Circolito – Circus School of Mechelen

Circolito is a major Flemish circus school based in Mechelen, with activities also organized in Vilvoorde and Sint-Niklaas. It offers a particularly comprehensive program allowing children to discover the circus from childhood and then continue towards specialized, intensive or creative practice in adolescence and adulthood.

Circolito's philosophy can be summed up by a simple idea: circus arts are learned by doing . Trying, experimenting, falling, starting again and finally succeeding are all integral parts of the learning process.

The school aims to create an environment where everyone can progress without having to conform to a single model. Practical experience should allow students to discover their own abilities, develop perseverance, and enjoy learning.

The children and teenagers' route

The journey begins in kindergarten. Classes specifically designed for young children allow for a first discovery of movement and the circus world.

In Mechelen, several groups then progressively accompany the children according to their age: Harlekijn for 6-7 year olds , Pierrot for 7-8 year olds , Circo for 9-11 year olds and then Cascade for teenagers.

These courses are structured around multi-circus arts. Students explore different disciplines rather than having to immediately choose a specialty.

This multidisciplinary practice allows one to develop a varied technical base and to gradually discover the disciplines with which each person has the most affinity.

Students wishing to further develop a technique can then join the many specialization courses offered by the school.

Specializations

Dynamic acrobatics allows, in particular, the work of movements involving impulse, flight and landing.

Acrobatics, on the other hand, develops techniques performed by several people. Bases and flyers learn to build figures by working on positioning, confidence, communication and safety.

The seesaw also has its own specialization path. This apparatus allows for the exploration of a particularly dynamic form of group acrobatics.

Aerial disciplines constitute another important aspect of the school. Several levels of aerial acrobatics allow for genuine technical progression.

Practitioners explore the trapeze and the silks , as well as other forms of aerial work depending on the courses and projects.

The pole will be included in the specialization offering from the 2026-2027 season. The work focuses in particular on the strength, flexibility and technique necessary to climb, move and then descend from the apparatus in a controlled manner.

Circolito also has a course dedicated to balance .

Students can explore various techniques requiring body control, precision, and concentration.

Unicycle training courses are offered in Muizen . Several levels allow you to learn to ride and then further develop your mastery of the device.

The school goes even further with a unicycle basketball activity, which combines technical mastery, collective movement and sportsmanship.

Juggling is also a true specialty. Courses allow students to go beyond the basics learned in multi-circus and gradually develop a more advanced technique.

Balls, scarves, rings, clubs, diabolo and flowerstick are among the many objects used in the world of juggling at Circolito.

Diabolo also benefits from specific training for practitioners wishing to go beyond the first tricks and develop a more advanced technique.

For 2026-2027 , the school is further strengthening its offering for jugglers with a course for beginners aged 16 and over , as well as a Club Combat & Volley workshop for experienced jugglers.

Parkour also has a place in the curriculum. After acquiring sufficient acrobatic skills, students can work on this discipline focused on movement, overcoming obstacles, and adapting the body to its environment.

Theatre is also part of the program. Specific courses allow young people to explore stage presence, character and expression, thus complementing purely technical learning.

Creation and stage

Circolito indeed places great importance on creation . Some students can join production groups dedicated to building real artistic projects.

The XIZO and Krevano groups thus work specifically on creation. The technical skills acquired during the courses then become tools for imagining and building a proposal intended for the stage.

This artistic dimension is complemented by various presentation moments, public rehearsals and events organized by the school.

Adults and families

Circus arts are not for teenagers. Circolito offers several programs for adults , particularly in acrobatics and aerial disciplines.

Workshops and evening events also allow adult beginners to discover multi-circus without having prior experience.

The school is even developing a Senior Circo activity, illustrating its desire to make circus practice accessible far beyond the traditional audience of children and teenagers.

A family circus class also allows an adult and a child from 6 years old to practice together.

Internships

In addition to the annual courses, Circolito organizes a particularly important program of workshops during all school holidays.

• Multi-circus weeks allow children to practice several disciplines for several consecutive days.
• Other courses are more specialized , particularly around acrobatics or juggling.
• For young children, specific formats allow for an initial immersion adapted to their age.

Circolito also develops proposals to make its workshops accessible to different profiles. For example, a week of circus arts in a less stimulating environment was organized with smaller groups, more structure, and a space allowing participants to isolate themselves from the noise and bustle.

Those who are sufficiently independent can also take advantage of a free training area. The Circusclub allows people to regularly practice different disciplines independently in a suitable environment.

The locations

Circolito currently has three main locations. Den Hangar in Mechelen is its main site and hosts the majority of courses.

In Vilvoorde , part of the offering is organised at the Sporthal Den Ballon .

In Saint-Nicolas , Circus Punt also offers a regular program including multi-circus, juggling, unicycle and acrobatic partnering.

This presence in several cities allows Circolito to reach a particularly wide audience while offering coherent pathways from initial discovery to specialization.

With its extensive annual program, numerous levels, technical specializations, internships, adult and family activities, training spaces and creative groups, Circolito is one of the most comprehensive amateur circus education structures in the Flemish region.