Circusschool De Hoogte

Circusschool De Hoogte is a Dutch circus school founded in 1995. Located in the province of Friesland , it offers educational and artistic activities dedicated to circus arts, with regular classes for children, specialized training, shows and support for young people wishing to become professional artists.

Since its creation, the school has enabled several hundred children and adults to discover circus arts. Its project is based on the conviction that the circus is a particularly comprehensive activity, combining physical development , creativity , artistic expression and cooperation .

Children's classes

The classes for children are an important part of its activity. They allow children to gradually discover different circus techniques in an environment that promotes the joy of learning and mutual support.

Teaching is intentionally multidisciplinary . Students explore different fields of study in order to develop a range of skills and gradually identify their preferences.

Ground acrobatics

Floor acrobatics are among the fundamentals taught. Children learn, in particular, rolls, hand balances, cartwheels, and various tumbling techniques.

These exercises help develop strength , coordination , mobility , and body awareness . They also provide useful preparation for learning other circus disciplines.

Juggling

Juggling plays an important role in the classes. Students learn to manipulate balls, rings, clubs and various accessories.

The diabolo and Chinese plates also allow us to work on coordination and precision of movement.

The balance disciplines

Balance disciplines constitute another major focus of the teaching. Children can discover activities such as ball walking, rola-bola, pedal boats and various apparatus that allow them to work on their stability.

Unicycling is also among the techniques taught. Practicing it develops balance, coordination, concentration, and perseverance.

The hula hoop complements this approach by allowing the discovery of different forms of manipulation and movement.

Aerial disciplines

Aerial disciplines also occupy an important place in the world of Circusschool De Hoogte.

The trapeze is one of the apparatuses used during general classes. Students gradually discover different positions and develop the strength and flexibility necessary to perform them.

The school also offers specialized training in aerial acrobatics which may include silks, rope, aerial hoop and different forms of trapeze.

These training courses allow practitioners wishing to deepen their experience to focus on a particular discipline.

Stage presentation and cooperation

However, learning circus arts is not solely based on technical mastery. Circusschool De Hoogte also places great importance on stage presentation .

Children gradually learn to showcase their skills and incorporate them into acts intended to be performed in front of an audience.

This approach helps to develop self-confidence , creativity and the ability to express oneself .

Cooperation is another essential element of the pedagogy. Students learn to work together, to help each other, and to respect each other's abilities.

Practical organization of courses

Weekly classes are usually one hour long and follow the school calendar.

Children can discover the activity through a free trial session before signing up for regular practice.

The school also organizes presentations allowing families to discover the work done during the year.

Parents are specifically invited to attend open classes and an end-of-year performance.

These moments allow children to gradually discover the stage and share their progress with an audience.

Cirque Nouveau: the circus-theatre

Circusschool De Hoogte also has a significant activity dedicated to circus theatre.

Since 2000 , the school has notably developed an artistic group called Cirque Nouveau .

This troupe brings together young practitioners aged 8 to 18 , selected by audition.

Participants must have prior experience in circus or acrobatics and wish to deepen their artistic practice.

The group regularly works on creating shows that combine different circus disciplines with a genuine theatrical approach.

Rehearsals allow young artists to develop their performance skills, stage presence, and ability to work collectively.

Over the years, Cirque Nouveau has developed several productions, including BigArt , Droom , Paradijsvogel and Ithaka .

Some creations have been presented abroad, notably in Belgium , Germany , Denmark , Sweden and Norway .

This experience allows young people to discover the demands of public performance and to participate in artistic projects that go beyond the scope of weekly classes.

Artiestenopleiding training

The school also offers individualized support for young people wishing to become professional artists.

This training, called Artiestenopleiding , is aimed at practitioners from the age of 16 who have an artistic project clearly oriented towards circus professions.

Students benefit from personalized instruction provided by experienced trainers.

The goal is to develop the technical and artistic skills necessary to build a professional act.

The work may include acrobatics, juggling, aerial disciplines, balancing and various circus specialties.

The training takes into account the skills and ambitions of each student in order to build a suitable learning path.

Young artists are encouraged to develop a personal technique and to think about creating an original act.

This approach allows for gradual preparation for entry into the professional world of entertainment.

The school emphasizes that circus artists can now work in a wide variety of contexts: traveling circuses, contemporary circus companies, theaters, festivals, musical shows, amusement parks and cultural events.

Several former students who completed this training have become professional artists.

Masterclasses and talks

Circusschool De Hoogte also offers masterclasses for practitioners and teachers wishing to deepen their knowledge of certain techniques.

These training courses can cover acrobatics, juggling, aerial disciplines or artistic creation.

Teachers can also benefit from support to develop their own educational projects.

The school regularly works with educational institutions and facilities that care for children.

She organizes workshops allowing students to discover different circus disciplines and to participate in group projects.

These interventions can be organized directly in the establishments thanks to a specially equipped vehicle, called Circomobiel , which allows the transport of the equipment necessary for the activities.

The school also develops shows, activities and artistic projects aimed at different audiences.

This diversity of activities allows it to combine amateur teaching, support for young talents, creation of shows and cultural interventions.

A special place among Dutch circus schools

Circusschool De Hoogte thus occupies a special place among Dutch circus schools. It combines accessible practice for children and beginners with opportunities for artistic and technical development.

Its individualized training program for future professional artists is an important feature of its project.

Through its experience since 1995 , the diversity of disciplines taught and its circus creation activity, Circusschool De Hoogte contributes to the transmission of circus arts in the Netherlands and to the support of new generations of practitioners and artists.