flip Mainz – Zirkusschule und Zirkusverein

flip Mainz eV is a non-profit association dedicated to circus arts , movement and performing arts, based in Mainz in Rhineland-Palatinate.

Created in 2017 , it was born from the desire to network, support and develop the various circus activities present in Mainz.

The association brings together circus educators , social workers, artists and people passionate about circus, movement and theatre.

Its ambition is to give the circus a lasting place in the cultural life of Mainz and to create an environment in which children, teenagers and adults can practice, meet, train and develop new projects together.

Weekly circus classes

Flip Mainz now offers genuine weekly circus classes for children and teenagers.

Teaching begins with groups adapted for preschool children and the early years of primary school.

Children from about eight years old then have a specific group, while another course welcomes young people from about ten years old .

An advanced group allows children and teenagers who have already participated in flip activities to deepen their practice.

The teaching is provided by trained circus educators .

Safety, technical skills and teaching quality are central, while maintaining the pleasure of moving, playing, creating and performing on stage.

A multidisciplinary practice

The proposed practice is particularly multidisciplinary .

Juggling and object manipulation

Juggling is one of the major categories within the association, including balls, clubs, rings, passing and various forms of object manipulation.

Diabolo, flowersticks, devilsticks, Chinese plates, cigar boxes, hula-hoop, contact-juggling and poi allow you to discover many other manipulation techniques.

Balance disciplines

Balance disciplines are also widely represented.

Participants can discover unicycling , rola-bola, tightrope walking, slacklining and various forms of balancing on objects.

Acrobatics

Acrobatics is an integral part of the program and helps to develop coordination, strength, mobility, body awareness and cooperation.

Aerial disciplines

Flip Mainz also has a significant presence in aerial disciplines .

Vertical fabric, trapeze, straps, rope and aerial hoop are among the techniques practiced in the various training sessions and projects.

Specific meetings dedicated to aerial acrobatics are also organised to allow practitioners in the Rhine-Main region to exchange ideas, train together and discover new techniques.

Open training sessions and internships

The association is also developing free training sessions .

These meetings allow circus practitioners in Mainz to regularly have a space to train and meet other enthusiasts.

Specific Cyr wheel training sessions and major Sunday events complete this offering.

Holiday internships constitute another important aspect of the activity.

For several days, children and teenagers can experience many disciplines such as diabolo, human pyramids, ball walking, aerial disciplines, stilts, clowning and juggling.

When the format allows, these workshops culminate in a performance for families.

Circus in schools and in public spaces

flip Mainz also intervenes directly in schools .

The association develops projects that use the circus as an educational, artistic and collective tool for children and teenagers.

His Zirkusmobil complements this accessibility approach.

This mobile circus regularly sets up in different districts of Mainz and allows residents to come and juggle, try the diabolo, spin plates or discover the unicycle for free .

The association thus develops part of its activities directly in the public space and seeks to also reach people who do not spontaneously attend a circus school.

Training of supervisors

flip Mainz places great importance on the training of the people who supervise these activities.

Training is offered to volunteers wishing to support the association's projects.

They cover topics including the teaching of juggling, balance disciplines, acrobatics and aerial arts, but also safety , parrying techniques, team games and educational support.

Particular attention is paid to the way language is used, to the physical contact necessary in certain disciplines, and to taking into account the apprehensions of the participants.

Values of mutual support and respect

The association advocates a circus practice based on mutual aid and respect.

The differences between participants are considered an asset and the circus a space in which everyone can try, learn from others and discover their own potential.

Shows and artistic projects

Shows and artistic projects also allow the work developed within the association to be presented.

Flip organizes variety -type events as well as its own juggling convention, the Flipvention .

Together, they form a project that goes far beyond the scope of simple recreational classes.

Regular courses, workshops, open training, aerial disciplines, school activities, mobile circus, shows, convention and instructor training make Flip Mainz a true player in amateur circus and circus pedagogy in Mainz.