KIRKO – Circus for All

KIRKO – Circus for All, a contemporary circus school in Thessaloniki

KIRKO – Circus for All (KIRKO) is an artistic and educational structure dedicated to contemporary circus arts, based in Thessaloniki , Greece. Created in 2015 as a social cooperative, it brings together artists and professionals with experience in circus disciplines, aerial acrobatics and street theatre.

KIRKO develops several complementary activities: circus teaching for children and teenagers, workshops for adults, creation of shows, cultural events and social circus projects.

The school is notably located within the Polychoros WE , a cultural space in Thessaloniki situated at the intersection of 3 September Avenue and Grigoriou Lampraki Street.

His approach is based on a conviction: circus arts constitute a means of expression, bodily discovery and encounter accessible to people of all ages and from different backgrounds.

An artistic cooperative founded in 2015

KIRKO was born from the desire of a group of artists to develop the practice of contemporary circus in Greece.

The structure takes the form of a social cooperative , a model that combines economic activity, cooperation and collective objectives.

His project aims to create job opportunities for circus artists and to promote recognition of their disciplines among the Greek public.

KIRKO thus develops an artistic production activity while also offering courses and workshops.

Teaching, creation and social action constitute the three complementary dimensions of its identity.

The cooperative also participates in European and international networks dedicated to culture, arts and education.

Circus arts as a practice accessible to all

The name Circus for All expresses KIRKO's educational orientation.

Circus arts are viewed as practices accessible to different ages and levels of experience.

Learning is not solely based on the pursuit of performance.

It also helps to develop coordination, creativity, cooperation and the enjoyment of movement.

The activities combine technical exercises, physical games, and artistic exploration.

Each participant can discover several disciplines and progressively develop their skills.

This diversity allows us to offer an approach to the circus that is at once sporty , creative and collective .

Classes for children aged 3 to 5

KIRKO offers an introductory program for preschool children.

The activities emphasize play, body discovery, and early experiences of balance.

The children explore simple movements, manipulate different objects and participate in group exercises.

Musical and theatrical games also help to develop their imagination.

The goal is to promote coordination and body awareness in a creative environment.

Through these initial discoveries, children become familiar with the world of contemporary circus.

Classes for children aged 6 to 12

School-aged children can discover several families of circus disciplines.

The program combines juggling, balancing, floor acrobatics and expressive activities.

Students learn to manipulate different accessories, control their movements, and improve their coordination.

The exercises help to develop concentration and perseverance.

The collective dimension encourages children to cooperate and share their discoveries.

The sessions also serve as an introduction to creativity and stage expression.

Activities for teenagers aged 12 to 16

KIRKO offers a program for teenagers wishing to discover or deepen their knowledge of circus arts.

Participants can work on juggling, acrobatics and balance techniques.

Aerial disciplines also occupy an important place in the school's educational universe.

Teenagers develop their strength, coordination, and body control.

The exercises promote autonomy, confidence, and perseverance.

The artistic approach also allows us to explore the expressive possibilities of movements and sequences.

Activities for adults

KIRKO develops circus activities for adults.

These workshops allow participants to discover circus disciplines from a perspective of leisure, physical training or artistic exploration.

Participants can work on object manipulation, balance, and aerial techniques.

The practice combines coordination, mobility, strength and concentration.

The exercises can be adapted to different experience levels.

Circus arts thus offer adults an original way to engage in physical activity while developing their creativity.

Juggling

Juggling is one of the fundamental disciplines in KIRKO's teaching.

Participants learn, among other things, how to handle balls, clubs, rings and scarves.

The exercises rely on hand-eye coordination, precision of movements, and a sense of rhythm.

Learning begins with simple movements before progressing to more complex combinations.

Juggling also allows you to experience collective movement and the exchange of objects between partners.

It develops concentration and encourages perseverance.

Chinese plates and the manipulation of objects

KIRKO's program also includes object manipulation activities, including Chinese plates .

This discipline involves spinning and controlling a plate on a chopstick.

It requires precision and good coordination.

Participants can also discover different forms of manipulation of hats and other circus accessories.

These practices enrich the learning of juggling and open up new creative possibilities.

They are particularly suited to technical games and group workshops.

The unicycle

The unicycle is one of the balance techniques presented by KIRKO.

This discipline uses a single-wheeled cycle and requires precise coordination between posture, movement, and balance.

Participants gradually learn to control their position and movements.

Practice develops stability, concentration, and perseverance.

The unicycle belongs to the circus tradition and also has artistic potential in shows.

It is a complementary activity to the other balance exercises offered by the school.

Stilts

Stilt walking is one of the circus disciplines covered in KIRKO workshops.

They allow you to discover movement at height and balance control.

Learning requires special attention to posture and coordination.

Stilts are also used in street arts.

They allow the creation of visual characters and participation in public events.

This discipline thus combines physical preparation and artistic expression.

The rolla-bolla

Rolla-bolla belongs to the balance techniques offered in the KIRKO educational universe.

This apparatus rests on a board placed on a movable cylinder.

Participants must control their center of gravity to maintain their stability.

The exercise requires concentration, precision and good body awareness.

It allows us to explore the concepts of dynamic equilibrium.

Rolla-bolla complements other balance practices such as unicycling and stilt walking.

Ground acrobatics

Floor acrobatics are another component of KIRKO's teaching.

The exercises help to develop strength, flexibility, coordination and body control.

Participants discover the fundamental movements and learn to control their positions.

Progress is made through exercises adapted to age and experience.

Acrobatics also contributes to the physical preparation necessary for aerial disciplines.

It allows for the exploration of different forms of individual and collective movement.

Aerial fabric

Aerial silks is one of the artistic disciplines developed by KIRKO.

He uses long suspended strips of fabric to perform acrobatic movements.

Practitioners discover suspension techniques, body positions, and transitions.

The discipline requires strength, coordination, flexibility, and concentration.

The figures can be combined into choreographic sequences.

Aerial fabric thus possesses a dimension that is both technical and expressive.

The trapeze

The trapeze is also featured in the aerial arts discovery program.

This suspended apparatus allows for the exploration of different acrobatic positions.

Participants discover the holds, supports and movements performed above the ground.

The work requires strength and good body control.

The trapeze is one of the historical disciplines of the circus.

It allows technical learning to be linked to the creation of air traffic numbers.

The aerial hoop

Aerial hoop belongs to KIRKO's artistic repertoire.

This suspended circular apparatus allows for balancing and acrobatic positions.

Practitioners work on stability, coordination, and transitions between figures.

The hoop also offers many choreographic possibilities.

Movements can be combined with music to create expressive sequences.

This discipline represents another facet of the aerial arts developed by the cooperative.

The aerial rope

Aerial rope is among the techniques presented by the artists of KIRKO.

This apparatus allows for suspension movements and acrobatic positions.

The practice requires strength, coordination, and body control.

It also requires appropriate technical preparation.

In shows, the aerial rope allows for the creation of acts that combine physical mastery and artistic expression.

It complements the silks, trapeze and hoop in the repertoire of aerial disciplines.

The hula-hoop

The hula hoop is one of the manipulation and movement activities offered by KIRKO.

Participants discover different ways to spin and move a hoop around the body.

This practice develops coordination, rhythm, and mobility.

It can be associated with dance and choreographic sequences.

The hula hoop allows you to work on precision while encouraging creativity.

It is a fun discipline that can be used in different educational contexts.

The clown and theatrical performance

KIRKO incorporates clowning and theatrical games into his approach to the circus.

These activities are based on body expression, improvisation and relationships with others.

Participants discover different ways to create comic characters and situations.

Games help to develop spontaneity and confidence.

The clown complements technical disciplines by introducing an expressive dimension.

It also contributes to learning stage presence.

The creative movement

KIRKO's pedagogy places great importance on creative movement .

The exercises allow you to explore different ways of moving and using space.

Music and physical games accompany this discovery.

Participants can combine several techniques to create personal sequences.

Creative movement promotes imagination and body awareness.

It also allows technical learning to be linked to artistic expression.

A team of artists and educators

KIRKO relies on a team with skills in several circus disciplines.

Founding members include Ioanna Dimitriadou , aerial artist and artistic director, Olga Kyriakidou , project manager and executive director, and Daniel Arrando Amiguet .

The teaching team presented by the structure also includes specialists in dance, juggling and aerial arts.

The participants include Giorgos “Lek” Karamitros for juggling, Stella Tzirki and Vera Vasileiadou for aerial disciplines, and Konstantina Peristerianou and Kyriakos Athanasiadis for youth activities.

The diversity of backgrounds helps to enrich KIRKO's educational and artistic approaches.

The social circus

Social circus is one of KIRKO's major commitments.

The organization develops workshops for children and young people facing social, economic or cultural difficulties.

Circus techniques are used as means of participation, expression, and cooperation.

The exercises may combine juggling, ground acrobatics, aerial activities and clowning games.

Working together fosters trust and relationships between participants.

This approach allows the circus to be used as a tool for non-formal education and personal development.

Inclusive projects

KIRKO is also interested in the accessibility of circus arts for people with disabilities.

The cooperative is developing a reflection on the adaptation of activities and their educational possibilities.

The projects seek to create opportunities for artistic participation for diverse audiences.

The goal is to encourage personal expression and interaction.

Circus disciplines offer a framework in which participants can explore their abilities through movement and play.

This approach links KIRKO's artistic ambitions to its social commitments.

The circus and non-formal education

KIRKO's activities are based on an educational approach that prioritizes experience.

Participants learn by manipulating objects, exploring movements, and cooperating with others.

Juggling develops coordination and perseverance.

Balance exercises promote concentration.

Team games encourage communication and respect.

The circus thus becomes a way to develop physical and social skills in a creative environment.

The shows and performances

KIRKO also has an artistic company activity.

The organization presents contemporary circus shows, aerial performances and cultural events.

The creations may combine juggling, acrobatics, movement, dance and street theatre.

The artists develop proposals adapted to different performance spaces.

The music, costumes and staging all contribute to the identity of the performances.

This activity allows circus arts to be introduced to a wider audience.

Street arts

Street arts occupy an important place in KIRKO's universe.

Stilt walking, juggling, and visual performances can be presented at public events.

These artistic forms allow us to reach out to spectators in a variety of places.

They foster a direct relationship with the public.

The interventions can take the form of walkabouts, activities or shows.

Street theatre thus complements the training and creation activities of the circus arts.

Cultural events

KIRKO participates in cultural events and artistic activities.

The cooperative offers shows and entertainment that can bring together several disciplines.

Its artists contribute to the creation of visual and festive atmospheres.

Aerial acts, stilt walkers and juggling performances help to diversify the offerings.

This activity contributes to the spread of circus arts in Greek cultural life.

The complementary art workshops

KIRKO also develops creative workshops that go beyond the strict framework of circus disciplines.

The activities presented by the structure include, in particular, visual arts, puppetry, comics and various forms of manual creation.

These workshops encourage imagination and personal expression.

They can be associated with educational projects and children's events.

This diversity reflects KIRKO's interest in collective artistic practices.

A European and international opening

KIRKO participates in networks and collaborations dedicated to the arts, culture and education.

This openness allows for the sharing of experiences with other artists and organizations.

Exchanges contribute to the development of collective projects and the circulation of teaching methods.

The cooperative is particularly interested in initiatives that combine artistic creation and social objectives.

She thus situates her activity within an international movement for the development of contemporary circus.

A practice space at the Thessaloniki Weekend

KIRKO is associated with Polychoros WE , a cultural space located in Thessaloniki.

This venue hosts artistic and sporting activities, particularly those related to circus arts and aerial disciplines.

The courses allow children and adults to discover different techniques in an environment dedicated to practice.

The organization can also organize certain activities in partner locations.

This establishment helps to raise awareness of circus arts in the city.

An approach based on cooperation

Cooperation occupies an important place in KIRKO's philosophy.

She finds herself reflected in its organization as a social cooperative and in its pedagogy.

Group exercises encourage mutual support and consideration for others.

Participants discover that the success of an activity can depend on communication and mutual trust.

This collective dimension helps to create a welcoming environment.

It connects leisure activities, social projects and artistic creations.

A leading contemporary circus venue in Thessaloniki

Since 2015 , KIRKO – Circus for All has been contributing to the development of circus arts in Thessaloniki.

The organization combines circus arts education for children and teenagers, activities for adults, shows and social projects.

His program brings together a variety of disciplines: juggling, ground acrobatics, balancing, unicycle, stilts, trapeze, aerial silks, hoop and clowning.

Through its workshops and creations, KIRKO champions a vision of the circus based on accessibility , creativity and cooperation .

She thus participates in the transmission of circus techniques and the dissemination of contemporary circus to different audiences in Greece.