Zirkus MARSA – Leverkusen

Zirkus MARSA is an educational circus for children based in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Founded by Sarah and Markus Bothe, it develops projects that allow children to discover and practice circus arts in a fun, creative and collaborative environment.

The structure functions primarily as a travelling educational circus rather than as a school offering weekly classes in a single location.

His team includes circus educators as well as professionals in child education and supervision.

Zirkus MARSA works directly with schools and establishments that accommodate young children.

The projects can take place inside the establishments or under a real marquee set up especially for the occasion.

This formula allows children to experience an immersion in the world of the circus while remaining in their school or educational environment.

Projects organized with schools allow students to experiment with different circus disciplines and gradually build a collective presentation.

Zirkus MARSA also develops projects adapted to nurseries and kindergartens.

Zirkus MARSA's pedagogy: experimentation and creativity

The structure's pedagogy places great importance on experimentation.

The goal is not to immediately place representation or performance at the center of the activity, but to allow children to try, discover and gradually find the disciplines in which they feel comfortable.

Each participant can therefore experience different possibilities before choosing the activities they wish to explore further.

Creativity and individuality occupy a central place in this approach.

Children are encouraged to discover their own abilities rather than simply reproducing an imposed model.

Group practice also allows for the development of mutual support.

Participants learn to observe each other, encourage each other, and celebrate the progress made by other members of the group.

Self-confidence is also one of the important objectives of the educational project.

Circus activities regularly present children with small challenges that allow them to discover new abilities and gradually overcome certain apprehensions.

Holiday circuses and the Spielezirkus

Zirkus MARSA also organizes holiday circuses for school children.

These weeks allow you to experience a true immersion in the circus arts for several consecutive days.

The children explore different disciplines before collectively preparing a performance.

The techniques offered include acrobatics, magic, clowning, and various forms of balance.

The diversity of workshops is an important principle: children are not obliged to definitively choose a discipline before the start of the project.

They are first given time to experiment, allowing them to discover several worlds and identify their own preferences.

The holiday weeks usually end with a show.

This performance represents the culmination of the work done during the week and allows the children to present to their families the skills they have developed.

In 2026, Zirkus MARSA notably participated in the organisation of the Kinderferienzirkus in Leverkusen-Opladen .

Two weeks were offered during the summer holidays to children aged 7 to 13.

For five days, the participants followed a daily training program before presenting their acts under the big top.

However, Zirkus MARSA's activities are not limited to schools and holidays.

The structure also has a Spielezirkus allowing for the organization of discovery and manipulation spaces during parties and events.

Participants can experiment with different circus accessories and techniques in a more relaxed setting.

An integrated environmental approach

Zirkus MARSA is also developing an environmental approach integrated into its project.

The organization seeks to concentrate its operations within a radius of approximately 100 km around Leverkusen in order to limit travel.

She also announced that she would plant trees for every project she completed and pay particular attention to the materials used for accessories and costumes.

The team aims to combine circus pedagogy, personal development, collective life and awareness of environmental responsibility.

A different way of operating than a traditional circus school

Zirkus MARSA is a member of the Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft Zirkuspädagogik Nordrhein-Westfalen , a regional network bringing together structures and professionals involved in circus pedagogy.

Its operation is therefore different from that of a traditional circus school offering weekly classes.

It is primarily a travelling educational circus structure working with schools, early childhood facilities and families through projects, themed weeks and holiday circuses.