Zirkus Maccaroni – Kinder- und Jugendzirkus Karlsruhe

Zirkus Maccaroni is the children's and teenagers' circus of Aktions- und Zirkusbüro Otto-D., an important center for artistic practice, circus and urban cultures located in the Otto-Dullenkopf-Park in Karlsruhe.

The organization offers regular and structured circus arts practice throughout the year, complemented by holiday camps , open training sessions, shows and numerous projects carried out with schools and other establishments hosting children and young people.

Annual courses

The year-long courses are the heart of the circus school . They take place throughout the school year with stable groups , allowing participants to build genuine educational and artistic progress. The courses are open to school-aged children from the age of 7 .

Some courses are dedicated to a specific discipline while others allow you to discover several circus techniques .

The subjects taught

• Trapeze is one of the specialties offered: aerial disciplines also include several groups dedicated to vertical fabric .
• Acrobatics has its own annual course and allows participants to progressively develop coordination, strength, flexibility and body control.
• Clowning is also taught as a true circus discipline, combining play, stage presence, expression and creativity.
• Juggling also benefits from a specialized course.
• Children can also learn to ride a unicycle , with several levels allowing progression adapted to their experience.
• The work of balance is represented in particular by the wire and the balance ball.

" Zirkus Mix " classes allow children to discover several disciplines within the same group. They are organized by age group, notably for 7-9 year olds and 10-13 year olds . Each year group also prepares a presentation or show during the year.

The Maccaroni Youth Circle

From the age of 13 , young people can join the Jugendzirkus Maccaroni . This program goes far beyond a simple weekly class. Teenagers can train up to three times a week in the halls of Otto-Dullenkopf-Park.

Each session begins with a group warm-up before continuing with various themed training exercises adapted to the disciplines and skill levels of the participants. Part of the time is then devoted to the practice chosen by each young person, with the opportunity to ask the coaches for advice and support.

A collective creation

The Jugendzirkus has a strong emphasis on collective creation . Teenagers develop a full-fledged show together over an extended period. They participate in choosing the theme, designing the acts, and creating the group scenes. Intensive rehearsal periods complement the weekly sessions.

The show created by the group is traditionally presented in the spring at the Kulturzentrum Tollhaus in Karlsruhe . The young people may also perform at other events, including large local festivals.

The school also promotes exposure to contemporary circus and exchanges with other organizations. The Jugendzirkus organizes outings and meetings with partner circuses and can take young people to discover international events such as the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris or the ATOLL festival .

Inclusion

Inclusion is another important aspect of the educational project. Courses and activities are designed to be open, as much as possible, to all children and teenagers in Karlsruhe . The team considers access to leisure and culture a right and strives to adapt its teaching methods to the needs of the participants.

All courses are designed with an inclusive approach. Specific projects are also developed with institutions and organizations that support young people with special needs . Zirkus Maccaroni works in particular with specialized institutions and refugee reception centers in Karlsruhe.

An educational and social project

This social dimension is part of the broader project of the Aktions- und Zirkusbüro. The goal is not simply to transmit circus techniques. Circus practice is used to allow young people to discover their artistic, motor, and cognitive abilities , to better understand their own limits, and to gradually develop their personalities.

Working in a group also promotes trust , mutual respect , cooperation , communication , the ability to manage conflicts and taking responsibility .

Infrastructure and a wider range of services

The Aktions- und Zirkusbüro welcomes several hundred children and teenagers each week to its various activities. Since 2023 , the organization has also had halle76 , located in former industrial buildings.

This infrastructure allows activities and training to continue during the winter season and complements the marquee and outdoor spaces used during the warmer months.

Halle76 also functions as an open space for practice and experimentation . Young people can find activities there related to circus arts, as well as parkour , tricking , breakdancing , and more broadly, urban cultures and contemporary physical practices. Specialized workshops regularly enrich this offering.

In 2026 , the MACADEMY program, for example, offers three-hour workshops allowing young people aged 10 to 27 , beginners as well as advanced, to discover different circus disciplines while benefiting from free training time.

Circus workshops and projects are also organized during school holidays. In parallel, the Aktions- und Zirkusbüro develops numerous projects with schools and kindergartens in Karlsruhe.

Zirkus Maccaroni is therefore much more than a set of leisure courses. It is a true circus school for children and teenagers , integrated into a particularly developed municipal youth project, combining regular training , creation of shows , free practice , internships , inclusion , school cooperation and an opening to contemporary circus .