Studio CIRK! – Aalst

Studio CIRK! is a circus school-workshop located in Aalst , East Flanders. Created in 2019 by the City of Aalst in collaboration with the Sarakasi circus school, it allows the practice of circus arts throughout the year in continuity with the dynamic developed around the CIRK! festival.

Studio CIRK! thus has a local identity of its own in Aalst, while benefiting from the pedagogical know-how of Sarakasi .

The aim is to allow a progressive discovery of circus arts , from the first experiments of young children to more technical practices for teenagers and adults.

Courses for children and young people

For children and young people, Studio CIRK! offers a multi-circus course organized by age groups.

The youngest children discover the circus primarily through play . They gradually learn to handle the equipment, understand the possibilities of their bodies, and experiment with different motor skills.

As they grow older, technique takes on a greater importance. Play remains present, but it is gradually combined with a more precise learning of the different disciplines.

The courses allow participants to discover juggling , balance techniques and acrobatics , as well as various other circus disciplines.

The 2026-2027 season comprises thirty sessions for regular groups of children and young people. Classes take place on Saturdays , from September to June, excluding school holidays and public holidays.

The groups are divided according to age in order to adapt the exercises, techniques and pace of learning to the development of the participants.

Parent-child sessions

Studio CIRK! also offers parent-child sessions designed for younger children.

These workshops allow preschool children to discover the circus accompanied by a parent or a responsible adult.

The focus is then placed on the pleasure of practicing together , body discovery and simple acrobatic exercises adapted for young children.

Modules for adults and young people aged 16 and over

Studio CIRK! 's offerings are not limited to children and teenagers.

Specific modules are also organised for adults and young people from the age of 16 .

A juggling module, for example, allows you to learn basic techniques with balls before discovering other objects.

Clubs, rings, diabolo, flowersticks and Chinese plates are among the equipment used.

Acrobatics is another area of practice for adults.

Participants can discover different forms of aerial acrobatics such as trapeze , aerial hoop and silks .

These techniques are associated with floor acrobatics exercises, including handstand work.

Level-based groups allow beginners to gradually discover these disciplines while more experienced practitioners can deepen their technique.

The flow arts modules

Studio CIRK! also develops flow art modules.

Participants learn the basics of manipulating objects such as staff and poi .

This practice helps to work on coordination, fluidity of movement and control of trajectories around the body.

When participants possess sufficient technical mastery, some modules also allow them to approach fire techniques in a supervised setting.

An intergenerational and artistic dimension

This diversity gives Studio CIRK! a truly intergenerational dimension.

The workshop welcomes children, teenagers, parents accompanying their young children and adults wishing to discover or deepen their knowledge of a circus discipline.

The pedagogy is based on a progression between experimentation , play and technical acquisition .

For younger children, the primary objective is to encourage exploration and develop confidence in their own bodies.

Gradually, students learn to master the equipment, improve their movements and build real circus skills.

The artistic dimension is also present.

Studio CIRK! is directly linked to the world of CIRK!, the major circus festival held annually in Aalst since 2009 .

Students can thus develop in an environment where amateur practice regularly rubs shoulders with professional circus and creations presented in public spaces.

This proximity helps to give a real cultural dimension to the project: it is not just a sporting or leisure activity, but rather an introduction to the circus arts .

Studio CIRK! also participates in some activities organised as part of the festival, giving practitioners the opportunity to discover the circus in a context of performance and meeting with the public.

A local policy surrounding the circus

The workshop is thus part of a broader policy developed by the City of Aalst around the circus.

The CIRK! festival allows Belgian and international companies to be discovered each summer, while Studio CIRK! allows residents to practice circus arts themselves throughout the year.

The partnership with Sarakasi brings to this Aalst-based location the experience of a structured and recognized circus school.

Studio CIRK! nevertheless retains its own local identity, programming specific to Aalst and dedicated communication on the official CIRK! website.

This organization makes it a true local branch for learning circus arts and justifies its listing as a fully-fledged school for people looking for circus classes in Aalst.

With its weekly classes, thirty annual sessions for young people, parent-child workshops and modules for adults, Studio CIRK! now constitutes a particularly comprehensive offering for amateur circus arts practice in Aalst.