Scuola Circo IRIDE – Lugano / Breganzona

Scuola Circo IRIDE is a circus arts school located in Breganzona , in the municipality of Lugano , in the heart of the Swiss canton of Ticino .

Founded in 2023 by Stefania Ponzio , it follows in the footsteps of the Scuola Circo Lidia Golovkova , a historic establishment created in 2002 and dedicated to the transmission of circus arts in Italian-speaking Switzerland.

Having herself been a student at this school, then a teacher from 2011 and director in 2022 , Stefania Ponzio takes over the educational project and gives it a new identity under the name Circo IRIDE .

The name IRIDE reflects the values upheld by the establishment: emotions, heart, soul, individuality and character .

The school aims to offer children and young people an environment in which technical circus training is accompanied by genuine personal and social development .

Educational project

His educational project is based on a multidisciplinary approach allowing students to discover different families of circus arts.

Ground acrobatics

Floor acrobatics is one of the foundations of the teaching. It allows for the progressive development of strength, coordination, balance, flexibility and body awareness .

Aerial disciplines

Aerial disciplines also occupy an important place in the program.

Students can discover aerial silks , trapeze , hoop , cube and flying pole .

Through these different apparatus, they learn the techniques of suspension, climbing, rotation and descent , before developing more elaborate acrobatic and choreographic sequences.

Juggling

Juggling complements this training by promoting coordination, concentration, precision and object manipulation .

Contortionism

Contortionism is also among the specialties taught. It is based on specific work in flexibility, muscle control and body mobility .

The diversity of these disciplines allows students to explore several forms of expression before developing their artistic preferences.

Programs and Ages

For younger children, Circo IRIDE offers the Primi Passi program, accessible from 4 to 6 years old .

This introduction uses play, music, movement and imagination to support early motor learning.

The goal is not to immediately seek acrobatic performance, but to allow children to discover their bodies , gain confidence in themselves and learn to move within a group.

From the age of 7 , children can join the general Circo IRIDE program .

The courses are organized according to the experience of the participants, with a progression allowing students to continue their training for several years.

The courses take place from September to June , in the sports facilities of the secondary schools in Breganzona.

Pedagogy and values

The school's teaching methods place great importance on respecting individual pace .

Each student is encouraged to develop their abilities while learning to collaborate with others.

The school particularly emphasizes the values of mutual support , welcoming , cultural openness and respect for differences .

The circus is thus considered a tool for personal development , but also a collective practice that allows for the creation of relationships and the sharing of experiences.

Artistic dimension and performances

The artistic dimension occupies an essential place in the functioning of Circo IRIDE.

The institution develops creations and shows that allow students to test their learning on stage.

Young artists can thus discover choreographic work, the construction of a number, interpretation and the relationship with the public .

The school also participates in circus events and festivals in Switzerland and abroad.

In 2026 , several students notably represented Circo IRIDE at the Festicirque in Corsier-sur-Vevey , where a trapeze duo won first place in the 8-11 year old category.

The establishment was also represented at the Stresa International Circus Festival in Italy.

These participations allow young practitioners to meet other schools, discover different artistic worlds and experience their first experiences in a festival context.

Circo IRIDE thus develops a teaching method combining amateur practice , technical progression and artistic creation .