Oulun Taidekoulu – Sirkustaide

Oulun Taidekoulu is a municipal arts education institution located in Oulu, in northern Finland. The school welcomes children and young people in several disciplines: circus arts, theatre, dance, visual arts and film.

Its circus section, called Sirkustaide , offers a complete educational program ranging from the discovery of basic techniques to the creation of personal acts.

The institution follows the Finnish curriculum for in-depth fundamental artistic education, which allows students to develop their technical skills and artistic expression over several years.

A multidisciplinary municipal school

Oulun Taidekoulu is administered by the city of Oulu.

Its organization is based on several artistic departments, each with its own educational programs.

Students can study circus arts, theatre, dance or visual arts, but also participate in creations combining several disciplines.

This multidisciplinary dimension is one of the distinctive features of the institution.

Joint projects allow students to discover different forms of expression and to participate in shows combining several artistic practices.

A circus training program structured over several years

The Sirkustaide section follows the Finnish curriculum for in-depth fundamental art education.

This course represents a total of 1,300 hours of teaching , divided between 800 hours of fundamental studies and 500 hours of advanced study.

It is designed to support students over several years, generally from the age of 7 until the end of adolescence.

Children begin by discovering the main circus disciplines before gradually choosing one or more specialties.

The apprenticeship also includes artistic creation, physical preparation, and the presentation of shows.

At the end of the course, students can complete a personal artistic project and obtain a certificate corresponding to the in-depth program of fundamental artistic education.

This is not a professional circus artist diploma.

Artistic awakening from age 3

Oulun Taidekoulu offers artistic activities from the age of 3.

The youngest children participate in multidisciplinary groups in which physical activities are combined with theatre and other forms of expression.

This initial approach emphasizes play, imagination, and the discovery of movement.

Children develop their motor skills while learning to participate in a group activity.

Seikkailusirkus: the adventure circus

The Seikkailusirkus program is designed for children aged 4 to 7.

It combines circus arts and theatre through stories, games and imaginary adventures.

Participants discover the first exercises in acrobatics, aerial acrobatics, juggling and tightrope walking.

The sessions also help to develop coordination, self-confidence and cooperation.

Adventure circus is a first step before entering regular circus training groups.

Sirkusalkeet: Discover the disciplines of the circus

From around the age of 7, children can join the Sirkusalkeet groups, dedicated to learning the fundamentals.

These groups are organized into several levels.

Students discover basic acrobatics techniques, balance exercises, juggling and various aerial disciplines.

The teaching is based on varied practice so that everyone can identify their preferences and develop their skills.

Children also learn safety principles and the importance of progressive training.

Beginner groups participate in collective performances throughout the year.

Ground acrobatics and lifts

Acrobatics is a common discipline across different levels of the curriculum.

The students work on fundamental movements, hand balances, and coordination exercises.

The teaching also includes duo and group acrobatics.

These activities allow us to explore lifts, group figures, and relationships between partners.

Students thus develop their physical abilities while learning to communicate and cooperate.

Aerial acrobatics

The circus section also offers an introduction to aerial disciplines.

The students discover, in particular, the vertical apparatus and the trapeze.

The training includes suspension techniques, fundamental movements, and physical preparation exercises necessary for practice.

The progression takes into account the age and level of the participants.

Aerial disciplines can then become a main specialty for more advanced students.

Juggling and object manipulation

Juggling plays an important role in the program.

The students discover different forms of manipulation: throwing juggling, diabolo, flower sticks, poi and hoops.

These disciplines develop coordination, precision, concentration, and creativity.

The training allows you to experiment with several accessories before possibly choosing a specialty.

Students can then build sequences and integrate their techniques into artistic performances.

The balance disciplines

The program includes several balance disciplines.

Participants can discover the balance ball, the rola-bola, the tightrope and the unicycle.

Advanced groups can also tackle the Cyr wheel.

These practices help to develop stability, coordination and control of movements.

They also offer opportunities for stage production.

The clown and artistic expression

The teaching is not limited to acrobatic techniques.

Students also discover clowning and different forms of physical expression.

These activities allow students to work on stage presence, character development, improvisation, and audience relations.

The proximity to the theatre department is an asset for the development of these skills.

The students gradually learn to combine their circus techniques with an artistic intention.

Sirkustaide 1 and 2: developing skills

After the introductory groups, students can join Sirkustaide levels 1 and 2.

These steps allow for a deeper exploration of the disciplines previously discovered.

Participants develop their physical abilities through regular training combining strength, mobility, balance and body conditioning.

They are also beginning to identify their preferred disciplines.

The learning process gradually becomes more personal, with work on the quality of movements and their use in creative projects.

Students participate in shows and can present their own acts.

Sirkustaide 3 and 4: Building an artistic approach

The advanced levels are for students who already have significant circus experience.

They allow students to delve deeper into their chosen specializations and develop a personal artistic approach.

Participants learn to construct acts, explore their expressive possibilities, and develop their stage presence.

The work includes, in particular, musical interpretation, emotional expression, character development, and choreographic research.

Students are encouraged to take more responsibility in their training.

During the final level, they can complete a final artistic project.

Performances integrated into the curriculum

Performances occupy a central place in the educational program.

Students participate in group performances, creations involving several classes, and multidisciplinary productions.

They can also present individual numbers.

Preparing a show allows you to work on composition, rehearsal, interpretation and collaboration.

These experiences are an integral part of learning circus arts.

A pedagogy based on autonomy

Oulun Taidekoulu encourages students to gradually become active participants in their learning.

Beginners discover the fundamental techniques in a safe environment.

More experienced students learn to organize their training, identify their goals, and develop their creativity.

The school places great importance on cooperation and mutual support.

It seeks to enable each participant to find their own strengths within the diversity of circus disciplines.

In-depth artistic training, but not professional.

The Sirkustaide program is distinguished by its duration and its educational structure.

Students can follow a coherent course of study over several years, with progressive objectives and opportunities for specialization.

Completing a personal artistic project is an important step in this training.

However, this course falls under Finnish basic arts education and should not be confused with higher professional training or a circus artist diploma.

It provides a solid foundation for young people wishing to develop a demanding circus practice.

An important school in the Oulu art scene

Thanks to its municipal status and its in-depth teaching program, Oulun Taidekoulu contributes to the transmission of circus arts in northern Finland.

The institution combines diverse technical practice with genuine artistic training.

The presence of other departments, notably theatre and dance, promotes encounters between disciplines and the creation of original shows.

Oulun Taidekoulu is a municipal school of artistic education that offers a complete circus curriculum for children and teenagers, from artistic awakening to the creation of personal works.

Address: Nuottasaari-talo, Isokatu 94, 90120 Oulu, Finland.

Theater and circus manager: Anna Myllylä

Email: anna.myllyla@ouka.fi

Official website: https://www.ouka.fi/oulun-taidekoulu/sirkustaide