Zirkus Grissini – Zug Circus School

Zirkus Grissini is a Swiss circus school located in the city of Zug, in central Switzerland. Entirely dedicated to teaching circus arts to children and teenagers, it combines amateur instruction, artistic discovery, holiday workshops and the creation of shows.

History of the school

Grissini's story begins in 2006 , when a small neighborhood circus project was launched by Barbara Urfer Wyss, her family, and Catherine Feger-Huggler. Initially called Rütli Zirkus , this initiative brought together about fifteen children around the joy of discovering and practicing circus arts.

Faced with growing interest from families, the project is gradually developing. In 2010 , the Zuger Kinder- und Jugendzirkus Grissini association was officially established.

The school is currently co-directed by Barbara Urfer Wyss and Sara Steiner . The latter, a movement educator and experienced circus artist, is notably responsible for the educational direction and the organization of training sessions.

Public and activities

Grissini welcomes children from the age of 3 , with activities adapted to their motor development and level of experience.

The youngest children discover the circus world through movement, play and different situations of bodily exploration.

School children can then participate in weekly multidisciplinary courses allowing them to discover the major families of circus arts.

Disciplines offered

The disciplines offered include trapeze, aerial silks, ground acrobatics, human pyramids, unicycle and various balance techniques.

Students can also experiment with balancing on a ball, barrel or wire, as well as different forms of object manipulation and juggling.

The educational objective is to allow each child to discover several techniques before choosing the disciplines that best match their desires and abilities.

Educational objectives

The school places great importance on individual progress . Students are encouraged to experiment, gradually overcome their apprehensions, and develop confidence in their own abilities.

Group practice is another pillar of the project. Training sessions promote cooperation, mutual support, coordination, and respect for other participants.

Creativity also occupies a central place in teaching.

The children do not simply reproduce technical figures: their personal ideas are encouraged when designing the acts and presentations.

End-of-year show

Each year, students in the regular classes participate in an end-of-year show , usually organized in May. This allows them to present what they have learned in front of their families and discover all the stages of a circus performance.

The artistic troupe: Artistentruppe

Grissini also has his own artistic troupe, called Artistentruppe .

Composed of approximately 25 young artists , this troupe provides an advanced training path for children and teenagers wishing to become more involved in the practice of circus arts.

Its members train twice a week throughout the year, then participate in an intensive period of rehearsals during the last summer school holidays.

The acts are developed from the proposals and ideas of the young artists, before being integrated into a collective choreography.

Every summer, the troupe presents a real show under a big top , on the shores of Lake Zug.

This project allows participants to discover the requirements of a complete circus production: training, rehearsals, staging, costumes, music and performance in front of an audience.

Family involvement

Family involvement is an important feature of how Grissini operates.

Parents contribute in particular to the assembly and dismantling of the big top, costumes, makeup, catering and various logistical aspects of the shows.

The association is thus developing a genuine collective project bringing together children, teenagers, trainers and families.

The Onyx Variety

More advanced artistic training is also possible thanks to Varieté Onyx , a performance group made up of young people from the school.

These artists train several times a week and create their own acts, which they can then present at demonstrations, parties, association events or private shows.

Internships and introductory courses

In addition to the annual courses, Zirkus Grissini organizes several weeks of circus activities during school holidays.

These five-day courses allow children to discover different disciplines, then to deepen their knowledge of one or two specialties before participating in a final performance.

The school also offers circus initiation Sundays , open to school children wishing to occasionally discover its activities.

Participants can try trapeze, human pyramids, unicycle and various balance exercises.

Philosophy and values

Grissini's philosophy is based on clearly stated values: humor, trust, fairness, mutual respect and a taste for effort .

The association wishes to offer children a space for expression different from the traditional school environment, in which each child can develop their talents, discover their abilities and gain self-confidence.

A renowned school in Zug

After twenty years of existence , Zirkus Grissini has become a recognized player in the cultural and educational life of Zug.

Thanks to its regular teaching, internships, shows under the big top and its artistic groups, the school offers a true journey of discovery and deepening of circus arts, from the first motor experiences to the creation of elaborate stage acts.