Cirkus Kolektiv

Cirkus Kolektiv – School and center for contemporary circus in Split

Cirkus Kolektiv is a Croatian association dedicated to the teaching, creation and dissemination of contemporary circus arts. Based in Split , on the Dalmatian coast, it develops its activities within the Dom mladih cultural center, where it has a space adapted for aerial disciplines, acrobatic training and performances.

Founded in the early 2000s, the association has contributed to the development of contemporary circus in Croatia for many years. It caters both to people wishing to discover circus arts in an amateur setting and to artists eager to deepen their technical and creative skills.

His project combines regular courses , occasional workshops , masterclasses , artistic residencies , performances and professional meetings .

A school specializing in aerial arts

Aerial disciplines occupy an important place in the teaching of Cirkus Kolektiv.

The association offers courses in aerial silks , aerial hoop , and static trapeze . These three apparatuses allow participants to explore different forms of suspended movement, combining strength , flexibility , coordination , and artistic expression .

Aerial silks , called " svila " in Croatian, allows participants to discover climbing techniques, suspension positions, wraps and transitions between different figures.

The training begins with appropriate physical preparation and warm-up exercises, before gradually progressing to technical exercises on the fabric. Sessions end with stretching.

The association presents this discipline as a practice open to beginners , with no prior experience required. It also encourages participants to develop their creativity and personal interpretation.

Aerial hoop and movement research

Aerial hoop , or " krug ", is another specialty of the school.

This suspended metal apparatus allows for static figures, balance positions, transitions and acrobatic movements.

Depending on the suspension options and equipment used, the hoop can be fixed , rotating or oscillating .

The teaching allows one to explore the relationships between acrobatic technique and the quality of movement, by working on body control and the fluidity of sequences.

The official presentation of the program associates this discipline with Mirta Lučin , educator and artist involved in the activities of Cirkus Kolektiv.

The aerial hoop offers students a medium of expression that can be used in choreographic sequences or in the construction of contemporary circus acts.

Static trapeze and suspended acrobatics

Cirkus Kolektiv also teaches static trapeze , one of the historical apparatuses of circus arts.

This discipline uses a horizontal bar suspended by two ropes, on which practitioners perform different positions, figures and transitions.

The courses emphasize the progressive development of the physical abilities necessary for safe practice: strength , coordination , endurance and technical mastery .

Participants learn to use the bar and ropes, to control their movements and to perform increasingly complex movements.

Learning can then progress to swinging, suspended figures, and the creation of personal sequences.

The official program identifies Antea Marinović as an associate speaker for this discipline.

A multidisciplinary circus school for children

Cirkus Kolektiv offers a specific program for school-aged children, accessible from age 7 .

Unlike adult classes which may be focused on a single apparatus, this activity allows young students to discover several circus disciplines .

The children practice in particular the basics of ground acrobatics, trampoline acrobatics, juggling and various aerial techniques on fabric, trapeze and hoop.

The sessions also include drama games and stage expression exercises.

The goal is to progressively develop physical abilities while stimulating creativity and imagination.

Children learn to combine the techniques they have discovered in order to build small scenes, acts and group performances.

This approach promotes coordination , concentration , self-confidence , and the ability to work with other participants.

The educators identified for this program are Karla Jurković , Eva Šore and Diana Artić .

A progressive and creative teaching method

Cirkus Kolektiv's teaching combines technical progression with an artistic approach .

In aerial disciplines, exercises are adapted to the abilities and experience of the participants.

Physical preparation, quality of support, coordination and understanding of movements play an important role in learning.

The school also values improvisation and personal creation .

Students are encouraged to use the figures they have learned to create sequences, experiment with different rhythms, and develop their own way of moving on the apparatus.

For children, this approach involves, in particular, play, group exercises and the creation of small performances.

The association thus seeks to transmit circus arts as a practice that is at once physical , technical and expressive .

Workshops open to beginners and adults

In addition to regular classes, Cirkus Kolektiv organizes occasional workshops allowing participants to discover new disciplines.

These activities are aimed particularly at teenagers and adults, with options accessible to beginners.

In March 2026 , the association organised an aerial silks workshop for people over 16 years old, led by Ivana Vukušić .

Participants were able to discover the fundamental techniques of silk climbing, holding in suspension and movement control.

The teaching method also included an adaptation for people who had already participated in similar workshops.

Ivana Vukušić has been practicing aerial silks acrobatics since 2008 and has extensive experience in coaching training.

The association also organised in March 2026 an introductory workshop on walking on stilts , intended for people aged 15 and over.

This workshop, led by the artist Tanja Barić , allowed participants to discover the techniques of climbing, maintaining balance and moving on stilts.

These activities show that Cirkus Kolektiv is not limited to aerial disciplines and also offers occasional discoveries of other circus practices.

Masterclasses with international artists

Cirkus Kolektiv develops a masterclass program for professional artists, young creators, students and practitioners wishing to deepen their skills.

These workshops are led by artists and specialists in contemporary circus from Croatia and other countries.

They allow for the exploration of specific techniques, teaching methods, and different approaches to artistic creation.

The program also promotes encounters between artists and the circulation of knowledge.

The speakers are chosen based on their artistic practice and experience, in order to offer varied approaches.

These masterclasses constitute an artistic and professional development activity, distinct from a complete diploma course in circus arts.

Mala scena: a space adapted for circus arts

Cirkus Kolektiv's activities take place mainly in the Mala scena space, within the Dom mladih cultural center in Split.

This space of approximately 450 m2 has equipment adapted for training and circus creations.

It includes a dance floor, mirrors, a tatami area, landing mats and several suspension points for aerial apparatus.

The association states that it has fourteen anchor points located at different heights, as well as several pieces of aerial equipment installed.

The room also includes juggling accessories and can be transformed into a performance space with sound equipment, stage lighting and black curtains.

This configuration allows for the accommodation of technical courses as well as rehearsals, artistic residencies and public presentations.

An artist residency program

Cirkus Kolektiv offers a residency program for contemporary circus artists and companies.

This system allows them to benefit from a workspace and technical resources to develop new shows.

The residencies include various activities: artistic research, rehearsals, presentations of works in progress, meetings with the public and educational workshops.

The visiting artists can pass on some of their skills to local participants through discovery or improvement sessions.

The program thus promotes exchanges between guest artists, students, educators and the public of Split.

It also contributes to the development of a local artistic community around contemporary circus.

Shows, open mic nights and cultural projects

The association develops a significant activity in the production and distribution of shows.

In particular, it organizes a series of contemporary circus performances, open mic nights and cultural events.

The " Open Stage " program allows established or emerging artists to present stage performances to the public.

Cirkus Kolektiv also offers " Cirkviz ", a cultural event centered around the world of circus, as well as artistic research projects and interdisciplinary collaborations.

These initiatives help to introduce the public to the different forms of contemporary circus.

They also allow artists and practitioners to meet other creators, discover new aesthetics and participate in local cultural life.

A structured artistic and educational team

The artistic direction of Cirkus Kolektiv is provided by Antonia Cvitan Vuletić and Dora Komenda .

The team also includes several educators specializing in circus disciplines, including Ivana Vukušić , Mirta Lučin , Karla Jurković , Eva Šore , Diana Artić and Srđan Stefanović .

Dajana Džafo is involved in coordinating programs and spaces, while Mira Ursić is involved in production.

This organization allows for the simultaneous development of teaching, creation, residency and dissemination activities.

The association also collaborates with external artists and speakers in its masterclasses and cultural projects.

An active structure in 2026

The educational activities of Cirkus Kolektiv are documented in 2026 .

In March , the association offered workshops in aerial silks and stilt walking.

In September , she participated in the Mosor Film Festival by organizing free aerial silks and dance trapeze workshops for children and adults.

In October , she programmed an artistic laboratory dedicated to the use of public space, led by the Italian artist Caterina Moroni .

Cirkus Kolektiv is also involved in organizing the Split Calling festival, the fourth edition of which is scheduled for October 22-24, 2026 .

These activities confirm the dynamism of the association in the fields of teaching, creation and dissemination of contemporary circus.

A leading institution for circus arts education in Split

Cirkus Kolektiv represents an important structure for people wishing to discover circus arts in Split.

The association offers accessible instruction for children from the age of 7, specialized courses in aerial disciplines, workshops for teenagers and adults, as well as training courses for artists.

Its location in a space equipped for aerial practices and performances makes it possible to link technical learning and stage creation .

Through its educational programs, masterclasses, residencies and shows, Cirkus Kolektiv contributes to the development and recognition of contemporary circus in Croatia.

It can be classified as an amateur circus association school also offering artistic and professional development activities.