Bunike – Contemporary circus workshops

Bunike – Contemporary circus association and educational workshops in Zagreb

Bunike is a Croatian association dedicated to the development of contemporary circus arts and performing arts, founded in 2023 in Zagreb . It stems from an artistic initiative led by Antonia Rončević and Dunja Čučman , two artists specializing in aerial disciplines.

The association develops activities in artistic creation , research and transmission. Its work combines aerial acrobatics, physical theatre, movement, dance, stage performance and contemporary forms of live performance.

It also organizes workshops for children and adults, as well as meetings with guest artists and educators.

An association born from an artistic project

Bunike was formed around the collaboration of Antonia Rončević and Dunja Čučman , two performers who notably work as a duo on aerial silks.

Their creations explore the relationships between circus techniques, social issues, and personal experiences.

Topics covered include feminism , folk traditions , psychology , and power dynamics .

The association is interested in how the body and movement can express situations that are difficult to represent with words alone.

This artistic approach is one of Bunike's main characteristics .

An activity for transmitting circus arts

From its inception, the association included artistic education among its objectives.

It organizes introductory and advanced workshops dedicated to circus techniques and live performance practices.

Educational activities can take different forms: introduction to a discipline, meeting with an artist, body research workshop or project combining practice and public presentation.

Bunike thus seeks to bring contemporary circus closer to the local population and to make these art forms accessible to diverse audiences .

Its activities are aimed at both people discovering the circus and practitioners wishing to deepen their experience.

Aerial fabric

Aerial fabric occupies a central place in the history of the association.

Antonia Rončević and Dunja Čučman use this discipline in their creative work, combining acrobatic technique and stage expression .

In a presentation document intended for the European Creative Europe program, Bunike also indicates that it organizes aerial silks courses for children and adults.

This practice helps develop strength , coordination , flexibility and body control while suspended .

It also offers opportunities for choreographic composition and artistic expression .

The Cirkus na Radiću program

One of Bunike's most important educational initiatives is " Cirkus na Radiću ", a local cultural program organized in the Stjepan Radić district of Zagreb.

The project aims to bring circus arts closer to the local population through workshops, shows and meetings.

It relies in particular on the spaces of the neighborhood council, called Mjesni odbor Stjepan Radić.

This venue can accommodate various cultural activities, although its technical conditions and possibilities for use remain limited.

The program combines the discovery of the circus with an approach to local cultural participation .

It is an example of an initiative to present circus arts outside of schools and specialized theatres .

Hula hoop workshops

In 2025 , Cirkus na Radiću offered a hula hoop workshop led by Tatjana Vuletić , an artist and educator who is a member of the Cirkultura association.

This activity allowed participants to discover different hoop manipulation techniques.

Hula hooping is a discipline situated at the intersection of juggling , dance and body coordination .

The exercises can involve rotations around the body, hoop movements, throws and sequences of figures.

The workshop was part of an introductory approach accessible to the public .

It was organised as part of Bunike's cultural programme, with the involvement of an external educator.

An introduction to aerial acrobatics

The Cirkus na Radiću program also offered an aerial acrobatics workshop for beginners .

This session was led by Jelena Kalaica , an artist and educator specializing in circus arts.

The activity allowed participants to discover the principles of movement in suspension and the first technical approaches to aerial acrobatics.

It provided an opportunity to encounter a discipline that is often less accessible than traditional sports practices.

This workshop demonstrates Bunike's commitment to offering diverse educational experiences .

However, it does not allow us to affirm that the association has a permanent studio fully equipped for all aerial disciplines.

A collective and cultural approach

The Bunike workshops are part of a broader approach to participating in cultural life .

The association seeks to develop encounters between artists, residents and local organizations.

The activities allow participants to discover new practices while sharing a collective experience.

The projects often combine workshops and performances, which promotes exchanges between learning and creation.

This approach helps to present contemporary circus as an accessible and vibrant art form .

It is not a specialized medical-social program, but has a strong cultural and community dimension.

The Cirko5A project

Before and during the structuring of the association, the artists of Bunike developed the Cirko5A project.

This initiative combined contemporary circus performances and workshops in several locations in Slavonia , in eastern Croatia.

The goal was to introduce these practices to audiences living outside the main artistic centers .

The project benefited from the support of the Clubture cultural network.

He helped to raise awareness of the artists' work and to develop their collaborations with other cultural organizations.

This experience also contributed to the creation of the Bunike association in its current form.

Physical theatre and stage research

Bunike's artistic work is not limited to aerial techniques.

The association also explores physical theatre, movement, dance and various forms of performance.

She is particularly interested in the relationships between the body , objects , space and the public .

His creations utilize the expressive possibilities of movement to address social and psychological themes.

The artists develop stage forms that can combine humor , absurdity , dramatic tension and physical exploration .

This multidisciplinary approach brings Bunike closer to current trends in contemporary European circus.

The Za dlaku creation

“ Za dlaku ” is one of the association’s important creations.

Conceived and performed by Antonia Rončević and Dunja Čučman, this show explores in particular the relationships between control , chaos and perfectionism .

He uses a dramatic style that blends speech, movement, and visual elements.

The project benefited from artistic support and creative residencies.

It has also been presented as part of collaborations with the Croatian national platform for contemporary circus.

This production illustrates the importance given to artistic research within the association.

A professional creation still active in 2026

Bunike continues its artistic activities in 2026 .

The structure notably produced " Nisam stala ", a creation performed by Antonia Rončević.

The show addresses social expectations, injustices, and experiences of personal resistance through a physical and theatrical approach.

It premiered on March 8, 2026 at Pogon Jedinstvo , in Zagreb.

The production involves several artistic collaborators, including Davor Tarbuk , Melisa Novosel and Amar Maksumić .

The association also participated in the cultural programming of Zagreb in September 2026 with the show " Neodrasli ", presented as part of the event " Martićeva za sve! ".

These activities confirm the continuity of Bunike's artistic work.

Collaborations with the cultural sector

Bunike works with various associations and organizations in the Croatian cultural scene.

She has notably collaborated with Cirkultura for hula hoop and aerial acrobatics workshops.

It also maintains links with Cirkorama and other structures involved in the dissemination of contemporary circus.

These collaborations make it possible to bring together complementary educational and artistic skills.

They facilitate the organization of projects and the hosting of guest artists.

The association thus participates in the development of a network for the creation and transmission of contemporary circus in Zagreb and other Croatian regions.

Various activity locations

Bunike has its administrative headquarters in Zagreb .

However, its activities do not take place in a single, permanent educational institution.

The Cirkus na Radiću program was organized in the spaces of the Stjepan Radić neighbourhood council.

Artistic creations and residencies can be hosted in other venues, including Pogon Jedinstvo and spaces linked to the Croatian network of circus residencies.

The association also participates in demonstrations in public spaces and in projects organized in other cities.

A structure somewhere between professional creation and amateur practice

Bunike occupies a special place in the contemporary circus scene in Zagreb.

Its activity is based primarily on the creation of shows and the development of artistic projects, but it also includes a real educational dimension.

The hula hoop workshops, aerial acrobatics and silks classes declared by the association show its commitment to the transmission of circus techniques.

Its cultural projects help to bring professional artists closer to the local population and to promote the discovery of contemporary circus.

Bunike can therefore be presented as an artistic association offering amateur circus workshops and informal training activities.

However, it should not be equated with a professional school awarding diplomas or with a studio necessarily offering weekly classes open for registration all year round.