Tykkimäen Sirkuskoulu

Tykkimäen Sirkuskoulu – Circus school in Kouvola, Finland

Located in Kouvola, in southeastern Finland, Tykkimäen Sirkuskoulu is a non-profit circus school dedicated to the discovery, learning, and development of circus arts. Founded in 2006, it is run by the non-profit organization Tykkimäen Sirkuskoulun kannatusyhdistys ry , whose mission is to promote circus arts among children and young people, develop the teaching of this art form, and encourage cooperation and a sense of responsibility.

Since its inception, the school has sought to make circus arts accessible to participants of different ages and skill levels. It offers regular instruction, organized into progressive groups, which allows students to discover basic circus techniques, delve deeper into more demanding disciplines, and participate in the creation of shows.

The institution is a member of the Finnish Federation of Circus Schools for Youth ( Suomen Nuorisosirkusliitto ). This membership allows it to be part of a national network dedicated to the development of circus arts and to participate, when possible, in meetings, training courses and collective activities.

A varied education in circus arts

Tykkimäen Sirkuskoulu's courses are structured around four main families of disciplines: acrobatics, juggling, balancing, and aerial acrobatics.

Juggling allows students to discover object manipulation techniques, develop their hand-eye coordination, precision, and concentration. The exercises are adapted to the participants' level and allow them to gradually progress towards more complex movements.

Floor acrobatics also forms an important part of the curriculum. Students work on body control, mobility, strength, balance, and coordination. They gradually learn different acrobatic movements, respecting their abilities and experience.

The school also places importance on group disciplines, particularly duo acrobatics and human pyramids. These activities allow students to learn to work with a partner, to communicate, to trust each other, and to develop a true team spirit.

Balance exercises promote body stability, concentration, and movement control. Participants discover the fundamental principles of balance and develop their ability to control their posture in different situations.

Aerial acrobatics complements this multidisciplinary approach. It allows students to explore another dimension of movement, in which they must develop their body awareness, coordination, and confidence.

All of these disciplines are introduced progressively, according to the age and level of the participants. Play remains an important element in all groups, including for the most advanced students.

Courses adapted to different ages and levels

The school offers several teaching groups to support students throughout their progress.

Family Circus – Perhesirkus (ages 1 to 4)

Designed for very young children accompanied by an adult, family circus activities offer a first introduction to the world of circus arts. The sessions combine games, movement, music, and the exploration of various circus activities.

Children gradually develop their balance, coordination and motor skills, while sharing a special moment with their caregiver.

The exercises are carried out in a playful atmosphere, respecting each child's pace. The adult actively participates in the activities and accompanies the child in their discoveries.

The accompanying adults can be parents, grandparents, or other adults close to the child. This format allows them to discover the circus before joining an independent introductory group a few years later.

Initiation I – Alkeis I (5 to 6 years old)

This group welcomes young children who wish to discover circus arts independently.

The sessions are devoted to discovering circus equipment, the first exercises in body control and the fundamentals of acrobatics.

Learning is largely based on play, discovery, and experimentation. Children learn to follow instructions, to work within a group, and to gradually develop their independence.

This level is also suitable for children who have already participated in family circus classes and wish to continue their learning without an accompanying adult.

Initiation II – Alkeis II (7 to 8 years old)

The children continue their exploration of circus arts through more varied exercises.

They experiment with different accessories, deepen their understanding of the basics of acrobatics, and begin to develop collective skills.

Acrobatics in pairs and human pyramids hold a special place in this group. Students learn to cooperate, coordinate their movements, and become aware of the importance of mutual trust.

These activities also promote communication, mutual support, and the ability to work with other participants.

Intermediate progression – Pikkujatko (6 to 9 years old)

The Pikkujatko group is aimed at children who have already acquired the basics of circus in the introductory groups.

Participants have some prior experience with acrobatic movements and object manipulation techniques. They can now further develop their skills and tackle more advanced exercises.

The sessions allow you to perfect movements already learned, explore new figures and further develop coordination, strength and body control.

The goal is to consolidate acquired skills while preparing students to join advanced groups.

Advanced training – Jatkoryhmä (ages 10 and up)

The advanced group welcomes young circus performers wishing to dedicate more time to their practice.

Students can participate in several hours of training each week and delve deeper into the subjects that interest them.

This group also introduces a greater focus on artistic creation and the preparation of shows.

Participants learn to construct acts, organize their movements, work on their stage presence, and prepare presentations in front of an audience.

Performances offered at the school or requested by external organizers can be carried out with the students of this group.

Participation in performances remains voluntary. Students can therefore continue to attend training sessions without being required to perform on stage.

A teaching method based on enjoyment, progress and trust

Tykkimäen Sirkuskoulu's philosophy is based on the idea that circus arts are simultaneously a physical activity, an artistic discipline, and a means of personal development.

The school seeks to offer quality education at all levels, allowing students to progress gradually and benefit from support tailored to their abilities.

Ability grouping facilitates this progression and allows the teacher to better address individual needs.

The sessions combine technical learning, physical exercises, group activities and fun moments.

Coordination, balance, concentration, perseverance and body control are particularly required.

The school also encourages students to gradually overcome their apprehensions. Successfully completing a move that initially seemed difficult can become a real source of satisfaction and self-confidence.

Circus training also helps develop important social skills: respecting others, cooperating, helping each other, listening to instructions and taking responsibility within a group.

This collective dimension directly corresponds to the objectives of the founding association, which wishes to use circus arts to encourage cooperation and a sense of responsibility among young people.

Creating shows and experiencing the stage

The practice of performance constitutes an important aspect of Tykkimäen Sirkuskoulu's identity.

The institution believes that performing in front of an audience is an integral part of discovering circus arts. It therefore seeks to offer opportunities to perform, including to the youngest students whenever possible.

For advanced groups, stage work becomes a more developed component of learning.

Students discover the different stages of preparing a routine: choosing techniques, organizing sequences, rehearsals, coordinating with partners and final presentation.

This approach makes it possible to link the technical skills acquired during the courses to their use in an artistic context.

Preparing a show is also a collective experience in which each participant can find their place.

The school may be asked to perform outside the school, with students from the advanced group participating. These performances require regular attendance at training sessions, but participation is not mandatory for all group members.

A community-based school integrated into the Finnish circus network

Tykkimäen Sirkuskoulu is managed by an association created in Kouvola in 2006.

Its objective is to support, maintain and develop the practice of circus arts among children and young people, while raising awareness of this discipline among the public.

This association structure places great importance on transmission, collective life and family participation.

The school is part of Suomen Nuorisosirkusliitto , the Finnish national federation of circus schools for youth.

She follows the activities of this network and can participate in excursions, meetings or training sessions organized within the framework of Finnish circus life.

This affiliation helps to place the institution within a broader environment dedicated to the promotion and development of circus education.

A lead teacher for the different groups

The courses presented in the current program are supervised by Hanna Laiho , who works with the different groups in the school.

This educational continuity allows us to support students from their first discoveries to more advanced levels.

Organizing into progressive groups facilitates the monitoring of learning and allows children to continue their practice over the years.

Younger children can start with circus activities as a family, then join introductory groups, and then progress to intermediate and advanced levels as they advance.

Course locations and facilities

Tykkimäen Sirkuskoulu activities take place in the gymnasium of the Tornionmäki school ( Tornionmäen koulu ), in Kouvola.

This space hosts various circus groups during the week and on weekends.

The sessions are organized around the exercises and equipment necessary for discovering the disciplines offered.

To participate, students must bring comfortable clothing suitable for sports, preferably gymnastic shoes, as well as a water bottle.

For safety reasons, it is recommended to tie back long hair and remove any jewelry that may hinder movement.

The establishment specifies that participants are not automatically covered by individual accident insurance and recommends having appropriate personal insurance.

Organization of the 2026-2027 season

The autumn 2026 season begins on September 1st, with regular classes held on Tuesdays and Sundays.

The family circus sessions take place from September 15th to November 24th, 2026.

On Tuesdays, the gymnasium hosts the family circus from 5pm to 5:45pm, then the advanced group from 6pm to 8pm.

On Sundays, sessions are organized successively for the initiation and improvement groups: children aged 5 to 6 from 2:10 p.m. to 2:55 p.m., those aged 7 to 8 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., the intermediate group from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and the advanced group from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

For autumn 2026, the announced rates are €120 per semester for the introductory groups, €130 for the intermediate group and €160 for the advanced group.

The family circus costs €120 for one adult and one child, with an additional €20 per extra participant.

An annual membership fee of €10 is also required from members of the association.

Registration is done directly with the school via email. Fees are set per semester, and the school does not offer payment per session.

Information regarding schedules, groups and registration procedures can be found on the official website.

A school to discover and deepen your knowledge of circus arts in Kouvola

With its associative operation, its multidisciplinary teaching and its groups adapted to different ages, Tykkimäen Sirkuskoulu offers children and young people in Kouvola an environment dedicated to the discovery and regular practice of the circus.

The school combines the enjoyment of physical activity with artistic creativity, technical learning, and cooperation.

Participants can discover juggling, acrobatics, balancing and aerial disciplines, while developing their coordination, perseverance and confidence.

The opportunity to progress over several years and to participate in stage productions is a natural extension of this learning.

Tykkimäen Sirkuskoulu thus represents an important local structure for families wishing to discover circus arts in the Kouvola region of Finland.

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