Circus Lesvos

Circus Lesvos – Social circus and inclusive workshops on the island of Lesbos

Circus Lesvos is a social circus project developed on the island of Lesbos, Greece, by LaMule Cirque and the Greek school Monokyklo . The program aims to make circus arts accessible to children, young people, and communities facing precarious situations, particularly refugees living on the island.

Through group workshops, traveling performances and shows, Circus Lesvos uses circus practices as tools for artistic expression , personal development and social cohesion .

Regular social circus workshops

Since 2021 , Circus Lesvos has developed educational activities in various locations on the island, including within community centers hosting refugees.

The workshops are based on the discovery of circus arts through juggling , balance exercises , group games and physical activities .

Participants are invited to experiment with different techniques, develop their coordination and discover their physical and creative abilities in a collective environment.

The teaching method favours a playful and participatory approach, allowing everyone to progress at their own pace, regardless of their experience or mastery of the language.

The circus as a tool for inclusion

Circus Lesvos places a central place on the social and human dimension of circus arts.

The workshops aim to promote self-confidence , cooperation , communication and a sense of belonging to a group.

Juggling, balancing, and circus games are ways to create connections between people from different backgrounds and cultures.

The program also seeks to reduce social isolation and offer positive experiences to children and young people facing difficult living conditions.

An intercultural and participatory pedagogy

One of the distinctive features of Circus Lesvos is the involvement of people from the communities being supported in the operation of the project.

Participants and members of local communities can contribute to the organization and facilitation of activities, thus promoting a collaborative approach.

The team brings together professional circus artists , educators , trainers and volunteers .

This organization makes it possible to develop workshops adapted to the needs of the public and local realities.

A project supported by international partners

Circus Lesvos is a joint initiative of LaMule Cirque , an association specializing in social circus projects, and Monokyklo , a circus school based in Thessaloniki.

The project also benefits from the support of the German foundation Stiftung :do , which contributes in particular to the financing of the organization and the remuneration of the speakers.

This cooperation brings together artistic , educational and associative skills around a common goal: to make circus arts accessible to people who are usually far removed from them.

Mobile interventions

Circus Lesvos does not operate like a traditional school with a single teaching location.

The project intervenes directly with communities, in reception centers, community spaces and various locations on the island.

This itinerant approach makes it possible to adapt activities to the travel possibilities of participants and to reach audiences who have difficulty accessing cultural structures.

A space for meeting and expression

Beyond learning circus techniques, Circus Lesvos seeks to create meeting spaces in which participants can share positive experiences.

The workshops value individual and collective successes, encourage solidarity and allow children and young people to develop their abilities in a caring environment.

The project thus illustrates the potential of circus arts as tools for non-formal education , inclusion and intercultural dialogue .

Circus Lesvos is a social circus initiative combining artistic transmission , community engagement and interventions with audiences far removed from traditional cultural practices.