Kinderzirkus Kimarek eV

Kinderzirkus Kimarek eV is a circus project for children and teenagers active in the Wolfenbüttel region of Lower Saxony. Unlike a circus school that primarily offers weekly classes, Kimarek organizes full-fledged circus camps during the summer holidays, allowing young people to live for a whole week under the big top.

History of Kinderzirkus Kimarek

The story of Kinderzirkus Kimarek began in 1987 under the direction of Axel Wiegmann. The project originated from the Verein zur Förderung der offenen Jugendarbeit eV , an association created a few years earlier to support and develop various open activities for young people.

Originally, the organizers travelled to villages in the Wolfenbüttel district with a caravan to provide weekend entertainment for children. It was through these activities that the idea of creating a project specifically dedicated to the circus gradually emerged.

The early editions relied on very basic resources, and performances took place outdoors. The desire for a proper circus tent quickly became apparent. After various experiments with a handcrafted structure, the project finally acquired a specially designed tent in the early 1990s.

Since 1987 , the circus project has been organized in various forms. Experience has shown that week-long stays are a particularly suitable format: they allow children to truly immerse themselves in circus life and have enough time to learn a discipline and prepare a show.

Circus stays

Since 1996 , Kimarek has traditionally organised two large weeks of circus for children during the summer holidays. Historically, each could accommodate up to 80 participants .

Kinderwochen are primarily aimed at children aged 8 to 13. For seven days , the young people live together on the circus grounds and sleep in group tents, usually housing six to ten participants.

At the beginning of the week, each child chooses an artistic group from the various disciplines offered. They then work daily with this group to learn techniques, develop an act, and prepare for the major performances organized at the end of the stay.

The idea is to allow children to become circus artists themselves. They don't just come to watch the shows: for a whole week, they participate in creating a real performance.

Circus activities can include juggling , unicycling , acrobatics , and various other circus disciplines. Programs developed over the years have allowed children to experience a wide variety of practices and find an activity that suits their interests.

However, the days are not exclusively devoted to rehearsals. Kimarek also functions as a true holiday camp with large group games, entertainment, a friendly competition between the tent groups, a dance party and various times of communal living.

Each edition also has its own theme. Over the years, participants have explored worlds inspired by magic, the four elements, or even detective stories. The theme serves as a common thread for the activities and the overall atmosphere of the week.

Performances under the big top

The culmination of the stay is the performances under the big top. A first performance allows the young artists to present their creation to the public before a grand final gala concluding the experience.

This performance perspective gives a concrete objective to the learning that takes place during the week. The children thus discover not only a circus technique, but also rehearsals, the creation of an act, cooperation with other artists and the experience of being on stage.

Collective life

Collective living is another essential component of Kimarek. Sleeping in tents, eating together, participating in daily activities and collectively preparing a show allows children to develop autonomy , mutual support and a sense of belonging to a group.

The project mainly welcomes children and teenagers from the Landkreise of Wolfenbüttel and Helmstedt as well as the city of Braunschweig, but participants from more distant regions have also taken part in the various editions.

Development and volunteering

Kimarek has gradually developed activities for teenagers. A first week specifically for young people was organised in 2007 , complementing the traditional weeks for children.

The organization relies heavily on the involvement of a large team of volunteers . The chaperones ensure the smooth running of the day-to-day operations, supervise the groups, and prepare the activities that allow dozens of children to live together for a week.

This volunteer aspect also contributes to intergenerational transmission. Former participants can remain involved in the project and return later as mentors to contribute in turn to the organization of the circus weeks.

A sustainable youth circus project

After nearly forty years of existence , Kinderzirkus Kimarek has become a particularly sustainable youth circus project in Lower Saxony. Its unique approach combines holiday camps, tent living, learning circus arts, and preparing a real show under the big top.

For children and teenagers, Kimarek therefore offers more than just a technical course: for a week, they truly live like a small circus troupe, from choosing their discipline and the first rehearsals to the final performances in front of the public.