Kinder- und Jugendzirkus Heidelberg – Peter Böhme

Kinder- und Jugendzirkus Heidelberg brings together several regular circus groups for children and teenagers developed in Heidelberg under the direction of Peter Böhme , certified circus artist and educator.

Peter Böhme has been working in the field of children's and teenagers' circus since the 1990s. He has a university degree in educational sciences with a specialization in social pedagogy as well as a professional qualification in circus pedagogy.

His experience in circus arts began with the artistic practice of duo acrobatics, juggling, and balancing disciplines. He has been leading circus groups since 1995 and directing his own projects for children and teenagers since 2000.

The system developed in Heidelberg is now substantial: approximately 160 children and teenagers participate each week in the different groups, accompanied by a team of about twenty supervisors.

Rather than operating as a single centralized school, Kinder- und Jugendzirkus Heidelberg is organized into several groups spread across different districts and structures in the city.

These groups include Zirkus Konfetti, Zirkus Prisma, Circus Esperanza, and the Kinder- und Jugend-Zirkus of Neuenheim. This organization makes it possible to offer local circus activities in several areas of Heidelberg.

The disciplines offered

Children can discover a wide range of disciplines. Juggling is one of the major areas of learning and allows them to work on coordination, rhythm, concentration and creativity.

Unicycling is also among the disciplines regularly offered. Young people can progress from their first steps to a more artistic use of the unicycle.

The diabolo is another important activity. As with other manipulation techniques, the learning can then be integrated into the creation of acts for the public.

Acrobatics plays a central role in the pedagogy. It includes individual work as well as duo, trio or group figures, and human pyramids.

Balance disciplines include the balance ball, the rola-bola, and the tightrope. They allow you to work on concentration, posture, and body control.

Aerial disciplines are also represented, particularly vertical silks. Some venues used for training have facilities specifically adapted for aerial practice.

Technique and spectacle

Participants are not simply invited to learn techniques. The goal is to progressively use the acquired skills to build a presentation intended for a real audience.

The show thus forms an important part of the educational project. The different groups organize their own annual performances and also participate in events organized in Heidelberg.

A child-centered pedagogy

The work aims to value each child's unique abilities. Circus arts offer enough different disciplines to allow young people with very diverse aptitudes to find an activity in which they can progress.

The pedagogy also places great importance on cooperation . Many techniques can only be implemented by trusting partners and taking responsibility for oneself within the group.

Circus arts also allow for the development of creativity and personal expression . Participants are encouraged to experiment, invent, and gradually transform a technique into an artistic expression.

Protection of children and adolescents

Particular attention is paid to the protection of children and adolescents. The system has its own prevention and protection concept, applicable to groups and supervisory teams.

This framework includes rules of conduct, procedures allowing young people or families to report a problem, training for supervisors, and reflection on respecting individual limits.

Internships and holiday stays

In addition to the weekly groups, Kinder- und Jugendzirkus Heidelberg organizes several circus workshops and stays during school holidays.

The Osterzirkus , Pfingstzirkus and Sommerzirkus allow young people to practice much more intensively for several days.

These workshops combine circus training, group living, games, and the preparation of a show. Families and the public are then invited to discover the results of the work done.

Participants can discover unicycling, juggling, balance disciplines, acrobatics, diabolo and vertical fabric.

The Circus Tower

A particularly original project is the Circus Tour . This tour combines circus and cycling along the Neckar River.

The young people travel together and experience a genuine artistic tour. A tenth anniversary edition is already planned for 2027.

Training of supervisors

The project is not limited to training young artists. A significant part of the work also involves training future mentors.

Peter Böhme has been organizing training courses for people wishing to pass on the circus arts since 2005.

A Zirkus-Jugendübungsleiter qualification is organized in particular in cooperation with the LAG Zirkuskünste Baden-Württemberg and the Evangelisches Kinder- und Jugendwerk Heidelberg.

This training is aimed at young people who already have circus experience and can start from the age of 14 .

It includes group pedagogy, developmental psychology, methodology, didactics, safety, training organization, artistic design and knowledge of equipment.

Technical modules then allow for further exploration of several major families of disciplines: juggling, acrobatics and balance.

This approach allows experienced teenagers to gradually move from the status of practitioner to that of assistant and then supervisor.

Event dimension and networks

Kinder- und Jugendzirkus Heidelberg also has an events component. Peter Böhme and his team offer workshops, activities and shows for various events.

Over the years, Peter Böhme has been involved in the creation or development of many other circuses for children and teenagers in the region, including Zirkus Albertini in Heidelberg-Pfaffengrund, Zirkus Mega-Spinati in Pforzheim, Zirkus Markini in Heidelberg-Süd, Zirkus Krawatti and Pfiffikus in Frankenthal, Zirkus Salazar in Hirschberg and Zirkus Librelli in Bietigheim-Bissingen.

The activity even extends beyond the German framework, as his experience also includes international children's circus projects.

With approximately 160 weekly participants , several groups spread across Heidelberg, internships, shows, a tour and a genuine training program for young supervisors, Kinder- und Jugendzirkus Heidelberg now constitutes an important circus education network in the region.

Its operation is based on a combination of technical learning, creativity, collective life, progressive empowerment of adolescents and transmission of circus arts to new generations.