Zirkus Salto – Kinder- und Jugendzirkus Hannover

Zirkus Salto is the children's and teenagers' circus of the Haus der Jugend in Hanover, Lower Saxony.

Located under a real big top behind the Youth Centre, the project offers children, teenagers and young adults regular practice of circus arts combining technical learning, artistic creation, shows and personal development.

Zirkus Salto welcomes young people from the age of 8. Approximately 120 children and teenagers regularly participate in training sessions. These are organized three days a week , with different groups allowing participants to discover the basics of circus arts as well as join ensembles working in greater depth.

The diversity of disciplines is one of the project's greatest strengths. Young people can practice acrobatics, juggling, diabolo, unicycle, aerial silks, trapeze, tightrope walking, balance ball, tumbling, jump rope, pole dancing, and various forms of group acrobatics. This variety allows participants to explore several disciplines before choosing which ones they wish to pursue further.

An introductory course allows new participants to learn the basics of the different disciplines. Young people can then progress within the regular ensembles and, for older and more experienced participants, join the Jugendensemble or participate in open training sessions.

Intergenerational transmission plays a significant role in Zirkus Salto's pedagogy. Some disciplines are taught by the young people themselves: the most experienced artists pass on their knowledge to the younger generation. This structure fosters autonomy, responsibility, and cooperation among the participants.

The project places equal importance on social skills and circus performances. Circus arts allow young people to develop self-confidence, perseverance, ambition, and the ability to work with others. Mutual support and group cohesion are central educational objectives.

Creation and performance also play a vital role. The various groups develop acts and shows that are presented under the big top at the Haus der Jugend, as well as at events organized in Hanover and elsewhere in Lower Saxony. In this way, the young artists gain valuable experience performing before an audience.

The productions may combine traditional circus with more contemporary forms. The shows often blend acrobatics, juggling, aerial disciplines, dance, music, magic, visual theatre, or comedy. Some groups develop complete shows around a theme and work for several months before presenting them to the public.

Zirkus Salto also participates in meetings, festivals and projects with other artists and companies. Its big top occasionally hosts professional contemporary circus performances, thus creating exchanges between young practitioners and the professional artistic community.

In 2026 , Zirkus Salto celebrated its 25th anniversary with a major production entitled " GANZ GROSSES KINO ". This longevity testifies to the importance the project has acquired in the cultural and educational landscape of Hanover.

Through its regular training, the transmission between young people, its ensembles, its creations and its numerous performances, Zirkus Salto constitutes a true place of training and circus creation for young people, where the circus arts become at once a means of artistic expression, an educational tool and a collective adventure.