acrobatics or acrodance.

Its non-competitive pedagogy , its artistic activity and its involvement in various cultural and educational projects make Bolla di Sapone an important structure for the discovery and practice of contemporary circus in Trentino.