Scuola di Arti Circensi Antitesi – Pisa

The Scuola di Arti Circensi Antitesi is a contemporary circus school located in San Giuliano Terme , near Pisa, in Tuscany. It also has a second location in Vicopisano .

The school is run by Antitesi Teatro Circo , an association active since 1994 in the development of circus arts, circus theatre, artistic creation and social circus.

In 2003 , Antitesi founded his Scuola di Circo, presented as the first circus arts school created in Tuscany .

From 2008 onwards, the school became a permanent center for circus and educational training for children, teenagers and adults.

The artistic direction is provided by Martina Favilla , who is at the origin of the creation of the school and has developed over the years a pedagogy combining circus training, theatre, psychomotor skills, circus motor skills and artistic creation.

A pedagogy based on artistic expression

One of Antitesi's distinctive features is precisely that it does not limit its teaching to the acquisition of techniques.

The school considers circus arts as a true means of expression and seeks to support students in the development of their artistic personality.

For children and adolescents, the teaching method is intentionally non-competitive .

The game is used as the main means of discovery, allowing for a gradual learning of different techniques while stimulating imagination and creativity.

Collaborative work plays a fundamental role. Exercises and creative projects allow children to learn to share space and materials, to respect differences, and to gradually develop self-confidence and trust in others.

Each child is encouraged to progress at their own pace .

Children's and teenagers' courses

The first classes start from the age of 4 .

The MiniLu and MiniMe groups welcome children aged 4 to 6 and offer a first introduction to circus arts adapted to their physical abilities and psychomotor development.

Children can then join different groups that progressively correspond to their age and experience.

• JumpCirco and BoingCirco cater to 6–8 year olds, while ZipCirco is aimed at 7–10 year olds.
• MixCirco allows 8-10 year olds to practice twice a week and continue their progress with a higher frequency.
• From age 11, AcroCirco offers a course designed for pre-teens up to about 14 years old.
• Teenagers then have the Fly Up and Fly groups, which allow them to continue learning up to 18 years old and beyond for some advanced groups.

No technical prerequisites are required to join most of these courses.

The subjects taught

The students discover several major families of circus arts.

Juggling

Juggling is an integral part of the teaching. The school has balls, clubs, diabolos and flower sticks as well as various manipulation accessories.

Balance

Balance disciplines also occupy an important place.

The school has, in particular, a tightrope which allows for work on balance and movement.

The balance ball is also used, as well as the beam and the rola-bola.

Stilts allow us to approach another form of work on balance and body presence.

Acrobatics and acrobalancing

Acrobatics and acrobalancing are among the main disciplines offered and allow you to work simultaneously on strength , mobility , coordination , confidence and cooperation .

Aerial acrobatics

Antitesi also has a significant infrastructure dedicated to aerial acrobatics.

• Students can, in particular, practice aerial silks .
• The trapeze is one of the permanent apparatuses of the school, which also has a triple trapeze .
• The aerial rope complements the range dedicated to vertical apparatus.
• Aerial hoop is another discipline that is regularly practiced.

Aerial acrobatics can be approached within the framework of multidisciplinary curricula or be the subject of specialized courses.

Adult classes

For adults, Antitesi offers several specific levels of aerial acrobatics.

Beginners can discover the fundamental techniques while intermediate and advanced groups delve deeper into climbs, balances, locks, falls and combinations.

Technical work is complemented by rhythm , choreography and artistic expression .

The goal is therefore to gradually transform the learned figures into genuine stage material.

Circus Theater Experience

Adults also have access to the Circus Theater Experience program.

This course combines circus techniques and physical theatre.

Depending on the interests and abilities of the participants, the work may incorporate aerial acrobatics, balance, juggling, acrobalancing and other disciplines.

Body expression, coordination, body awareness and non-verbal communication are important components of this journey.

No prior experience is necessary to participate in the Circus Theater Experience.

Free training

Independent practitioners also have a free training slot in the school premises.

A particularly well-equipped training area

The training area is particularly well equipped for a community school.

Practitioners have access to mats, trapezes, fabrics, ropes, aerial hoops, triple trapeze, trampoline, tightrope, balance ball, beam, rola-bola, stilts and juggling equipment.

The main hall has a height of up to nine meters , which allows for working in good conditions for advanced aerial disciplines.

Workshops and internships

Antitesi also organizes numerous workshops and training courses.

These courses allow students to deepen their knowledge of circus disciplines as well as various skills necessary for creating a show.

The workshops can therefore cover theatre , voice , directing , costumes , makeup or scenography .

This approach illustrates the concept defended by Antitesi: the circus is considered a complete artistic language rather than a simple succession of technical performances.

Circontriamoci

The school notably organizes Circontriamoci , an intensive week dedicated to the different disciplines of the circus and open to teenagers and adults.

Participants can deepen their specialty or experiment with new techniques with professionals in the field.

Creation and distribution

Antitesi is also developing a significant activity in creation and distribution.

The Compagnia Antitesi Teatro Circo produces shows that blend circus techniques and theatrical language.

Some shows combine aerial acrobatics, balance, acrobalancing, theatre and dramaturgy.

The presence of a professional company within the same structure allows for a direct link to be maintained between teaching , artistic research and live performance .

The social circus and networks

Antitesi also develops social circus projects.

Circus techniques are then used as educational tools to promote participation, personal expression, cooperation and inclusion.

The association participates in several Italian networks dedicated to the development of contemporary, educational and social circus.

• Antitesi is notably a member of ACCI – Associazione Circo Contemporaneo Italia.
• She also participates in the CircoSfera and AltroCirco networks, developed around educational circus and social circus in Italy.

The teaching staff

The teaching team consists of professionals with artistic and pedagogical experience in various disciplines.

Several teachers specialize in circus techniques and aerial disciplines, while others bring complementary skills in verticals, flexibility, theatre, interpretation and playful-educational pedagogy.

Two locations

The school now has two campuses.

The main site is located in Ghezzano , in the municipality of San Giuliano Terme, immediately north of Pisa.

A second school operates at the Teatro di Via Verdi in Vicopisano.

In Vicopisano, courses are offered in particular to children aged 4 to 6 and to young people aged 7 to 12.

This second location allows Antitesi to reach families living in another part of the province of Pisa while maintaining the same educational identity.

A complete structure of the Tuscan Circassian landscape

More than twenty years after the creation of its circus school and more than thirty years after the birth of the association, Antitesi today constitutes a particularly complete structure of the Tuscan circus landscape.

It brings together in a single project regular teaching, aerial acrobatics, juggling, balance, physical theatre, artistic creation, workshops, shows, free training and social circus.

Its non-competitive approach and its desire to combine technical learning and artistic research allow students to discover the circus not only as a physical activity, but also as a true means of expression and collective creation.