Kinder- und Jugendcircus Peperoni eV – Heidelberg

Kinder- und Jugendcircus Peperoni eV is a leading circus school for children and teenagers based in Heidelberg-Kirchheim , Baden-Württemberg. Founded in 1986 , it has been guiding several generations of young people in the discovery and learning of circus arts for forty years.

The association was created on September 20, 1986 , on the occasion of World Children's Day . It is constituted as a recognized public utility association and has also been recognized since 2022 as an extracurricular youth education organization.

Approximately 150 children and teenagers currently participate in regular training sessions. They are divided into several groups that meet weekly at the Haus am Harbigweg of the Stadtjugendring Heidelberg.

Children can enter the school from the age of 7. Families can put their child on the waiting list from their sixth birthday. Due to high demand, the association currently indicates that the waiting time to secure a place can be quite long.

Each child trains once a week . Sessions take place from Monday to Thursday and each group is supervised by several leaders, usually three to five people .

New participants begin with general circus training. The goal is to allow them to discover several families of disciplines before gradually specializing according to their desires and abilities.

Acrobatics is one of these major categories. It allows you to work on your relationship to the ground, to partners and to movement, while developing strength, coordination and confidence .

Aerial disciplines are particularly well represented. Young people can practice trapeze, vertical rope and aerial silks.

Juggling is another important aspect of the training. Participants discover different forms of manipulation and can gradually develop their own specialties.

Unicycling and artistic cycling are also among the disciplines offered. They help develop balance, coordination, and control of movement.

The trampoline complements this offering and allows for a different approach to the concepts of impulse, body control and acrobatics.

Balance disciplines also play an important role. Children can, in particular, work on tightrope walking and balance balls.

Clowning, magic, and stage performance can complement more physical techniques. This diversity allows each child to gradually find a place that matches their personality.

This idea is central to Peperoni's philosophy. The school believes that the circus offers enough different disciplines so that every child can participate in a show and contribute something to it .

The teaching method is not based on grades, rankings, or competition. On the contrary, the aim is to enable children and teenagers to create a show together in which everyone has a role.

The organizers use circus arts to develop self-confidence, self-esteem, and independence . Learning a technique that initially seemed difficult allows children to become aware of their own abilities.

Perseverance, concentration, and discipline are necessary for progress. Participants also learn to recognize their limits and gain better control of their bodies.

The social dimension is just as important. Group numbers require mutual support, responsibility, and trust in partners.

Children are also encouraged to use their creativity . A technique learned during training can gradually become a performance through the choice of staging, music, a character, or choreography.

The performances are therefore an integral part of the teaching method. They are not simply entertainment for the public but the culmination of the work done during training.

Peperoni regularly organizes its own productions and also performs at external events, including kindergartens, school festivals, neighborhood parties and corporate events.

The circus also offers participatory programs allowing the public to directly discover certain disciplines.

Another important activity involves projects carried out in schools . Peperoni organizes full weeks of circus activities in schools in Heidelberg and the surrounding area.

During these projects, the children usually begin by experimenting with different disciplines. They then choose their activities, build their acts, and then prepare a final performance for the educational team and families.

The aim here is not to evaluate the students. The entire class or school works collectively to create a shared performance.

These school projects are led in particular by Craig van Deventer with the Peperoni team. Students from PH Heidelberg also regularly participate in their supervision.

The association also develops programs during school holidays. Its Sommercircus, in particular, has been organized for several years as part of the summer activities of the Stadtjugendring Heidelberg.

Peperoni has also developed inclusive activities . The goal is to allow children with different motor skills to also find a place in the circus and participate in a collective experience.

An interesting feature of the association is the intergenerational transmission of knowledge . Many former children of Peperoni later become leaders themselves and participate in training the new generations.

These young instructors undergo training before gradually taking on more responsibilities. They then participate not only in technical instruction but also in the preparation and choreography of the shows.

The team also includes managers with qualifications in circus pedagogy, sport, experiential learning, teaching or sports therapy , as well as specialists in the different disciplines.

Peperoni also develops internal training programs and encourages its team to participate in workshops dedicated to circus techniques, pedagogy, and first aid.

The association actively participates in the cultural and educational life of Heidelberg. Its young artists perform at various municipal events and collaborate with schools, youth organizations, and local stakeholders.

After forty years of existence, Kinder- und Jugendcircus Peperoni is one of the historical circus education structures in Heidelberg. Its operation combines weekly practice, intergenerational transmission, shows, school projects, holiday camps and inclusive actions .

With around 150 young practitioners , a large coaching team and a very wide range of disciplines, Peperoni allows children and teenagers to discover circus arts in an environment where fun, creativity, cooperation and personal progress take center stage.