Gaija Circus

Gaija Circus is a Finnish association dedicated to teaching, practicing, and promoting circus arts. Founded in 2020, it is based in Orivesi, in the Pirkanmaa region, and develops activities in several municipalities across Finland.

Its goal is to make circus arts accessible to everyone, regardless of age, physical condition or prior experience.

The association offers regular classes, specialized workshops, internships, and interventions in schools and social organizations. It also develops a performance and event entertainment activity.

An association founded on the idea that the circus belongs to everyone

Gaija Circus was created in 2020 with the desire to share the joy of circus arts with as many people as possible.

The association advocates a vision of the circus based on exploration, creativity and freedom of expression.

She believes that circus arts should not be reserved for people who already possess special physical abilities.

Everyone can discover circus arts at their own pace, try different techniques and find a discipline that matches their desires.

This approach prioritizes personal experience rather than comparison between participants.

The circus is thus presented as an artistic and collective practice, in which success is not based on competition .

Regular classes in Orivesi

Gaija Circus's main place of activity is located in Taistontalo, Asematie 9, in Orivesi .

The association offers courses for children, teenagers, adults and families.

Regular activities are organised in collaboration with Oriveden Seudun Kansalaisopisto, also known as OSKO, the local popular education centre.

Registration for the courses in question is done through this institution.

The program includes children's circus, family circus, and specialized courses in aerial acrobatics.

This organization allows Gaija Circus to offer regular instruction while integrating with the educational activities of the community.

Aerial acrobatics for children, teenagers and adults

Aerial acrobatics is one of the main disciplines taught by Gaija Circus.

In Orivesi, the association offers courses for children, teenagers and adults.

Participants discover the techniques of movement, suspension and body control specific to aerial apparatus.

The training helps to develop strength, coordination, mobility and confidence in movement.

The exercises are adapted to the level of the participants in order to allow for steady progress.

The association also offers aerial acrobatics courses in Ähtäri, in collaboration with the Lakeudenportin Kansalaisopisto popular education center.

These courses are organized into two levels: initiation and advanced.

The family circus

Gaija Circus offers sessions for children accompanied by an adult.

The family circus allows you to discover different activities inspired by circus arts in a fun setting.

Participants explore movement, coordination, balance, and early forms of acrobatics.

The presence of a parent or other accompanying adult allows for sharing the exercises and developing cooperation.

These sessions are designed to promote the enjoyment of movement and the discovery of bodily capabilities.

They also provide young children with a first encounter with the world of the circus.

Acrobatics in pairs

The association also offers duo acrobatics activities, called Pariakrobatia in Finnish.

This discipline is based on performing figures in pairs, with exercises in lifts, balances and coordination.

Participants learn to communicate, to trust each other, and to adapt their movements to those of their partner.

Acrobatics in pairs thus develops physical skills while giving an important place to cooperation .

It also allows us to discover a collective dimension of circus arts.

Circus classes accessible to beginner adults

Gaija Circus offers original groups in Orivesi for adults wishing to discover circus arts without performance pressure.

Among them are the groups Sohvaninjat and Nojatuoliakrobaatit , whose names humorously evoke "couch ninjas" and "armchair acrobats".

These activities are designed for people who do not necessarily consider themselves sporty or who wish to gently resume physical activity.

Participants discover different circus disciplines through exercises adapted to their abilities.

The goal is to experiment, gain confidence and progress in an encouraging atmosphere.

This approach illustrates the association's desire to make circus arts accessible to audiences who might not always dare to join a traditional acrobatics class.

Activities in several Finnish municipalities

Gaija Circus is not limited to its Orivesi location.

The association also develops activities in Ähtäri, Alavus, Tuuri, Toivakka and Joutsa .

In Ähtäri, she organizes aerial acrobatics courses for beginners and more advanced practitioners, in partnership with Lakeudenportin Kansalaisopisto.

In Alavus and Tuuri, she works in after-school clubs for children, in collaboration with the municipality.

Similar activities are offered in Toivakka and Joutsa.

Registration for extracurricular clubs is generally organized through schools.

This presence across several territories makes it possible to introduce the circus in communities where there is not necessarily an independent specialized school.

Interventions in schools and social institutions

Gaija Circus offers workshops and interventions that can be organized directly in the host structures.

The association works particularly in schools, healthcare facilities and places that welcome different audiences.

The activities are adapted to the participants and the available material conditions.

They can take the form of a discovery session, a series of courses or a thematic workshop.

The circus then becomes a medium for working on coordination, body expression, creativity and relationships between participants.

This approach makes it possible to broaden access to circus arts beyond people who can regularly travel to a circus school.

A significant commitment in the social field

One of the most remarkable aspects of Gaija Circus is its commitment to audiences facing social or economic difficulties.

The association develops collaborations with child protection services and social action organizations, particularly in the field of diaconal work.

It also organizes solidarity activities to allow people who would not otherwise have the means to discover the circus.

This approach is based on the idea that circus arts can offer positive experiences, develop confidence and create opportunities for encounters.

Gaija Circus thus uses the circus as an accessible artistic practice, but also as a means of promoting participation and exchange.

Internships during the holidays

The association organizes circus and movement workshops during school holidays.

In Orivesi, she notably offered summer camps for children aged 7 to 10.

These workshops combine circus activities, parkour-inspired exercises, and group physical games.

Participants discover different techniques while sharing activities with other children.

The training sessions can take place on the premises of Oriveden Kampus and, when weather conditions permit, outdoors.

These formats complement regular courses by offering more intensive practice over several days.

Workshops and private lessons

Gaija Circus also offers private lessons and sessions for private groups.

These activities can be adapted to the age, level and expectations of the participants.

The association organizes one-off workshops, themed training courses and group activities for various occasions.

It can be used in particular within the context of a camp, an association event or an educational activity.

This flexibility allows for the development of proposals tailored to very different audiences.

Activities for businesses and groups

Gaija Circus offers entertainment for businesses and adult groups.

These activities can be organised as part of a team-building day, a professional meeting or a group event.

The sessions may combine exercises in movement, mobility and cooperation.

The circus then provides an original medium to encourage exchanges and to break out of the usual framework of professional activities.

The association favours a playful approach, in which participants can discover new abilities without any performance obligation.

Event shows and entertainment

In addition to teaching, Gaija Circus offers artistic performances for events.

The association can organize circus acts, acrobatic demonstrations and fire shows.

These services are intended in particular for birthdays, private parties and public events.

The programs can be adapted to the characteristics of the event and the expectations of the organizers.

This activity helps to introduce circus arts to a wider audience.

Creative activities using circus equipment

Gaija Circus also offers resources for making some circus accessories yourself.

On its website, the association shares instructions for making poi , juggling balls and flower sticks , among other things.

These manual activities provide an interesting complement to learning circus disciplines.

They allow you to discover how the accessories work, develop creativity and make certain practices more accessible.

The manufacture of equipment can also be integrated into educational workshops.

An association deeply rooted in its local area

Gaija Circus develops its business through collaborations with several communities and educational institutions.

Its main location in Orivesi allows it to offer regular courses, while its interventions in other municipalities make circus arts accessible to a wider area.

The association thus combines education, cultural activities and social action.

It helps to promote the circus as an artistic, physical and collective activity that can be practiced at different ages.

An inclusive approach to circus arts

Gaija Circus's philosophy is based on a simple idea: everyone should be able to discover the circus, regardless of their abilities or experience.

Children's classes, family workshops, groups for beginner adults and social interventions illustrate this desire for openness.

The association encourages participants to experiment, develop their creativity and find their own way of practicing.

Cooperation, enjoyment, and individual progress occupy a central place in his teaching.

Gaija Circus is a Finnish circus arts teaching structure that is particularly interesting for its social commitment, inclusive activities and operation across several municipalities.