Circ’Opificio – Scuola di Circo e Arti Performative

Circ'Opificio is a contemporary circus and performing arts school located in Palermo , Sicily .

The project is led by ASD APS Collettivo di Bottega.

Its story begins in 2013 around Marika Riggio and Josh Rizzuto .

Marika Riggio wanted to develop in her region a real structure dedicated to contemporary circus, combining school , artistic creation , social interaction and hospitality .

The beginnings

The first educational experiments were organized in November 2013 in Capaci .

Circus arts classes for children and teenagers are then offered there.

In September 2014 , the project truly took shape in Palermo under the name Circ'Opificio .

The school is gradually developing a range of offerings for children , teenagers and adults .

It becomes a permanent place dedicated to learning circus disciplines.

An artistic approach to the circus

But Circ'Opificio does not wish to limit the circus to a simple sporting activity.

The goal is to transmit the culture of contemporary circus and to allow students to gradually develop a true artistic dimension.

The practice requires discipline , commitment and perseverance .

However, it remains based on pleasure , sharing and creativity .

The school views the circus as a particularly comprehensive alternative to more traditional sporting practices.

Coordination , strength , endurance , balance , agility and body mobility are developed.

Concentration and rhythm also play an important role.

Circ'Opificio adds a genuine artistic work to these physical dimensions.

Dance and theatre thus complement the circus disciplines.

The goal is to allow students to simultaneously develop their body , their imagination , and their stage presence .

Children's courses

Children can start from the age of three .

Circummotor skills (3-4 years)

The Circomotricità course welcomes three and four year olds.

It provides a fun and educational first introduction to the circus.

Children discover their physical and creative potential.

They gradually learn to better perceive their bodies in space.

Working in a group is also an important objective.

Juggling , balancing and acrobatics equipment is used in the form of games.

This approach helps to develop visual and motor coordination.

Balance and rhythm are worked on.

Memory is being called upon.

The school also seeks to strengthen self-confidence and confidence in others .

Nano Circo (5-6 years) and Micro Circo (7-9 years)

Five and six year olds can continue in the Nano Circo group.

The seven to nine year olds then join Micro Circo .

At this age, children begin to discover more precisely the real equipment and techniques of the circus.

• Juggling is one of the major disciplines taught.
• Balancing acts constitute a second axis.
• Ground acrobatics also plays an important role.
• Finally, the children gradually discover aerial acrobatics .

The teaching method remains intentionally non-competitive .

Children can observe their progress and difficulties without being constantly compared to others.

Respect for each student and the group is one of the main rules.

This approach allows for the development of creativity and freedom of expression .

From age ten and up: the Macro Circo

From the age of ten , Circ'Opificio offers several courses.

Macro Circo is a multidisciplinary course for young people aged ten to fifteen.

It combines juggling , balancing , ground acrobatics and aerial acrobatics .

The disciplines change regularly in order to offer a varied course.

Juggling

• Juggling notably uses balls .
• Scarves allow you to work on coordination and trajectories.
• Clubs are also used.
• The diabolo is part of the equipment taught.
• The flower stick completes this range of manipulation options.

Balancing act

Balancing arts is also very diverse.

• The students learn to walk on a tightrope .
• The balance ball allows for the development of another form of body control.
• The rola-bola is also used.

These disciplines allow you to work on proprioception , posture and concentration .

Ground acrobatics

Ground acrobatics begins with fundamental motor patterns .

The students learn to run, jump and roll.

• The rolls are gradually introduced.
• The wheels represent a further step.
• Working on verticals then allows you to develop strength, placement and balance on your hands.

Aerial acrobatics

Aerial acrobatics plays an important role in the school.

The students first learn to climb .

They discover the sensations associated with suspension .

Working at height also allows one to gradually address certain apprehensions .

Aerial silks are explicitly included among the apparatus taught.

The trapeze is also used in multidisciplinary courses.

The aerobatics training program

Circ'Opificio also has a course specifically dedicated to aerial acrobatics .

It welcomes young people aged ten to thirteen .

A second group is intended for fourteen to seventeen year olds .

Adults also have their own classes.

Aerial training begins with the technical basics .

Students then progress to higher levels of mastery.

• The static trapeze is one of the main apparatuses.
• Aerial hoop is also taught.
• Aerial fabric completes this journey.

Physical preparation precedes technical work.

Warm-up and muscle strengthening help prepare the body for the demands of the equipment.

The students gradually learn acrobatic figures .

Falls can then be introduced.

The different figures are linked in the form of small routines .

With experience, the work can lead to real achievements .

Dance and theatre are integrated into aerial work.

This approach helps to prevent learning from being limited to a succession of technical figures.

The movements can be linked together to create a more harmonious and expressive proposition.

The Macro Circo for teenagers and adults

From the age of sixteen , teenagers and adults can also join the multidisciplinary Macro Circo .

They find juggling , balance , ground acrobatics and aerial disciplines there.

Participants work individually and collectively.

They are gradually encouraged to build their own circus act .

Creativity and freedom of expression then become as important as technical mastery.

Other physical and artistic disciplines

Circ'Opificio also offers other physical and artistic disciplines.

The current program includes dance , Air Balance and various complementary practices.

This openness reflects the desire to train artists capable of combining several languages.

The production of shows

The artistic dimension of the school is reinforced by its production activity.

• Circ'Opificio organizes and produces shows .
• The organization is involved in festivals and events .
• She also offers performances for various public and private events.

One of the stated objectives is precisely to support students in a process from training to creation and then to production .

Some practitioners can thus gradually transform their skills into a true artistic practice .

The social circus

Circ'Opificio is not limited to technical education and the production of shows.

The social circus constitutes another fundamental component of its identity.

The structure is listed among the social circus projects of the Italian network AltroCirco .

She uses circus arts as educational , relational and inclusive tools.

Interventions in schools

This approach is particularly visible in projects developed with schools.

Circ'Opificio works with schools of different levels.

Projects can combine sporting , artistic and theatrical activities.

Students discover ground acrobatics , aerial acrobatics , juggling , balance and circus theatre .

The school emphasizes the very non-competitive nature of these practices.

Circus arts allow us to recognize everyone's abilities.

They also encourage participants to take into account the differences of others.

Intercultural dialogue can be developed.

Self-observation and observation of others plays an important role.

Social inclusion and vulnerable populations

The school uses this teaching method to promote social inclusion .

She explicitly mentions her interest in people at risk of marginalization .

Audiences with certain psychophysical vulnerabilities are also taken into account.

The relationship of trust between the facilitator and the participant constitutes the starting point of the educational work.

Play and movement then help to create a welcoming environment.

• Participants can improve their body image .
• They develop their motor skills .
• But the work also focuses on the affective and cognitive dimensions.

Cooperation and diversity are considered essential values.

Pedagogy also allows us to address the concept of limits .

Participants learn to progressively assess risk .

This dimension is particularly relevant in circus arts where certain practices require trust , attention and responsibility .

CircoTerra

Circ'Opificio is also developing CircoTerra .

This project is located on land that was confiscated and then allocated by the City of Palermo in 2021 after several years of abandonment.

The venue is located at Via Sebastiano Bavetta 98/B, in the Via Castelforte area.

CircoTerra combines art , environment , biodiversity and citizen participation .

The goal is to transform the land into a common good .

• Activities for schools are organised there.
• The site also hosts circus retreats .
• Workshops dedicated in particular to permaculture are offered there.

CircoTerra thus becomes a space where artistic and environmental practices can meet.

Circ'Opificio also organizes circus workshops for children there.

The project further strengthens the community and social dimension of the association.

The locations and progression of the routes

The main school, however, remains located in the Fiera del Mediterraneo area of Palermo.

It has a permanent space to accommodate different groups.

The teaching staff

The team is made up of artists and educators from the worlds of circus , dance and contemporary theatre .

• Marika Riggio teaches aerial acrobatics, among other things.
• Josh Rizzuto is responsible for Piccolo Circo, Circus Family and the multidisciplinary circuit.
• Giuliana Fazzini works with younger people.
• Emma Sorrentino teaches Piccolo Circo and aerial acrobatics.
• Roberta Nicosia provides aerial training to teenagers.
• Dario Pastore teaches, among other things, Air Balance.

The school also benefits from assistants who have themselves undergone a long training course within Circ'Opificio.

This transmission between generations of students is an interesting element of its functioning.

A comprehensive project and a strong identity

Since its first experiences in 2013 and the opening of the school in Palermo in 2014 , Circ'Opificio has thus developed a particularly comprehensive project.

The structure now combines circus school , performing arts , show production , social circus , school interventions and community projects .

His teaching method allows students to start very young while offering real technical progress.

Juggling , tightrope walking , balance ball , rola-bola , ground acrobatics , verticals , aerial silks , trapeze and aerial hoop are the main disciplines that are clearly documented.

Dance and theatre make it possible to link these techniques to genuine artistic research.

Finally, the emphasis placed on inclusion , cooperation and social circus gives Circ'Opificio a particularly strong identity in the circus landscape of Palermo and Sicily.