Tønsberg Kulturskole

Tønsberg Kulturskole is a municipal art school located in Tønsberg, in the Vestfold region of southern Norway.

The establishment offers various artistic activities for children and teenagers, including music, theatre, visual arts and circus arts.

Its Sirkusfag program is dedicated to the discovery and learning of circus disciplines.

A circus school for children and teenagers

Circus classes welcome young people from the second year of Norwegian primary school, which is about 7 years old.

The teaching is organized into several groups allowing for a progression adapted to the age and experience of the participants.

The Sirkuslek group offers a first introduction to the circus through games and exercises adapted for younger children.

The SirkusRekrutt and SirkusJunior groups then allow for the development of more in-depth technical and artistic skills.

Juggling and object manipulation

The students discover different juggling techniques with balls, clubs, rings and hats.

The program also includes practice with the diabolo, poi and flower stick.

These activities help to develop coordination , concentration and precision of movements .

Ground and group acrobatics

Acrobatics plays an important role in teaching.

The students practice floor exercises, acrobatic lifts, and human pyramids.

The training also includes physical preparation exercises, muscle strengthening and flexibility training.

Working together promotes cooperation and trust among participants.

Aerial disciplines

Tønsberg Kulturskole offers several aerial disciplines.

Students can discover aerial silks, aerial hammock, aerial hoop and trapeze.

The school also offers an introduction to Spanish rope climbing.

These activities develop strength , coordination and body control .

Balances and complementary disciplines

The program includes unicycling, stilt walking, rola-bola and balance ladder practice.

The students also work on handstands.

They can discover the Cyr wheel, an apparatus that allows acrobatic movements to be performed inside a large metal circle.

This diversity allows participants to explore different techniques before possibly choosing a preferred discipline.

A progressive pedagogy

The school aims to allow each student to discover several circus disciplines.

The teaching develops physical abilities, coordination, flexibility and self-confidence.

Over the years, some students choose to specialize in one discipline, while others pursue a versatile practice.

Performances and artistic expression

The circus is also approached as a performing art .

Students work on their stage presence and learn to present their skills in front of an audience.

The school usually plans one or two performances or presentations during the year.

These projects allow you to discover the process of creating an issue and to participate in a collective achievement.

Course organization

Training sessions take place every week in the Træleborg skole gymnasium in Tønsberg.

The sessions generally last between 60 and 90 minutes , depending on the group.

Registrations are organized by the municipality as part of the school year.

Thanks to the diversity of its disciplines, its progressive teaching and its work around stage creation, Tønsberg Kulturskole constitutes a particularly interesting structure for discovering and practicing circus arts in Norway.