Športno-circusko društvo Eleja

Eleja – Brata Malek, juggling and circus workshops in Ptuj

Eleja , also known as Brata Malek , is a Slovenian association based in Ptuj, in the Lower Styria region. It develops leisure activities combining circus arts, juggling, sport, creativity and youth activities.

Led in particular by brothers Gašper and Miha Malek , the association seeks to encourage physical activity, the discovery of new skills and encounters through participatory workshops.

Juggling plays a significant role in its program. Eleja also offers skill games, motor activities, creative workshops, and various group activities primarily aimed at children and teenagers.

His approach combines movement, experimentation and conviviality, in a spirit of discovery and shared pleasure.

An association between circus, sport and creativity

Eleja brings together people interested in sports, culture, leisure and creative activities.

The association was formed around the desire to promote physical and mental well-being through collective experiences.

Its activities combine several complementary fields: juggling and circus arts, sports games, creative workshops and outdoor activities.

This diversity allows us to offer programs adapted to different contexts, including family events, community gatherings, school activities and holiday programs.

Participants are invited to discover new practices, experiment and develop their skills in a playful atmosphere.

The Malek brothers

Gašper and Miha Malek are the two figures associated with Eleja's activities.

Their work is particularly focused on animation, movement and the transmission of practices accessible to children.

Under the name Brata Malek , they participate in local events and offer activities allowing the public to discover different forms of juggling and skill games.

Their approach prioritizes active participation .

Children are not just spectators of an activity: they can handle the accessories, try the exercises and take part in the games offered.

This participatory dimension is one of the important characteristics of the association.

Juggling at the heart of the activities

Juggling is one of the main circus disciplines presented by Eleja.

It consists of manipulating one or more objects through throws, catches, movements and sequences of movements.

This practice helps to develop hand-eye coordination , gestural precision , concentration , and a sense of rhythm .

The first exercises can be approached progressively, starting with simple manipulations before discovering more complex movements.

Juggling requires patience and perseverance . Participants learn to repeat a move, gradually correct their movements, and appreciate the progress made.

The discipline also allows for the exploration of creative possibilities, since each object can be used in different ways.

Eleja presents juggling as a physical and mental activity accessible to people of different ages.

The balls, the clubs and the rings

Eleja's educational presentation highlights several accessories traditionally used in juggling.

The balls allow children to discover their first throws and coordination exercises.

Clubs introduce other parameters, including the rotation of objects and the accuracy of catches.

The rings offer different possibilities for manipulation and movement in space.

The diversity of accessories allows juggling to be approached in several forms.

Participants discover that each object has its own characteristics and requires an adaptation of gestures.

This variety helps to make learning stimulating and allows for a renewal of exercises.

Points of interest (POIs) and object manipulation

The poi are also among the accessories mentioned in the presentation of Eleja's circus practices.

They allow you to discover circular movements and sequences based on arm coordination and trajectory control.

Object manipulation thus opens up a wider field of exploration than classic juggling.

The exercises may involve rhythm, fluidity of movement, and spatial awareness.

Participants gradually discover the relationships between their gestures and the movements of the accessories.

These activities combine skill, attention, and creativity.

The circus as an educational activity

For Eleja, juggling has an interest that goes beyond simply performing tricks.

The practice allows for the simultaneous mobilization of physical and mental capacities.

It encourages concentration , coordination and body awareness in space .

It also promotes perseverance , because learning requires repeating movements and accepting mistakes.

The exercises can be presented in the form of games and challenges adapted to the abilities of the participants.

This approach allows one to discover the pleasure of learning without making competition the main objective.

The association also highlights the benefits of circus activities for relaxation and well-being.

Children and teenagers are given a significant place

Eleja's juggling and circus activities are particularly aimed at children and young people aged 5 to 18 .

The workshops can be adapted to different age groups.

Younger children discover the movements through simple games, while teenagers can deepen their coordination and experiment with more elaborate techniques.

The diversity of the exercises allows groups with different levels of experience to participate.

The activities encourage curiosity , autonomy and self-confidence .

They also allow young people to share collective experiences and discover leisure activities that combine movement and imagination.

Motor games and coordination

Eleja offers activities designed to develop motor skills.

These exercises can develop balance , dexterity , movement and coordination .

They naturally complement juggling workshops.

Motor work allows participants to better understand their bodies and to experiment with different ways of moving.

Team games also encourage attention, cooperation, and participation.

The association thus seeks to combine physical activity and the pleasure of playing, by offering varied experiences rather than an exclusively technical practice.

A variety of sporting activities

In addition to the circus, Eleja develops several sports and recreational activities.

Its program notably features table tennis , badminton , volleyball , football , pétanque , skittles and various skill games.

The association also offers outdoor activities and experiences that promote the discovery of new practices.

This diversity allows him to design animations for very different groups and events.

Sports and circus activities share several objectives: to encourage movement, develop coordination and foster relationships between participants.

Creative workshops

Creativity is another important aspect of the association's project.

Eleja organizes manual activities and discovery workshops allowing participants to create personal projects.

These proposals complement sports games and circus activities.

They offer moments of expression and experimentation that stimulate the imagination and fine motor skills.

Creative workshops can be associated with larger programs that combine movement, games, and discovery.

This complementarity allows us to offer varied days to children and young people.

A pedagogy based on the pleasure of participation

Eleja's activities are designed around play and participation.

The association encourages children to try new techniques, develop their skills and share experiences with others.

Juggling, in particular, helps one learn to persevere and progress step by step.

Group games develop listening skills, respect for rules, and cooperation.

Creative activities stimulate the imagination and the search for personal solutions.

This combination promotes diverse learning, in which each participant can find an activity that matches their interests.

Interventions in schools and youth structures

Eleja offers activities adapted for children in schools, preschools and youth programs.

His workshops allow juggling and circus practices to be introduced in educational contexts.

They can be associated with motor games, sports activities and creative activities.

This formula makes it possible to offer a collective experience that combines learning, physical activity and entertainment.

Participants discover new skills while sharing a group moment.

Entertainment during local events

The Malek brothers also participate in cultural and community events.

In June 2023, they notably ran circus workshops in the Lenart municipal park.

The event offered games, creative activities and discovery opportunities for children.

These interventions make circus arts accessible outside of specialized educational structures.

Activities can be organized in public spaces and places that welcome families.

The circus thus becomes a means of meeting and participating in local life.

Winter holidays 2026 in Ptuj

From February 23 to 27, 2026 , Eleja participated in the program "Hura, zimske počitnice!", organized by the public institutions of Ptuj.

This initiative offered free activities to students in the early years of primary school during the winter holidays.

The activities were organized at the Mladika sports hall and in various areas of the Ptuj municipal stadium.

The speakers from the Eleja association, known as Brata Malek, provided supervision for a varied program.

Children could participate in circus-themed entertainment, creative workshops, sports games and motor activities.

The program also included group games, social activities, play areas and recreational entertainment.

This participation illustrates the association's commitment to educational and leisure projects for young residents of Ptuj.

A collective discovery of the circus

Eleja's circus workshops allow participants to approach juggling as an accessible and friendly activity.

Learning is based on experimentation and the gradual discovery of techniques.

Children can try different techniques, observe the movements of others and share their experiences.

Working together promotes mutual support and exchange.

Circus arts also allow for the combination of physical activity and creativity, since movements can be transformed into small personal sequences.

This approach encourages participants to gain confidence in their abilities and develop their curiosity.

An association rooted in the Ptuj region

Based in Ptuj, Eleja participates in community life and activities for families in the region.

His interventions can take place in different partner spaces, depending on the events and programs organized.

The association combines circus arts with a wider range of sports and creative leisure activities.

This diversity allows it to reach audiences who are sometimes discovering juggling for the first time.

The activities offered help to promote movement, imagination and conviviality.

Circus arts as a source of discovery

Eleja – Brata Malek develops an approach to circus based on accessibility , creativity and the joy of learning .

Juggling and manipulating objects helps to develop coordination, concentration and perseverance.

Motor games and sports activities complement this learning by encouraging movement and cooperation.

Creative workshops provide a dimension of personal expression and imagination.

Through its work with children, young people and families, the association helps to introduce circus practices in the Ptuj region and to promote collective activities as sources of learning and pleasure.