CircuSchool Hungary / Baross Imre Artistaképző

Baross Imre Artista- és Előadó-művészeti Akadémia – CircuSchool Hungary

The Baross Imre Artista- és Előadó-művészeti Akadémia (BIAK) is a Hungarian academy specializing in training for circus arts and performing arts professions. Located in Budapest , it is one of the historic institutions for circus education in Hungary. Its program combines artistic training, physical preparation, general education, and professional stage experience.

The institution offers several courses allowing children and young artists to discover circus arts, develop their technical skills and prepare for a professional career in live performance.

A historic school founded in 1950

The history of the academy dates back to 1950 , with the creation of the National Institute for Circus Artist Training, known as Állami Artistaképző Intézet .

The first class began in January 1951 with fifteen students , in premises located on Arany János Street in the center of Budapest. Over the decades, the institution became a major training center for Hungarian circus artists.

In 1959 , the school moved to its current address, Városligeti fasor 3. A new building dedicated to teaching was built in 1973 .

The academy is named after Baross Imre , a historical figure in Hungarian circus. Several generations of artists trained at the institution have gone on to develop careers in circuses, theatres and international productions.

Since 2019 , the school has undertaken a major modernization of its educational organization, its equipment and its training programs in order to meet the contemporary requirements of the circus and entertainment professions.

A comprehensive training in circus arts

Circus artist training is at the heart of BIAK's teaching.

Students first discover the main families of circus arts before gradually moving towards an artistic and technical specialization .

This training is based on the fundamentals of acrobatics , movement , balance , coordination , and physical conditioning . It then allows students to develop the specific skills necessary to perform professional acts.

Learning is not limited to the execution of figures. Students are also trained in the construction of acts , artistic interpretation , adapting a creation to the constraints of a show , and working collectively .

The goal is to train versatile artists , capable of designing and presenting their own productions, but also of participating in collective shows in the worlds of circus, theatre, dance and performing arts.

Training paths adapted to the different stages of education

The academy offers several levels of education.

Artistic initiation from childhood

Since 2022 , BIAK has been developing an elementary arts education program dedicated to circus arts.

This course allows younger children to discover the fundamentals of circus disciplines, develop their motor skills and gradually become familiar with the world of the circus ring.

Education is a first step for children wishing to continue their learning in a more specialized artistic training.

Preparatory and vocational training for ages 10 to 18

The academy welcomes young people into a school curriculum combining general education and circus training .

Two main routes are offered:

• A nine-year course, starting in the fifth school year.
• A five-year course, accessible from the ninth school year.

The first years are devoted to acquiring the technical and physical foundations of circus arts. Students explore the different career paths before choosing their specialty.

From this specialization onwards, the volume of training increases and the teaching becomes more directly oriented towards the preparation of acts and the development of an artistic identity .

Students continue their general studies in parallel, with the possibility of preparing for Hungarian school exams.

Additional training for performing arts professions

The academy also includes technical and creative training, notably through its partner institution oktOpus .

These courses cover the professions of sound engineering , stage techniques , event management, animation and audiovisual creation .

This organization allows future circus artists to work with students preparing for technical careers in the performing arts, thus reproducing the collaborative conditions encountered in professional productions.

A pedagogy based on practice and performance

BIAK places great importance on stage experience in its students' academic journey.

Public performances, artistic examinations, and group shows are an integral part of the training.

Students gradually become accustomed to presenting their work in front of an audience, managing the constraints of a performance, and developing their stage presence .

The assessment is based on several exams organized throughout the school year. These events allow for the measurement of students' technical, physical, and artistic progress.

The end-of-year shows are also important milestones. Some take place in the ring of the Fővárosi Nagycirkusz , the Grand Circus of Budapest, offering students a particularly formative experience in a professional environment.

A teaching team from the performing arts

The academy relies on a team of approximately sixty teachers and instructors specializing in circus arts, gymnastics, dance and artistic pedagogy.

This diversity of skills makes it possible to combine demanding physical preparation with artistic and stage support.

The history of the establishment is also marked by the presence of renowned figures from the Hungarian entertainment world, including circus artists, clowns, gymnasts and illusionists.

The teaching seeks to develop not only technical skills, but also creativity , autonomy , perseverance , cooperation and the ability to integrate into a professional troupe.

A school that produces its own shows

BIAK has a significant artistic creation dimension.

The establishment develops shows combining circus disciplines with dance, music and theatre.

The academy's productions include, in particular:

• Szentivánéji álmodók , a creation inspired by the world of A Midsummer Night's Dream .
• Világok Vándora .
• Diótörő Diadala .
• CIRCUSCHOOL – The Greatest Hits Show .
• TÜNDERHON – The Fairy Circus .

These productions allow students to discover how a complete show works, from artistic preparation to public performance.

They also promote collaboration between artists, technicians and creators, in an approach similar to the functioning of a professional company.

An international reach

The Baross Imre Academy actively participates in international circus life.

His students and alumni take part in festivals and competitions organized in Europe and around the world.

The institution specifically mentions participation in international events in Wiesbaden , Prague , Wuqiao , Budapest and several other European cities.

Artists from the academy have also worked with renowned organizations such as the Cirque d'Hiver Bouglione , Circus Krone , Flic Flac and various live performance companies.

These experiences allow young artists to confront the demands of the professional environment, to meet other creators and to develop their artistic network.

The MANÉZS festival and the discovery of young talents

The academy also participates in the discovery and support of new circus talents.

In 2024 , she launched the MANÉZS – Hungarian Circus Talent Festival , an event designed to showcase young artists and practitioners of circus disciplines.

The festival notably offers the opportunity to present acts on the stage of the Grand Circus of Budapest.

This initiative is part of the institution's commitment to supporting not only students engaged in vocational training, but also clubs, associations and amateur practice structures.

A major institution in Hungarian circus training

With more than seventy-five years of history , the Baross Imre Artista- és Előadó-művészeti Akademia occupies an important place in the transmission of Hungarian circus know-how.

The institution trains more than 170 student artists each year, accompanied by a specialized teaching team.

His model combines school education , vocational training , physical preparation , artistic creation and immersion in live performance .

By linking the traditions of classical circus with contemporary forms of stage creation, the academy helps to train new generations of artists capable of evolving in national and international productions.

BIAK thus represents a reference structure for young people wishing to engage in professional training in circus arts in Hungary.

Official website: https://circuschool.hu/