School Worshops and Programs

Teaching Life Skills through Circus!

Learning through Play for All Ages and Abilities 

Our trained circus arts skills instructors will lead classes in an organized format with skill level assessment and challenges to push students to hone their skills. These classes are an excellent way to engage students in fun, physical activities that build confidence, perseverance, and communication skills. 

Circus arts skills train fine and gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creative expression in a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment. 

They are a great way to reinvigorate student engagement with learning, school wairua, and the skills are able to be practiced both within and outside of school settings. This makes circus a COVID-19 resilient activity, and our team can switch to online learning as needed. 

We can adapt our programs to fit your school; structured classes, lunchtime sessions, circus clubs, or supporting the school show. We also offer Aerials classes as an additional (in person only) circus arts skill. 

Why Circus?

The Science of Circus 

There is a growing body of research that demonstrates that circus arts programs provide direct and indirect benefits to the wellbeing and development of participants, their families, and communities. 

Our own in-house research with students at local primary schools shows marked improvements across 7 key areas of coordination, balance, confidence, willingness to try new things, collaboration, perseverance, and concentration after 10 weekly circus sessions. With other studies showing benefits in brain development after only 6 weeks of learning to juggle.

Circus skills are built through repetitive motion and are a soothing, methodical, organised activity. We are aware of the mental health struggles rangatahi are facing, and believe in supporting holistic wellbeing / hauora through teaching circus skills.  

Circus is also an effective tool for engaging people who are neurodiverse or have disabilities.

Circus Environments

A key part of what makes circus arts a fantastic experience is the intentionally safe, inclusive, and supportive environment that our circus classes are. Circus Kumarani classes and workshops provide all participants with ongoing support as they develop new skills through positive reinforcement, celebrating each win. 

Circus is a non-competitive physical activity, where the pace of development is understood to be unique to each individual. While we adhere to the assessment rubrics requirements for these courses, the pathway to reach these outcomes is dynamic and varies to meet the needs of each student. 

Circus Arts Programs

Lunch Time Circus Sessions

An instructor will come to your school during the lunch period and host an open Circus Jam space. This includes providing access to a range of circus equipment and base instruction on how to use the items. 

The focus of these sessions is to promote active play, exploration and creative expression. 

Fun-filled Circus Classes 

Circus instructors will come to your school at least once a week to train your class in a range of circus arts skills (including juggling, flower sticks, diabolo, hoop).

When teaching over a longer time period, we can also include more varied circus activities such as balancing, acrobatics, and clowning. This includes providing access to circus equipment and structured lessons.

These classes unlock individual and group capacity and can be held as a special one off program, or as part of curriculum planning.  

While we can do one-off class sessions, to be fully effective they require a minimum of 3 sessions, with a recommended length of 5 sessions. Even better if we can deliver a full term - if cost is an issue, we are happy to suggest grant funding options. 

The Kumarani Manager, Tania, will discuss with you the most effective way to include this program in your school timetable. 

Cost for Circus Classes are dependent on class size and frequency. 

Discounts apply when booking 4 sessions or over, or if you have a small group (less than 15 students). 

Aerial Sessions

An instructor will come to your school and provide directed instruction on how to perform a range of aerial circus skills on either Aerial Silks or Aerial Hoop. This class will need an hour either side for the Aerial Rig to be set up and packed down, so we would recommend having it set up for a day and cycling students through. 

Max class size of 6 students per hour, can be run in combination with circus sessions. 

School Requirements

Schools will need to provide a space for the classes to be held- preferably a large hall or recreation centre although classrooms are also possible with small class sizes.

Our instructors will provide the rest, including lesson plans and equipment. 

Kumarani can arrange for a school kit of props to be purchased so your staff and students can continue teaching and playing outside of Kumarani lesson blocks. 

Any questions? Contact us to line up a consultation and learn more about how circus arts can support your students' learning!