Zirkusakademie Wien – Vienna

Presentation of the Zirkusakademie Wien

The Zirkusakademie Wien is a circus arts training institution located in Vienna, Austria.

Founded in 2001 , the academy develops an artistic approach inspired by the new circus, combining traditional circus techniques with contemporary disciplines of live performance.

His teaching incorporates juggling, acrobatics, balancing, aerial disciplines, physical theatre, dance and improvisation.

The establishment is primarily aimed at adults wishing to deepen their artistic practice, acquire teaching skills or develop a professional activity in the field of circus.

A two-year training program

Zirkusakademie Wien offers a training course spread over two years .

This program represents 840 teaching units .

The courses take place mainly in the evening and on weekends, allowing participants to follow the training alongside a professional activity.

The academic year follows the Austrian university calendar, with teaching periods from October to January and from March to June .

The program combines weekly technical courses with intensive seminars.

Students gradually develop their skills in different disciplines before choosing a specialization.

Two possible specializations

The training program offers two main orientations.

Circus pedagogy (Zirkuspädagogik)

Circus pedagogy (Zirkuspädagogik) prepares participants to transmit circus arts to different audiences.

Students learn to design and lead educational activities, organize group exercises, and support the progress of participants.

This specialization includes, in particular, role-playing exercises with children, adolescents, and adults.

It also covers the assistance and safety techniques necessary for supervising circus disciplines.

Circus arts (Zirkuskünste)

Circus arts (Zirkuskünste) prioritize the development of artistic skills and the creation of shows.

Students discover the principles of circus theatre, work on the design of acts and develop their performance skills.

This orientation also includes choreography exercises and participation in creative projects.

Juggling and object manipulation

Juggling is one of the fundamental teachings of the academy.

The program includes, among other things, the handling of scarves, balls, rings and clubs.

Students discover different approaches to juggling, including throwing juggling, contact juggling, and partner juggling.

Club passing is also among the techniques covered.

Other accessories, such as the diabolo and the devil stick, complement this teaching.

The exercises help to develop coordination, precision and creativity.

Balances and disciplines on objects

Zirkusakademie Wien offers instruction dedicated to various balance techniques.

Students can discover unicycling, rola-bola, balance balls and stilts.

The program also includes walking on a tightrope and on a flexible wire.

Object balancing is one of the techniques taught.

These disciplines help to develop stability, coordination and body control.

Ground acrobatics and group acrobatics

Acrobatics plays an important role in the training.

The students work on physical preparation, muscle strengthening, mobility and flexibility.

The teaching includes various forms of ground acrobatics.

Participants also discover duo acrobatics and group exercises.

Particular attention is paid to assistance and safety techniques.

These skills are essential for students who later wish to teach circus arts.

Aerial disciplines

The training includes an introduction to several aerial disciplines.

Students can practice trapeze, aerial silks, aerial hoop and vertical rope, among other things.

The program also covers trampolining.

An introduction to Russian bars and the Korean plank is included in the curriculum.

These disciplines help develop strength, coordination and acrobatic skills.

Physical theatre and artistic expression

One of the distinctive features of the Zirkusakademie Wien is the importance it places on physical theatre .

Students discover different techniques of body expression and theatrical performance.

The program includes exercises in improvisation, character creation, and scene building.

Participants also work on street theatre and forms of collective expression.

The goal is to develop an artistic approach in which circus techniques become tools for creation and storytelling.

Clown and improvisation

Clowning is another discipline that is taught.

Students explore the mechanics of comic acting, improvisation, and character development.

The teaching encourages experimentation and the search for personal expression.

The exercises help to develop spontaneity, stage presence and interaction with the audience.

A personal art project

The training includes personal work carried out with the support of the teaching team.

Depending on their specialization, students can develop an artistic or educational project.

The program also includes a written assignment at the end of the training, the subject and method of which are defined with the academic management.

This approach allows participants to delve deeper into a particular area and to utilize the skills acquired during their studies.

A team of professionals

The Zirkusakademie Wien relies on a team made up of circus artists, teachers, educators and entertainment professionals.

Speakers include Ariane Öchsner , specializing in juggling and movement, Marlies Holecek , specializing in aerial disciplines, and Martin Krinninger , specializing in balances and juggling.

Ruth Schleicher is in charge of the educational direction of the specialization in circus pedagogy.

Tilmann Schleicher heads the specialization dedicated to circus arts.

The academy also hosts guest artists for internships and specialized interventions.

Internships open to the public

In addition to its two-year course, the Zirkusakademie Wien organizes internships accessible to external people .

These courses allow you to discover a discipline or to deepen your knowledge of a particular technique.

The program includes workshops in aerial silks, clowning, Cyr wheel and other artistic practices.

The workshops are led by specialist artists and teachers.

They provide an opportunity for occasional training for people who do not follow the full course.

An academy committed to the development of contemporary circus

The Zirkusakademie Wien has been involved in the development of circus arts in Austria for more than twenty years .

His approach combines artistic training, educational transmission, and contemporary creation.

It also contributes to the development of a community of professionals and enthusiasts.

Thanks to its technical courses, specializations and internships, the academy is an important institution for people wishing to deepen their practice or train to teach circus arts.