The circus is associated with both the real and the imaginary world. For this reason, working with this theme is a way to provide a pleasurable learning process, focusing on conviviality, knowledge and respect with others. It is a practice with high sociocultural relevance that brings with it important practices for the human being, such as trust, moral and educational values, which are fundamental for community life and for personal and social development.

Did you know that circus activities can be incorporated into education processes to bring out new learning possibilities? Well, through them it is possible to stimulate body skills, as well as exercise the practice of collective activities and sportsmanship.

The proposal to work the circus values body practices that are not always explored in people’s daily lives. The focus is providing contact with different cultural manifestations and teaching the importance of teamwork and coexistence with different people, through practical activities that explore the creativity and body skills of students.

How to explore the circus in education?

The first step is to think of activities that are based on the stimulation of multiple intelligences, based on the plurality of learners’ knowledge, recognizing that they carry knowledge beyond linguistic (creative ability to deal with words) and mathematical logic ( logical and scientific ability).

Thus, the work with the student should seek to develop a set of other knowledge, knowledge and intelligence that we understand intrinsic to the circus, including:


  1. Spatial Intelligence: Ability to relate patterns, perceive spatial forms and conceptualize relationships between them.
  2. Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence: Ability to use the body to solve problems or shape products and shapes.
  3. Interpersonal Intelligence: Ability to understand people and relate to others.
  4. Intrapersonal Intelligence: Competence to know yourself and to be well with yourself, managing your feelings and emotions in favor of your projects.

The development of all these skills is provided by learning situations that happen through a set of activities that integrate the educational and artistic activities. And the circus universe is very rich in this aspect, so it is an effective alternative when it comes to combining fun with teaching, to promote the improvement of the people involved in the practice.

What does a circus workshop need?

In addition to sector-specific knowledge, some qualities are important for doing a good job. In circus workshops it is possible to encourage participants to try circus techniques, applied in a playful and relaxed way, developing and reinforcing skills related to their work routines.

Some activities that can be worked on – and their benefits – are:


  1. Juggling: Overcoming, persistence, confidence, time management, challenge, teamwork.
  2. Human Pyramid: Balance, trust, responsibility, appreciation, overcoming.
  3. Clown Experience: Knowledge, concentration, challenge, laughs and laughter, improvisation.
  4. Ball and Balance board: Balance, concentration, overcoming, challenge, self-control.

This practical experience of circus techniques and skills as a central theme of the workshop also contributes to the participants to develop and improve other skills in their lives, based on the concepts and exercises worked.

Circus workshop at Educating project

The Purunã Institute develops the project Educating which aims to contribute to an integral formation (individual in its entirety) and make school a more attractive environment through playful activities, in themes such as: nature, citizenship and culture are worked across.

One of the activities carried out in the project is the Circus workshop, which acts by sharpening the emotional control, increasing body balance and sensorimotor perception, expanding student integration with group activities, reducing conflicts between participants and reflecting knowledge about the circus culture.

In 2019, 137 children aged 8 to 14 from the Balsa Nova public school attend the workshop. The methodology and the conduction of the workshops are of Parabolé ˗ Education and Culture, which aims to promote art and culture as elements of everyday transformation.