Mapping:
The road to the circus

There are many paths to a career or education in circus.

Children and young people are active in circus arts in organisations and clubs across the country. Over 150 associations, clubs, studios and children's circuses offer both training and instruction in specialised circus performance. Disciplines in related performance areas, such as parkour, pole dancing or aerial gymnastics, also get young people interested in pursuing circus professionally.

The Danish Performing Arts Association has produced a survey, The Road to Circus, which highlights the many different places where children, young people and young adults can learn circus skills.

The document is subdivided into two age groups and lists the different associations, clubs and educational centres that serve as a possible introduction to circus work.

Educational and leisure programmes in circus and related genres 5 - 16 years

• Culture school
• After-school programme
• Performing Arts Basic Course (SGK)
• Circus clubs, children's and youth circus and circus associations
• Clown training and workshops
• Vaulting clubs (Acrobatics on horseback)
• Magic clubs
• Circus families
• Gymnastics clubs
• Dance communities and studios
• Parkour associations and communities

Educational and leisure programmes in circus and related genres 17 - 26 years

• High school/HF
• Folk high school
• Day Folk High School
• Foreign circus training programmes - short
• Foreign circus training programmes - long
• Higher foreign vocational education and training in the circus
• Clown training and courses
• Physical theatre schools and groups
• Acro yoga / arialstudios, pole dance studios
• Circus organisations / circus environments
• Circus families
• Gymnastics clubs
• Dance environments + breakdancing
• Parkour associations and communities

The correlation is initiated by the Danish Artist Association and completed in its current form January 2026

Write to Dansk Artist Forbund to dv@artisten.dk for more information about the survey