Cirkoneo – Novi Sad Circus School

Cirkoneo – Novi Sad Contemporary Circus School

Cirkoneo is a contemporary circus school located in Novi Sad, Serbia. Founded in 2017 by the Kreativni Pogon cultural association and the Ludifico Center for the Development of Circus Arts, it is one of the pioneering structures for teaching contemporary circus in the country.

The school develops a multidisciplinary approach that combines learning circus techniques, artistic expression, creativity, education, and social inclusion. Its goal is to make circus arts accessible to diverse audiences, particularly children and teenagers, while fostering self-confidence, cooperation, and personal development.

Activities take place in particular in the west hall of the SPENS complex in Novi Sad, a place used by the association for its training and workshops.

A school open to all circus disciplines

Unlike establishments specializing in a single technique, Cirkoneo offers an exploration of many disciplines of traditional and contemporary circus.

Juggling plays an important role in learning. Students experiment with different objects and accessories, including balls, scarves, feathers, spinning plates, flower sticks, poi, hoops, and ropes. These exercises help develop coordination, concentration, precision of movement, and creativity.

Balance disciplines form another essential part of the program. Participants can try tightrope walking, balance ball, rola-bola, stilts, and unicycling. These practices promote body control, stability, patience, and the gradual management of difficulty.

Floor acrobatics is also taught through gymnastic exercises, rolls, reversals, hand balances and acrobatic movements adapted to the students' level.

The school also offers instruction in aerial disciplines including aerial silks, trapeze, aerial hoop, and rope. These apparatuses allow students to explore movement in suspension, strength, coordination, and body expression.

Physical theatre, dance and stage creation

Cirkoneo's teaching is not limited to learning technical figures.

Students also discover physical theatre , dance, improvisation, acting techniques, and non-verbal communication. These activities allow them to integrate circus disciplines into an artistic creation process.

The school encourages participants to imagine their own shows and to take part in the entire creative process.

Children can thus participate in choosing themes, selecting music, making accessories, designing costumes and preparing the set design.

This approach allows them to discover the circus as a collective art in which everyone can contribute according to their skills, desires and personality.

The shows put on by the students provide opportunities to present their work to the public and to develop their stage presence.

A pedagogy based on play and cooperation

Cirkoneo places great importance on the educational dimension of circus arts.

The sessions begin with games and group exercises designed to prepare the body and mind. Technical skills are then introduced gradually, in an environment that encourages discovery and mutual support.

The school promotes a pedagogy far removed from the spirit of competition. Each student is encouraged to progress according to their abilities, without constant comparison with others.

The exercises promote concentration, motor skills, coordination, perseverance and body awareness.

Group practice also helps to develop listening skills, solidarity, mutual respect and the ability to work with partners.

The goal is to offer children a space where they can experiment, make mistakes, overcome their fears and gradually gain confidence.

Activities for children and young people

Cirkoneo offers teaching specifically geared towards children and teenagers.

The school welcomes groups adapted to different stages of development, including preschool children, younger pupils and adolescents.

The practice of circus arts allows one to work on motor skills while stimulating imagination and creativity.

Children can discover several disciplines before delving deeper into those that best match their tastes and abilities.

The establishment also organizes discovery workshops open to other audiences, including young adults and people participating in cultural or community projects.

Social circus and inclusion at the heart of the project

One of Cirkoneo's major characteristics is its commitment to social circus .

Through Kreativni Pogon, the school participates in projects aimed at using circus arts as a tool for education, inclusion and community development.

These initiatives are aimed particularly at children and young people from socially disadvantaged backgrounds or communities with limited access to cultural activities.

The circus then becomes a way to promote encounters, reduce prejudices and create spaces for collective expression.

The association also develops projects around cultural diversity, dialogue between communities and acceptance of differences.

The project “ Različitost nas jača ”, which can be translated as “Diversity makes us stronger”, notably combined contemporary circus workshops, reflection on diversity and the creation of a participatory show with children.

Participants worked on juggling, balances and aerial acrobatics, while taking part in an artistic and civic initiative.

An association committed to the development of circus arts in Serbia

Kreativni Pogon has been conducting cultural, educational and social activities since 2010 .

The creation of Cirkoneo in 2017 is part of its commitment to the recognition of contemporary circus as an artistic form and educational tool.

The association works with schools, cultural centers, local authorities and other artistic organizations.

It organizes workshops, training courses, participatory projects and performances aimed at raising public awareness of the different forms of circus.

Its activities extend beyond Novi Sad and can take place in other cities and regions of Serbia.

The association is also a member of the international Caravan network, dedicated to the development of social circus and circus for young people.

International cooperation and teacher training

Cirkoneo participates in exchanges with other European circus schools and organizations.

The school has notably developed relationships with the Timișoara circus school in Romania, focusing on circus pedagogy and tightrope walking techniques.

She has also participated in European meetings and projects dedicated to social circus, the training of practitioners and the development of circus arts.

In 2026 , Kreativni Pogon and Cirkoneo were associated with the international project " Fuzija – New Forms of Art and Sociability ," supported in particular by French cultural partners. This collaboration includes research and creative work centered on tightrope walking.

These exchanges contribute to the development of the team's teaching skills and to the recognition of contemporary circus in Serbia.

A school still active in 2026

Cirkoneo's activity is confirmed by several recent events.

In February 2026 , the association hosted a contemporary circus workshop at SPENS, bringing together more than twenty young participants. The activities included balance exercises, object manipulation, and acrobatics.

Students participating in regular workshops also contributed to the supervision of this meeting.

In March 2026 , a report on the school presented its educational work with children and teenagers, highlighting its approach based on cooperation, trust and personal development.

The artistic collaboration between Kreativni Pogon and Ludifico also continued with the presentation of the show " List " at the CirkoBalkana festival in September 2026 .

An amateur circus school with a strong cultural dimension

Cirkoneo stands out for the richness of its program and for its conception of the circus as a tool for creation, learning and encounter.

The school allows students to discover a wide range of disciplines, from juggling to aerial acrobatics, including balancing, unicycling, physical theatre and improvisation.

It offers a practice adapted to children and young people, without primarily seeking competition or sporting performance.

Its social and educational dimension is a central element of its identity, as is its commitment to creating shows and international exchanges.

Cirkoneo thus represents an important structure for the development of contemporary amateur circus and social circus in Serbia.