Joint Staff Training exchange – Cirqueon (Prague) 14.02.18 – 21.02.18

Led by Isabel van Maele in CIRQUEON in Prague, attended by tutors from six countries.
Positives aspects of the JST exchange.

About Cirqueon

Cirqueon is a contemporary circus centre funded in 2010.
CIRQUEON is an umbrella organization for the support and development of contemporary
circus in the Czech Republic. Cirqueon is a member of the international Circostrada
Network.

Philosophy and main goals of the company
The main purpose of Cirqueon is to provide information on domestic and European events in
the field of contemporary circus, to support contemporary circus projects created in the
Czech Republic and to aid the development of circus skills of professionals and the general
public.
Cirqueon together with Cirkus La Putyka are the most representative organizations of
contemporary circus in Prague.
Cirqueons main objectives are social circus and a holistic approach to teaching.
A Lot of their focus is on giving back and building up the community, la putyka has more
focus on business and on making artists there isn’t much cohesion between the two. How
important is it that circus companies work towards shared goals and work together as a
community.

Management of the space:
– Residencies. Free for artists, except if it’s a business performance with a lot of
budget. They always try to help the artists and companies.
– Courses scheduled.
– Professional training. Free for artists

Program of the exchnage

13.02 – arrival day
14.02 – Introduction to Cirqueon, discussion about the space and related issues with Katka
Klusáková (our head teacher and space manager), meeting with Šárka (our director) about
Cirkopolis festival and its organisation.
15.02 – Open training at Cirqueon, talk with Veronika (our research manager and editor)
about the history of the contemporary circus in the Czech Republic, show at the Cirkopolis
festival in the evening
16.02 – open training at Cirqueon, discussion with Isabel van Maele about prevention of burn
out of circus teachers, show at the Cirkopolis festival in the evening.
17.02 – Creativity in teaching (focus on aerial) with Isabel van Maele, show at the Cirkopolis
festival in the evening.
18.02 – Creativity in teaching (focus on aerial) with Isabel van Maele.

19.02 – Class visits and discussions with teachers from Cirqueon.
20.02 – Class visits and discussions with teachers from Cirqueon.
21.02 – Class visits and discussions with teachers from Cirqueon, Blind Circus class
(students with visual impairment)
22.02 – Departure day.

After the JST exchange the group has built confidence in a short amount of time and
can start a closer and safe networking, because we have more references about other
circus schools, the activities they develop and the methods they use.

LEARNING FROM EACH OTHERS ORGANIZATIONS:

● Use the free time during the JST! -> it’s up to the participants to develop their own needs, exchange working-live experiences and discuss about the projects etc. it’s so precious to have plenty of time for interchanging practical information, game ideas, existing problems…

● Good to have informal meeting! -> safe atmosphere, more confident feeling, more empowerment, more possibilities of taking the initiative

● No leader in the exchange! -> it’s nice to share responsibilities/tasks during the stay…everyone can find a role to support the group

● Get to know each others working live and the structure of their organisations -> realizing the differences and open the mind for other ways of managing a circus space or circus classes http://www.educircation.eu/ 10

● We had some good discussions and brainstorming sessions! -> social circus is a rich way to learn from each other, in adult education, team building etc.

● Networking! -> getting to know everyone really well in an intimate setting permits more space for sharing