Circus Academy OST – Gossau Circus School

Circus Academy OST is a non-profit circus school located in Gossau , in the canton of St. Gallen , in eastern Switzerland .

Founded on the initiative of Beat and Judith Koch , their children Debora and Raffael , as well as Manuel Egger , its mission is to allow children and teenagers to discover the circus arts in a caring , stimulating and creative environment.

The school offers a multidisciplinary approach allowing students to experiment with several families of circus techniques.

Juggling , particularly with clubs, helps develop coordination , concentration , and precision . Balance disciplines also play an important role, including tightrope walking, ball balancing, and unicycling.

Aerial arts are represented by the trapeze and the vertical silks. Participants can thus discover different ways of moving at height, developing their strength , flexibility and body control .

Acrobatics and trampoline complement the activities offered and allow for the gradual development of the physical abilities necessary for circus practice.

However, Circus Academy OST does not limit its teaching to the acquisition of technical skills.

The association places particular importance on the personal development of children and adolescents. It aims to offer them a positive environment in which each individual can progress at their own pace, gain confidence , and learn to work with others.

The school participates in the Swiss prevention program " cool and clean ", developed by Swiss Olympic , in order to promote a healthy and protective associative environment for young people.

This approach translates into raising awareness among supervisors, promoting smoke-free facilities and the gradual participation of adolescents in the life and decisions of the association.

Group activities play a vital role in this educational project.

Cooperative games are organized during circus camps to strengthen group cohesion , mutual support and trust.

Artistic creation is also an important element of the training.

Students participate in the creation of group shows and are encouraged to propose their own ideas, develop their acts and contribute to their staging.

During the Christmas show 2025 , the young artists notably participated in the design of their presentations alongside the teaching team.

The school also organizes workshops during school holidays, allowing participants to discover the different circus disciplines in a more intensive format.

Introductory sessions offer newcomers the opportunity to discover the world of the circus before joining regular training.

Beyond teaching, Circus Academy OST develops a genuine performance activity , allowing students to gradually confront the stage and the public.

His project is therefore based on a complete vision of the circus: a demanding physical practice, an artistic discipline, but also a formidable tool for personal and collective development.

Based in Gossau , Circus Academy OST helps to make circus arts accessible to young people in Eastern Switzerland, while promoting transmission , creativity and the pleasure of practicing together .