Kinder Circus Ro(h)rspatz – Rorschach circus school

Kinder Circus Ro(h)rspatz is a non-profit circus for children and teenagers based in Rorschach , in the canton of St. Gallen, in eastern Switzerland.

Its story begins in 1977 , when a group of children simply expressed a desire to play at the circus. This spontaneous initiative quickly met with genuine enthusiasm and, by April 1978 , the project had evolved into the creation of a program intended to be presented to an audience.

In 1982 , the official foundation of the Kinder Circus Ro(h)rspatz association gave a lasting legal structure to this collective adventure.

Since then, several generations of young artists have succeeded one another within this children's circus, perpetuating a project that combines leisure , artistic expression , learning and community life .

A welcoming environment open to children aged 7 and up

Ro(h)rspatz welcomes children from the age of 7. No particular skills or prior circus experience are required to join the association.

This openness is an essential principle of the project: to allow young people to discover the world of the circus, to develop their skills and to participate in a collective achievement.

However, the number of places remains limited in order to guarantee suitable training conditions and safe supervision.

Interested children can sign up on a waiting list and are contacted when a place becomes available.

A system based around the show

The school's operation is based on regular training sessions organized every Wednesday evening during school terms.

Participants are divided into different age groups to allow for support that corresponds to their development and experience.

Unlike a school operating solely through independent technical courses, Kinder Circus Ro(h)rspatz organizes a large part of its year around the preparation of a collective show .

The young artists gradually work on their acts, learn to perform in front of an audience and participate in the construction of a complete circus program.

The artistic dimension thus occupies a place as important as technical learning.

Each child contributes to a collective creation in which different personalities and abilities can find their place.

A pedagogy geared towards the collective

The association's teaching methods pay particular attention to the development of social skills .

Preparing a show requires cooperation, regularity, listening and a commitment to the other members of the group.

Children learn to work together, to gain confidence in their abilities and to gradually assume their role within a collective project.

A highlight: Pentecost

An additional training weekend is traditionally organised during Pentecost.

This period of intensive preparation allows us to finalize the acts, refine the sequences, and prepare for the performances that follow.

Shows and a local presence

The shows are an important event for the association, families and the public in the Rorschach region.

Ro(h)rspatz also participates in various local events , thus helping to promote circus arts beyond its own performances.

A team and funding from an association

The supervision is provided by a team of experienced managers, accompanied by young facilitators who participate in the transmission of know-how.

The association functions thanks to the involvement of its committee, supervisors, parents and numerous volunteers.

Its funding is based in particular on annual membership fees , donations , voluntary contributions collected during shows and any remuneration related to performances.

Kinder Circus Ro(h)rspatz thus has a particular identity: it is as much an amateur practice school as a real troupe of young artists .

With nearly fifty years of history , weekly training sessions, an educational approach accessible from childhood and a strong collective dimension, it constitutes a lasting player in the transmission of circus arts in the Rorschach region.