Rohki Hyä Sirkus

Rohki Hyä Sirkus is a Finnish association dedicated to developing circus arts among children and teenagers. It is based in Kolari, a municipality in Western Lapland located near the Swedish border.

The association works closely with the Kolari Municipal Popular Education Center, Kolarin kansalaisopisto , which organizes the circus classes.

This collaboration makes it possible to offer regular teaching while developing complementary artistic projects: shows, trips, training and meetings with other practitioners.

A circus activity developed since 2011

Circus arts education for children and young people has existed in Kolari since 2011 .

The Rohki Hyä Sirkus ry association was created in 2016 to support and develop this activity.

It plays a complementary role to that of the municipal establishment: the popular education center provides the educational and administrative organization of the courses, while the association facilitates projects that go beyond the framework of weekly teaching.

This organization makes it possible to combine the resources of a public structure with the commitment of a local association.

A community-run, municipal circus school

Circus classes are organized as part of Kolarin kansalaisopisto .

Teachers can adapt the subjects and duration of lessons according to the needs of the students and the possibilities of each season.

The Rohki Hyä Sirkus association supports this activity by taking charge of some of the equipment, costumes and event organization.

The courses and the association thus form a coherent whole, designed to promote access to circus arts in the region.

The fundamentals of the circus

The teaching includes introductory courses in circus techniques.

These sessions allow children to develop their motor skills, coordination and self-confidence.

The practice combines physical preparation, technical learning and group activities.

Students can then delve deeper into certain disciplines in specialized courses.

The goal is to allow for progression tailored to each individual's experience and interests.

Aerial acrobatics

Aerial acrobatics is one of the disciplines offered by the municipal center.

The classes combine warm-up, muscle strengthening, mobility and technical learning on aerial apparatus.

The practice requires strength, coordination and steady progress.

Specialized courses can be taken in addition to general circus courses, without this double registration being systematically mandatory.

The teaching also emphasizes cooperation and the pleasure of practicing together.

Acrobatics and balancing

The program includes activities dedicated to acrobatics and balance disciplines.

Students gradually work on body control, coordination and stability.

Some courses also allow participants to develop a circus discipline of their choice.

This organization offers the opportunity to combine general learning with more personal in-depth study.

An adaptable pedagogy

Teachers have a certain degree of freedom in organizing their courses.

The content may change from one semester to the next depending on students' skills and needs.

This flexibility allows us to offer introductory sessions as well as more specialized training.

The institution also sought to organize courses with two instructors when possible.

The teaching method places great emphasis on experimentation, mutual support, and technical progression.

Shows prepared by the students

Performances constitute an important dimension of Rohki Hyä Sirkus's activity.

The association helps young practitioners to present their learning to an audience.

These performances help to develop creativity, artistic expression and the ability to work collectively.

Students discover the different stages of preparing a show: rehearsals, choosing acts, costumes and stage presentation.

Municipal programs regularly include performances in collaboration with the association.

Travel and meetings

Rohki Hyä Sirkus supports the organization of trips related to circus arts.

These activities may include travel to perform in shows or to participate in training sessions.

They allow young people to discover other artistic environments and to meet practitioners from different regions.

The association also facilitates projects that cannot be directly supported by the municipal center.

Circus equipment made available

The association participates in the acquisition, management and maintenance of circus equipment.

She also has a stock of costumes for activities and shows.

Equipment is available in Kolari as well as in Äkäslompolo, in the Ylläs region.

This organization allows students to practice several disciplines without necessarily having to own their own equipment.

It also contributes to the continuity of teaching and the preparation of performances.

An important place is given to professionals

Rohki Hyä Sirkus wants to promote the involvement of circus arts professionals.

The association seeks to support their work, particularly during activities organized outside of municipal courses.

It thus contributes to the development of local artistic education and the transmission of specialized skills.

This approach helps to enrich the opportunities available to young practitioners.

The social circus and cultural education

Rohki Hyä Sirkus also develops an approach to the circus as a tool for education and social participation.

The activities help to develop self-confidence, cooperation, creativity and personal expression.

This dimension has been particularly recognized by the municipality of Kolari.

In 2024 , Rohki Hyä Sirkus and Hanna Pikkarainen received the municipality's cultural award for their contribution to children's culture, arts education and the development of social circus.

The role of Hanna Pikkarainen

Hanna Pikkarainen is one of the founders of the association.

She played an important role in establishing and developing the circus for children and young people in Kolari.

She also contributed to the training of local professionals working in the fields of education and physical activity.

His work has enabled other circus artists and teachers to get involved in the community.

She also has an artistic career as a clown under the name Hanu-Klovni , also known as Pelle Koipeliini .

Local recognition

The cultural prize awarded in 2024 testifies to the importance Rohki Hyä Sirkus has taken in the cultural life of Kolari.

The municipality emphasizes the association's role in promoting circus arts and developing regular artistic practice for young people.

Volunteer involvement is an essential component of its operation.

The association thus contributes to maintaining specialized cultural activity in a region where the distances between municipalities are significant.

A member of the Finnish Youth Circus Federation

Rohki Hyä Sirkus is a member of Suomen Nuorisosirkusliitto , the Finnish Youth Circuses Federation.

This federation brings together schools, associations and organizations offering circus activities to children and teenagers.

Rohki Hyä Sirkus's affiliation confirms its place in the national network of circus teaching structures.

An artistic activity in northern Finland

Kolari is located in western Lapland, in a region known for its natural landscapes and long winter seasons.

Thanks to Rohki Hyä Sirkus and the municipal center for popular education, young people in the municipality can access regular practice of circus arts.

This activity provides an opportunity for artistic expression and physical development that complements the traditional sports and leisure activities offered in the region.

Rohki Hyä Sirkus is thus an amateur circus association that distinguishes itself through its collaboration with municipal education, its support for shows, its commitment to social circus and its role in the transmission of circus arts in Lapland.