Copenhagen Contemporary Circus College (CCCC) – Copenhagen

The Copenhagen Contemporary Circus College (CCCC) is a private higher education institution for contemporary circus located in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Created in 2026 , the establishment offers a three-year professional training program, comparable to a Bachelor's degree, as well as preparatory courses, intensive internships and workshops for circus artists.

The school is housed in a former seaplane hangar, the Vandflyverhangaren , located in Holmen, in the Danish capital.

This space hosts the educational activities, training sessions, workshops, and artistic events of the institution.

CCCC is a member of the European Federation of Professional Circus Schools (FEDEC).

A new higher education school for contemporary circus

Copenhagen Contemporary Circus College was established to develop professional training opportunities in contemporary circus in Denmark.

The institution aims to offer future artists an environment that combines technical rigor , artistic research , and preparation for professional life .

Its main program is organized over three full-time years .

The course is taught in English and is aimed at students wishing to develop a career in circus arts.

The school currently operates as an independent private institution. Its curriculum is presented as being at Bachelor's level, without constituting at this stage an officially recognized university degree.

A training program combining technical skills and creativity

The educational program is based on a comprehensive approach to the profession of circus artist .

Students develop their physical and technical skills while exploring different methods of creation.

The teaching includes daily training, technical courses, artistic laboratories, group projects and theoretical instruction.

The training also places great importance on autonomy , reflection and the development of a personal artistic approach .

Students are encouraged to experiment with different forms of expression and to gradually build their artistic identity.

Acrobatics and floor disciplines

Acrobatics is one of the teaching areas of CCCC.

Students can work on hand-to-hand acrobatics, group acrobatics , and dance acrobatics .

These disciplines combine body control, strength, coordination and collaboration between partners.

The training also includes physical conditioning, flexibility and hand balance work.

The technical exercises are part of a broader approach of artistic research and personal development.

Aerial disciplines

CCCC offers instruction in several aerial disciplines.

The practices presented by the school include aerial hoop , smooth rope , aerial straps and fixed trapeze or dance .

These disciplines allow students to develop their technical skills, strength, and mastery of movement.

The teaching also encourages the exploration of new artistic possibilities based on circus techniques.

Some disciplines requiring particularly large facilities, such as the flying trapeze or the swinging trapeze , are not currently offered as a specialization.

Chinese pole and balancing disciplines

Chinese pole is among the disciplines taught at the institution.

This practice combines strength, coordination, and body control.

The school also offers taut wire and flexible rope .

These disciplines allow for the development of technical skills related to balance, movement, and artistic expression.

Object manipulation

Object manipulation is also one of the disciplines included in the program.

Students can deepen their technical practice and explore different creative possibilities.

The teaching aims to go beyond the mere execution of figures to develop a personal artistic approach .

Object manipulation can thus be associated with movement, theatre, dance and other forms of stage expression.

Artistic creation and research

Creativity occupies a central place in CCCC's educational project.

Students participate in research laboratories and individual or collective artistic projects.

They are encouraged to experiment, question their practices and develop new forms of expression.

The school aims to promote exchanges between contemporary circus and other artistic disciplines, including dance, theatre and music.

This approach allows students to explore the relationships between technique , movement , dramaturgy and stage creation .

Theoretical instruction

The curriculum also includes theoretical instruction integrated with artistic practice.

Students will explore critical thinking, creative methods, safety issues, and the professional context of the performing arts.

The theory is directly linked to the experiences gained during training and projects.

This organization allows for the development of a comprehensive understanding of artistic practice.

Preparation for a professional career

CCCC aims to prepare students for the different realities of the profession of contemporary circus artist.

The training includes courses dedicated to entrepreneurship and professional practice .

Students are encouraged to develop their autonomy and their ability to build artistic projects.

Public presentations and meetings with spectators are also part of the educational approach.

These experiences allow students to develop their stage presence and their understanding of artistic work in front of an audience.

Preparatory courses

In addition to its higher education program, CCCC offers preparatory courses for future students and artists wishing to deepen their skills.

These training courses are organized as intensive sessions lasting several months .

These include, in particular, floor acrobatics, trampoline, hand balances, physical conditioning, flexibility and work in a personal discipline.

Participants can benefit from support in preparing applications and auditions for higher circus schools.

The goal is to strengthen technical foundations while helping each artist to define their training plan.

Intensive workshops for artists

CCCC also organizes intensive training courses for emerging and professional artists.

These programs allow for the development of physical and technical skills in a structured environment.

Activities may include acrobatics, hand balances, movement, physical conditioning, and individual work.

Participants are supported in organizing their training and developing their autonomy.

A training space for the circus community

The establishment also opens its facilities to the circus artist community.

Open training sessions are organized every week.

They allow artists to practice their disciplines in a space equipped for different circus techniques.

The facilities include an acrobatics floor, trampolines, a tumbling track, a Chinese pole and rigging points for aerial disciplines.

These sessions are intended for independent practitioners and artists with sufficient experience.

A place for training and creation in Copenhagen

Copenhagen Contemporary Circus College is housed in the Vandflyverhangaren , a former seaplane hangar located at Refshalevej 100, in Copenhagen.

This historic building hosts the training, education, and artistic activities of the institution.

The school aims to develop an environment that promotes exchanges between students, teachers, professional artists and external stakeholders.

A pedagogy based on autonomy

CCCC develops a pedagogical approach in which students actively participate in their own learning.

Teaching encourages curiosity , experimentation , and reflection .

Students are encouraged to question their working methods, develop their autonomy, and build their artistic approach.

Dialogue with teachers and other students plays an important role in this process.

A school focused on contemporary European circus

As a member of the European Federation of Professional Circus Schools , Copenhagen Contemporary Circus College is part of the European network of higher education in circus arts.

The institution wishes to contribute to the development of vocational training in Denmark and strengthen the opportunities available to emerging artists.

Thanks to its higher education curriculum, preparatory courses and activities open to the circus community, CCCC constitutes a new place for training, experimentation and creation for contemporary circus in Copenhagen.