Sirkus Keikaus / Sirkuskoulu Keikaus

Founded in 1991 by Nina Niva , a physical education teacher and circus arts specialist, Sirkus Keikaus is a Finnish school located in Espoo , in the Helsinki metropolitan area. For over thirty years, it has enabled children, teenagers, and adults to discover and practice circus arts in an environment that combines technical learning, creativity, and the joy of participation.

The school offers its courses in several educational institutions spread across the districts of Kilo , Leppävaara , Nöykkiö and Lippajärvi . It is a member of the Finnish Federation of Youth Circuses, Suomen Nuorisosirkusliitto , and regularly participates in circus gatherings and festivals.

A circus school for all ages

Keikaus offers instruction tailored to the different stages of student development. Younger children discover the circus with their parents, while older children can gradually deepen their knowledge of acrobatic and artistic disciplines.

Classes are organized into several groups according to the age and skill level of the participants. The program includes sessions for children aged 2 to 5 , 6 to 10 , and groups for young people aged 7 to 20. Activities are also available for adults.

For autumn 2026, the school also offers a circus awakening group for babies aged 4 to 12 months , accompanied by an adult.

Circus arts for toddlers

The sessions for children aged 2 to 5 are based on a particularly playful teaching method. Each class begins with a story that serves as a thread for the warm-up. Children can thus enter the world of the circus through characters, games, and imaginary situations.

They then discover different motor skills workshops: climbing on wall bars, hanging from rings or a trapeze, manipulating hoops, throwing balls or moving forward on balance equipment.

The exercises are regularly updated to maintain the children's curiosity. Expression games also allow them to discover the basic principles of clowning.

A parent or other adult accompanies each child during the session and helps them with the exercises. The classes last approximately 45 minutes .

Circus classes for children aged 6 to 10

Children aged 6 to 10 participate in more structured sessions, which combine warm-up, technical learning and circus workshops.

Students discover the basics of floor acrobatics , including rolls, cartwheels, jumps and various gymnastic movements.

They also work on juggling with adapted objects, balance exercises and basic aerial techniques.

The courses generally include several workshops allowing children to practice different disciplines during the same session.

This organization promotes versatility and allows everyone to discover their preferences.

Groups for teenagers and young adults

The groups for students aged 7 to 20 offer more in-depth instruction, with sessions lasting 60 to 90 minutes depending on the program.

The training sessions include a warm-up, flexibility exercises, technical work, and creative activities.

Students can develop their skills in different disciplines, deepen their acrobatic movements and begin to build their own sequences.

Artistic expression also plays an important role. Participants are encouraged to think about how to present their skills to an audience.

Juggling and object manipulation

Juggling is one of the fundamental disciplines taught by Keikaus.

Beginners learn throwing and catching movements with easy-to-handle objects, including scarves, balls, and rings.

These initial exercises help to develop coordination , rhythm and concentration .

As they progress, students can tackle more complex manipulation techniques and incorporate juggling into their acts.

Ground acrobatics

Acrobatics is a central element of the teaching offered by Sirkus Keikaus.

The students practice rolls, cartwheels, hand balances, jumps and various gymnastic figures.

The exercises are adapted to each person's experience and help develop strength , flexibility , coordination and body control .

The school also offers duo acrobatics and human pyramid activities, which require good communication between participants.

Aerial disciplines

Keikaus introduces his students to aerial techniques through various apparatus, including trapezes, rings and silks.

The youngest children first discover the sensations of suspension in conditions adapted to their age.

More experienced students can deepen their skills and develop aerial sequences.

These disciplines allow you to work on strength, coordination, body orientation in space and confidence.

Circus balances and props

The school offers various balance exercises, on the ground or on specialized equipment.

Participants can discover activities such as ball walking, rola-bola, and supports for hand balances.

These activities develop stability, concentration, and control of movement.

Students gradually learn to control their posture and perform more precise movements.

Trampoline and group acrobatics

Keikaus' program also includes trampoline acrobatics activities and group exercises.

Students can work on their aerial coordination and discover new sensations of movement.

Group acrobatics includes, in particular, duo exercises and human pyramids.

These disciplines promote mutual trust, mutual support and communication between partners.

The clown and stage performance

Learning to clown occupies an important place in Keikaus' pedagogy.

Students discover this discipline through games, expression exercises and improvisations.

These activities help to develop imagination , spontaneity and the ability to communicate with an audience.

They also help participants gain confidence and feel comfortable on stage.

The clown thus constitutes an artistic complement to the technical disciplines of the circus.

The creation of the shows by the students

A distinctive feature of Sirkus Keikaus is the importance given to student participation in the creation of the shows.

From the age of 7 , participants can contribute to the design of their own acts, with the support of teachers.

They can choose a discipline, a theme, music, choreography, and think about costumes or makeup.

The teachers ensure the artistic and technical consistency of the performances.

This approach allows students to discover the different stages of creating a show, from the first ideas to the presentation in front of an audience.

The performing groups Kärrynpyörä and Kieppi

Keikaus has two performance groups, Kärrynpyörä and Kieppi , intended for students wishing to deepen their practice and participate in performances.

These groups welcome participants who have already acquired significant experience in circus arts or who demonstrate good skills in a complementary discipline, such as gymnastics or dance.

The students undergo regular training and are involved in preparing for the shows.

The program may include acrobatics, balancing, aerial disciplines, dance, and choreographic work.

The groups participate in events and festivals in Finland and abroad.

International festivals

Keikaus' performance groups have been participating in Finnish festivals since 1997 .

The school made its first international trip in 2001 , during a trip to Vyborg and Saint Petersburg.

The young artists notably had the opportunity to perform in the famous Saint Petersburg circus.

Since that first experience, the school has maintained a tradition of participating in international circus and gymnastics competitions.

These trips allow students to present their creations, meet other young artists and discover different circus traditions.

An experienced teaching team

The school is run by Nina Niva , its founder, who has a background in physical education and circus teaching.

The teaching team includes teachers and assistants with experience in circus arts, gymnastics or dance.

Several teachers are former students of Keikaus, which helps to pass on the methods and values of the institution from one generation to the next.

For groups of young children and beginners, supervision can be increased to ensure appropriate support.

The school pays particular attention to safety , adherence to instructions and student progress.

Several educational institutions in Espoo

Keikaus offers its courses in different areas of Espoo to make it easier for families to access activities.

For the autumn 2026 season, regular courses are scheduled in Kilonpuiston koulu , Martinkallion koulu , Auroran koulu and Ruusutorpan koulu .

The facilities are located in school buildings with spaces adapted for physical and acrobatic activities.

This organization makes it possible to offer groups corresponding to different ages and levels in several sectors of the city.

Organization of the 2026 season

The fall 2026 season begins on August 17th .

Registration has been open since May 21 for former students and since May 28 for new participants.

Families can view schedules and book their courses on the Keikauskauppa online shop.

A trial session can be purchased before confirming registration for a full course, subject to applicable conditions.

The groups include introductory activities, general circus classes, sessions for teenagers and adults, as well as specialized training for performance groups.

A school committed to creativity and the joy of practice

Since its creation, Sirkus Keikaus has sought to transmit the circus arts in an encouraging and friendly environment.

The school values technical progress as much as personal development, creativity, and relationships between students.

Participants can discover many disciplines before choosing those they wish to explore further.

The annual performances offer the opportunity to showcase their progress, without obligation to go on stage for those who do not wish to do so.

The advanced groups allow particularly motivated students to participate in more ambitious creations and international festivals.

Thanks to its long history, multidisciplinary teaching and artistic activities, Sirkus Keikaus is an important school for the practice of circus arts in Espoo and the Helsinki region.

Official website: https://www.keikaus.fi/