Zirkus KARIBU – Kinder- und Jugendzirkus Bielefeld

Zirkus KARIBU is a circus for children and teenagers based in Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the core project of the non-profit association In Bewegung eV, which is committed to education, art, culture and physical activity for young people.

KARIBU brings together around 30 children and teenagers aged 10 to 18 from various schools in and around Bielefeld. No prior juggling or acrobatic experience is necessary to join the project: young people can gradually learn different techniques and develop their skills with the guidance of coaches and more experienced members of the group.

KARIBU operates on a genuine annual creative project . A new troupe is formed at the beginning of each year and works together throughout the season. The young people train regularly, particularly on Saturdays, and also participate in several intensive training periods organized during school holidays.

The goal isn't simply to learn circus techniques: each season culminates in the creation of a full-fledged show . Starting with a theme and an original story, participants develop the acts, choreography, scenes, and dialogue that will make up the new production. The show thus combines circus arts, theater, and live music in a collaborative creation designed to be presented to a family audience.

Putting on the show requires a wide range of skills. Alongside the work of the young artists, costumes are created or adapted, props and sets are made, the music is rehearsed, and teams work on lighting, set design, communication, and performance organization. Parents and numerous volunteers actively participate in this collective adventure, making KARIBU a true family and community project.

The transmission of knowledge and skills among participants also plays a vital role in the circus's operation. The older, more experienced artists mentor younger and newer members, with the support of various coaches. This structure fosters mutual support, responsibility, autonomy, and cooperation within the troupe.

For children too young to join KARIBU, the association also offers the " Zirkus Alarm " project. Open to children aged 8 and up, this program introduces them to aerial and duo acrobatics, juggling, and ball balancing. Several groups are organized according to the participants' ages.

Zirkus KARIBU thus develops an approach to circus arts in which technical learning, artistic expression, and collective creation are closely linked. Young people are not only introduced to circus disciplines; they participate in all the necessary stages to transform their learning into a complete stage production and present it to the public.