ROOF Aerial Club

ROOF Aerial Club is a private school specializing in circus arts, aerial acrobatics and pole dancing, located in the Malmi district of Helsinki, Finland.

It welcomes children, teenagers, and adults, with classes accessible to beginners as well as experienced practitioners. The establishment combines technical learning, physical preparation, and artistic creation, offering both recreational activities and more intensive training for young people wishing to perform on stage.

A school specializing in aerial disciplines

Aerial acrobatics plays a central role in the teaching at ROOF Aerial Club.

Students can discover several apparatus, including the aerial hoop , aerial silks , trapeze and hammock .

Each discipline allows for the development of different physical and artistic qualities. Suspension exercises develop strength and coordination, while learning figures and sequences promotes body control and personal expression.

The classes include warm-ups, technical exercises, and muscle strengthening and mobility work.

Teachers offer adaptations according to the level of the participants.

The family circus from one year old

ROOF Aerial Club offers family circus classes for children aged 1 to 4 years accompanied by an adult.

These sessions provide a first introduction to circus arts in a playful environment.

Families experience different activities, including ground acrobatics, duo acrobatics, aerial disciplines and juggling.

The exercises are adapted to the abilities of the youngest children and emphasize play, curiosity and the pleasure of sharing an activity.

This approach helps develop early motor skills while promoting interaction between the child and their caregiver.

General circus classes for children

The school offers circus classes for children aged 5 to 6 , 7 to 9 and 8 to 12 .

These sessions allow participants to discover several disciplines throughout the year.

Participants will experience aerial hoop, aerial silks, hammock, trapeze, juggling and manipulation hoops.

The teaching combines games, technical exercises and group activities.

This diversity allows children to develop their physical abilities while discovering different forms of artistic expression.

At the end of the semester, volunteer students can participate in a Christmas or spring show.

Aerial acrobatics for young people

Specific aerial acrobatics groups welcome children aged 6 to 7 , 7 to 9 and 10 to 14 .

The sessions allow participants to learn how to move on different suspended apparatus.

Participants work in particular on aerial hoop, trapeze, vertical silks and hammock.

The courses include physical conditioning, strength and mobility exercises, as well as a progressive learning of the figures.

From the age of 15 , teenagers can also access adult courses with the agreement of their legal guardian.

Ground acrobatics and lifts

ROOF Aerial Club offers acrobatics courses for children aged 7 to 14 .

Students learn, among other things, rolls, cartwheels, hand balances, bridges and various acrobatic figures.

Preparatory exercises for more advanced movements are offered according to each person's abilities.

The courses also include partner acrobatics and the creation of human pyramids.

These disciplines help to develop coordination, trust between partners and a sense of teamwork.

The teaching is organized at an open level, with exercises differentiated according to the experience of the participants.

Acrobatic pole for children and teenagers

The school offers pole acrobatics classes for young people aged 7 to 12 and 10 to 16 .

Students discover rotation techniques, static positions, climbs and figures performed on a vertical bar.

The exercises also include strength, mobility, and acrobatics work.

Progression allows you to move from fundamental movements to more elaborate combinations.

Volunteer participants can prepare an act for the end-of-season shows.

A diverse range of options for adults

ROOF Aerial Club also welcomes adults, beginners or experienced.

The courses include aerial hoop, pole dance and various forms of physical conditioning and acrobatics.

The institution offers progressive levels so that participants can learn the fundamentals before tackling more complex figures.

For aerial hoop, the first lessons allow you to discover the climbs, simple positions and rotations.

The higher levels tackle more demanding sequences, dynamic movements and figures requiring greater strength and flexibility.

Pole dance classes are also divided into several levels, with work on rotations, inversions and choreographic combinations.

Specialized workshops complement the regular program.

Stage preparation for young people

One of the special features of ROOF Aerial Club is the existence of a stage pre-training group, called Esivalmennusryhmä .

Created in the fall of 2024, this program allows motivated young people to develop a more in-depth practice of circus arts.

Participants work on acrobatics, group disciplines, creating acts and stage presence.

The group prepares students to potentially join the school's performance troupe.

This pre-training course does not constitute a professional diploma, but an advanced training program for young people wishing to become more involved in circus arts.

A troupe of young artists aged 8 to 18

ROOF Aerial Club has a performance group made up of children and teenagers aged 8 to 18 .

The students train intensively in order to develop their technical and artistic skills.

The repertoire includes acrobatics, human pyramids, flexibility figures, and hoop manipulation.

When facilities permit, the youngsters also present aerial hoop, vertical silks and hammock acts.

The troupe participates in events, festivals and, depending on the occasion, competitions.

Students are encouraged to commit over the long term in order to be able to build acts and develop genuine teamwork.

Supervision by experienced circus artists

The youth group is notably supervised by Jerina Ferdani and Sanni Sarlin .

Both are presented by the establishment as experienced circus artists, with several years of experience in leading groups of young artists.

Their work combines technical development with the preparation of shows.

The school also welcomes other speakers for its regular courses and specialized workshops.

This diversity allows for different teaching styles to be offered and enriches learning opportunities.

Performances throughout the year

The creation of shows occupies an important place in the life of the school.

Children enrolled in regular classes can participate in the end-of-semester performances.

The troupe of young artists also performs at external events.

These experiences allow students to discover the different stages of stage preparation: rehearsals, coordination, building an act and presentation in front of the public.

They constitute an artistic extension of technical education.

Workshops and private lessons

ROOF Aerial Club organizes themed workshops and private lessons.

Participants can delve deeper into a discipline, discover new techniques, or work with a specialist.

The establishment also offers private sessions for groups, as well as entertainment for birthdays and events.

Its premises can be rented for organized activities without teaching.

It is also possible to hire professional circus artists through the school.

A progressive pedagogy

Children's groups are organized into several levels: beginner , intermediate and advanced .

Progression takes into account the experience acquired during previous semesters.

Young people wishing to join the stage preparation groups or the performance troupe must obtain an educational recommendation or submit an application.

This organization makes it possible to offer courses accessible to beginners while providing opportunities for further study for the most dedicated students.

Two practice locations in Helsinki

The main establishment of ROOF Aerial Club is located at Malmin raitti 17 A, 00700 Helsinki .

Some courses are also organized on Tuesdays at Tapanilan Sirkussali, within the Tapanila sports center.

These facilities allow the school to host the various aerial, acrobatic and artistic activities offered.

A school at the crossroads of circus and acrobatics

ROOF Aerial Club distinguishes itself by combining specialized technical instruction with genuine stage production activities.

Younger children discover circus arts through play and exploration, while older children can delve deeper into aerial disciplines, acrobatics, and juggling.

The pre-training and performance groups allow motivated young people to take their practice further.

The school also welcomes adults and develops complementary activities around pole dance, physical preparation and aerial disciplines.

ROOF Aerial Club is a Finnish private school offering diverse circus arts education, with a significant specialization in aerial acrobatics and a genuine stage practice program for young people.