Progetto SLIP – Scuola di Circo Contemporaneo

Progetto SLIP is a school and space dedicated to contemporary circus located in Turin, Piedmont.

SLIP is an acronym for "Spazio Libero di Incontro e Partecipazione", which could be translated as "Free space for meeting and participation".

The structure has existed since 2013 and now operates as Progetto SLIP ASD APS , a sports and social promotion association.

Since its creation, SLIP has sought to build an accessible and inclusive space around contemporary circus.

Its philosophy is based in particular on the sharing of spaces and knowledge , the active participation of members and the desire to maintain affordable rates .

The structure functions largely thanks to the involvement of volunteers from both the professional and amateur circus worlds.

SLIP is therefore not just a school.

The venue functions simultaneously as a training space, practice room, place for artistic research, creative space and performance venue.

It welcomes both amateur practitioners and professional artists.

Classes for children and teenagers

Regular classes are offered to children , teenagers and adults .

For the 2026-2027 school year, children can start from the age of six .

• The Circo Kids group welcomes children aged 6–8.
• Different Circo Junior groups are then offered to children aged 7 to 11 or 9 to 11 years depending on the time slots.
• Circo Teens welcomes teenagers aged 12 to 15.

This organization allows young people to progress in an environment adapted to their age while discovering different families of circus disciplines.

The children's and teenagers' program is designed as a comprehensive discovery of the circus .

Students experiment with different techniques before gradually developing their preferences.

The practice allows you to work on coordination , balance , body awareness , creativity and relationships with others .

Young people can, in particular, discover ground acrobatics .

Aerial acrobatics is also an important component of SLIP's activities.

Juggling is one of the disciplines used in educational curricula and projects.

Balance techniques are also featured in the circus discovery activities offered by the association.

End-of-year presentations allow students to showcase the work they have completed throughout their studies.

Free internships, holiday centers and projects

SLIP also organizes circus-themed workshops and holiday centers .

In 2026, a summer center for children aged 6 to 12 offered aerial acrobatics, ground acrobatics, juggling, theater and games.

These activities allow children to discover several disciplines over an intensive period.

The association also develops free projects for young people in the area.

The Pianeta Circo project, for example, allows children aged 6 to 12 to discover aerial acrobatics, juggling and balance.

These workshops combine practical experience with the discovery of the history of contemporary circus.

SLIP is indeed working with DOCC – Documentazione Circo Contemporaneo , a structure dedicated to the documentation and memory of the sector.

This collaboration creates an interesting link between physical practice, circus culture and knowledge of circus history.

Adult classes

Adults have a particularly wide range of options.

The courses are organized according to different levels , from complete beginners to experienced practitioners.

Ground acrobatics has its own curriculum.

Aerial silks constitute one of the main disciplines taught.

Several levels allow progression from the first steps to the intermediate or advanced level.

Aerial work can also take on a dynamic dimension.

More experienced practitioners delve deeper into oscillations , dynamic figures , transitions and sequence construction .

SLIP's offering has also incorporated various aerial disciplines over the seasons, such as rope , trapeze and hoop .

Acrodance is one of the disciplines taught in the structure.

She combines dance techniques and acrobatic elements to construct a particularly dynamic body language.

A team from the professional circus

The presence of teachers from the professional circus allows students to benefit from varied artistic experiences.

Several teachers were trained at the FLIC Scuola di Circo in Turin.

Others have experience working for professional Italian and international companies.

SLIP also regularly hosts external speakers .

Workshops allow participants to delve deeper into specific techniques or discover new approaches to movement and creation.

Free training

Independent practice is another important element of the project.

SLIP offers open training slots allowing artists and practitioners who are sufficiently autonomous to use the spaces and equipment.

These time slots promote encounters between people from different disciplines.

They also help to create an environment in which experienced amateurs and professionals can share the same practice space.

This dimension is essential to SLIP's identity.

The structure deliberately seeks to promote the circulation of knowledge and encounters between people with different artistic backgrounds.

A place for professional research and creation

SLIP also constitutes a place for professional research and creation .

Artists and companies can develop their projects there.

The organization notably organizes artist residencies .

In 2026, the SLIPCall organized with DOCC allowed a company or an artist to benefit for free for a week from an equipped space in order to work on a contemporary circus creation.

The residency combined workspace and access to DOCC's documentary resources in order to also support artistic reflection and writing.

This activity creates a direct link between school and contemporary professional creation.

Students and practitioners thus frequent a place where artists also work in creation.

Shows and performances

SLIP also hosts shows and performances .

Its programming is not strictly limited to the circus.

Theatre, music, dance, visual arts and various forms of performance can also find their place in the venue.

This openness reflects the desire to encourage cross-pollination between different artistic expressions.

However, contemporary circus remains at the heart of the structure's identity.

SLIP seeks in particular to strengthen connections between Italian and international artists.

Territorial and social work

The association is also developing significant territorial work .

It collaborates with other Turin associations and institutions to offer educational and social projects around circus arts.

The workshops notably use aerial acrobatics, ground acrobatics and juggling as educational tools .

The goal is to create a welcoming and inclusive space in which participants can develop skills, autonomy and confidence.

An affordable pricing policy

This desire for accessibility is also reflected in the pricing policy .

SLIP defines itself as a "popular space" and explains that it seeks to keep its course fees as affordable as possible.

The revenue from the courses is used in particular to pay the teachers, finance the rent and operation of the premises and to buy new equipment.

An associative and participatory dimension

Community involvement is also an important dimension.

Being a member does not just mean having access to courses: members can participate in meetings and contribute to the development of the project.

Volunteering also allows you to participate directly in the life of the place.

This organization helps to make SLIP more than just a traditional school.

The structure functions as a community bringing together students, teachers, artists, volunteers and professionals around contemporary circus.

A complete model since 2013

Since 2013, Progetto SLIP has thus developed a particularly comprehensive model in Turin.

Regular classes for children, teenagers and adults, open training, workshops, holiday centers, social projects, artistic residencies and performances coexist in the same space.

This combination of amateur practice and professional environment is one of the main advantages of the structure.

SLIP allows a child to discover the circus, an adult to start a discipline, an experienced practitioner to train independently, and a professional artist to develop a creation.

Its commitment to accessibility, participation and encounter makes Progetto SLIP a particularly interesting structure in the Turin contemporary circus scene.