... AND THE SHOW BEGINS!

Upsala Circus is an unique project, which shows children and teenagers from social risk groups in St. Petersburg with the method of circus pedagogy an alternative to the street and integrates them into the society.

As the only organization of it's kind in Russia, Upsala Circus directly connects the professional circus and theatre art, with social work. By the everyday training in the circus and attendance at circus festivals, the children and teenagers from social risk groups experience exciting and difficult challenges.The circus is referring to "high risk" nearly like the life on the street. It simply appeals to them with magic, lets them explore their individual skills and possibilities, makes them stronger and motivates them to create their lives in society in an active way.

For 10 years the director and the acrobatic trainers from Upsala have always worked successfully with approximately 25-50 children. Since then the work of volunteers from Germany and other countries has versatilely enriched the project. Beside the "social" success, for example in the adaption into school and jobs and the intensive support of the families, the young team also regularly win many prizes at international circus festivals, with what the young hooligans are especially proud for. The teenagers of the first "Upsala generation" are meanwhile well integrated and now work as trainers themselves in the Upsala Circus.