Codarts Circus Arts – Rotterdam

Codarts Circus Arts is a higher education institution for contemporary circus located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. It is part of Codarts University of the Arts , an arts higher education institution that also offers professional training in music and dance.

The school offers a four-year Bachelor of Circus Arts program for students wishing to become professional circus artists.

His teaching combines in-depth technical training, artistic research, stage creation and preparation for professional life.

Codarts welcomes students from different countries and develops an international approach to contemporary circus.

A four-year higher education program

The Bachelor of Circus Arts aims to train artists capable of mastering a circus discipline while developing their own artistic language.

Students are not only prepared to perform existing acts. They also learn to design their own creations and build a personal artistic identity.

The training is based on a combination of technical courses, physical training, artistic workshops and creative projects.

A large part of the program is devoted to the specialization chosen by each student.

Specialization courses are organized in small groups to allow for individualized support.

Students work on their technique, their creativity and their ability to develop a personal act.

They also dedicate time to independent training, which is essential for progress in a circus discipline.

Circus disciplines

Codarts offers teaching covering different families of disciplines.

Floor acrobatics forms an important basis of the training. It allows for the development of coordination, body control, and the physical abilities necessary for professional practice.

The students also work on acrobatic lifts and partner acrobatics techniques.

These disciplines require precise communication, a high degree of mutual trust, and a thorough understanding of balance.

Balance and spatial awareness exercises also play an important role in the teaching.

Object manipulation is one of the fundamental disciplines studied.

Students can thus develop skills in juggling and in different forms of manipulation used in contemporary performances.

Depending on their specialization, students can delve deeper into aerial disciplines , acrobatic techniques , or manipulation disciplines .

The specialties presented in the school's courses include aerial rope , duo trapeze , hand-to-hand , ground acrobatics and juggling .

The availability of specializations depends on the teaching possibilities and admission procedures specific to each year.

An important place is given to artistic creation

Codarts considers creativity to be an essential component of professional training.

Students take courses in dance, theatre, music, improvisation and composition.

These courses help develop their stage presence and their ability to construct an artistic universe.

They learn to combine their circus technique with different forms of expression.

The goal is to go beyond simply demonstrating virtuosity and to develop a personal artistic approach .

Students are encouraged to experiment, to seek new forms of movement, and to explore the relationships between disciplines.

Each year, they create an individual artistic work accompanied by a coach.

These projects allow students to put into practice the technical and creative skills acquired during their training.

Each year, students also participate in a collective creation led by a choreographer, director, or circus artist.

These experiences allow them to discover different creative methods and to work in artistic teams.

Physical training tailored to professional requirements

Practicing professional circus arts requires particularly rigorous physical preparation.

Codarts offers courses dedicated to flexibility , muscle strengthening , physical resistance and specific preparation for circus disciplines.

Ballet and physical conditioning exercises are also part of the program.

Students learn to develop their physical abilities while respecting their body's needs.

The training places particular emphasis on injury prevention .

The courses include, in particular, concepts of anatomy , nutrition , physical fitness and performance preparation .

Students are made aware of the requirements of a sustainable artistic career.

The facility also has support systems designed to support their health and well-being.

The technical skills of the show

The training is not limited to circus disciplines and artistic expression.

Students also discover different technical aspects necessary for the creation and presentation of shows.

The program includes, in particular, instruction on safety and the installation of circus equipment, known as rigging.

Workshops also allow participants to discover lighting , sound and costume techniques.

This knowledge helps future artists to better understand the technical constraints of performance venues.

They also contribute to their autonomy when they develop their own creations.

Artistic research and professional development

Codarts encourages students to develop a personal research approach.

The program includes courses devoted to the history of the circus , artistic culture , and research methods .

Students also complete theoretical work as part of their degree.

This dimension allows us to place their practice within a broader reflection on the performing arts.

The training also covers the entrepreneurial skills necessary for an artistic career.

Students are prepared to work in various professional contexts, within companies or as independent artists.

They discover the realities of the sector and develop the skills necessary to build their projects.

Meetings with the professional sector

Codarts maintains relationships with festivals, companies, artists and professionals in contemporary circus.

The school is also connected with international professional networks, including the European Federation of Professional Circus Schools , FEDEC.

These contacts allow students to discover the realities of the profession and to meet players in the sector.

The artistic projects and performances organized during the training also provide opportunities to showcase their work.

Graduation shows

The fourth year is devoted to deepening specialization and preparing for entry into professional life.

The students notably create an individual performance in their main discipline.

They also participate in a collective creation directed by a performing arts professional.

These projects represent an important step in their journey.

The annual graduation program, called Take Off , allows future graduates to present their creations to an audience.

In June 2026, the seventeenth edition of Take Off took place at the Maaspodium in Rotterdam .

Fourteen final-year students presented their acts during three performances .

The program included aerial disciplines , acrobatics , juggling , rope balancing and object manipulation .

These performances allow students to showcase their artistic identity and prepare for their first professional contacts.

Selective admission

Admission to the Bachelor Circus Arts program is by audition .

Candidates must demonstrate a technical and physical level that allows them to consider demanding vocational training.

The procedure begins with a pre-selection based on application and videos .

Successful candidates are then invited to participate in an audition in Rotterdam .

The assessments focus in particular on technical skills, physical condition, creativity, stage presence and motivation.

The jury also takes into account the ability to work in a group, to improvise and to integrate pedagogical corrections.

The school is looking for candidates with personal artistic potential and a real capacity for progress .

A recognized higher education institution

The Bachelor Circus Arts program at Codarts has official accreditation from the Dutch higher education system.

In 2024 , an external evaluation highlighted the quality of its educational environment and artistic support.

The program also received the Top Programme distinction in the Dutch Higher Education Guide 2026 .

This recognition testifies to the place occupied by Codarts in professional training in circus arts.

Thanks to its technical teaching, artistic guidance and relationships with the professional sector, Codarts Circus Arts offers students a complete path to prepare for a career in contemporary circus.

The school is thus one of the higher education institutions specializing in circus arts in the Netherlands .