Youth Exchange programs and the Games Exchange workshop 2025

During the past week Sorin Sirkus was filled with international guests. The youth exchange participants had a chance to learn about other circus schools, cultures and circus themes. During the past week Sorin Sirkus had youth exchange visitors from Spain, Germany and Palestine. Of course, our own circus school youth participated in the youth exchange programs. We had over 40 participants during the amazing youth exchange week!  

 
During the same week we hosted the Games Exchange workshop. The workshop was designed to share and learn games and activities that are not only perfect for circus teachers but also highly adaptable for anyone working in arts education or group facilitation.  These programs were made possible through Erasmus+ funding.  

Organizing youth exchange programs and international workshops of this scale requires extensive planning and coordination. Bringing such an initiative to life involves preparing comprehensive travel arrangements, drafting a detailed weekly schedule, securing partner agreements, organizing accommodation and catering, and finalizing numerous other logistical elements.  

Games Exchange – Getting playful together  

The Games Exchange workshop lasted a total of three days at Sorin Sirkus. There were participants from seven different countries and a variety of backgrounds. 

“I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the mindset required to adapt games to different situations. You don’t have to be too rigid when starting a game with a group—it’s okay to change it along the way. We've explored a wide variety of tag games,” says Maria from Finland. 

Maria has a background in circus arts; her main disciplines are dance trapeze and baton twirling. 

“Even though we all come from different backgrounds, there is a sense of connection through the styles of play. We shared many similar games that simply had different names or local adaptations. There's a strong sense of community within this group,” Maria describes the workshop. 

Organizing a workshop like this is not a straightforward process. This was the second time the workshop was held, after starting as a pilot project last year. 

“The best part of this week has been that the course happened at all. Organizing it has been very enjoyable. The participants are clearly eager to learn and to share their own approaches,” says Filip from Sweden, who has been one of the instructors and a key figure in making this workshop possible. Elina and Henri from Sorin Sirkus were also instructors on the course! 

“It’s been great to receive ideas and insights from different artistic fields. Staying within just one discipline can sometimes narrow your thinking. I’m feeling really inspired,” says Vera, who has a background in the arts and contemporary dance. 

The focus of the workshop was on adapting and creating new games. 

“We tried out a lot of juggling games. The ones that stood out for me were low-stress games. I feel like those kinds of games can really accommodate people and help them feel more grounded. I also got lots of ideas about how to transition into new groups and situations,” Glynnis describes. 

“The best part was working in groups and creating together and letting your creativity flow and coming up with new ideas,” Glynnis continues. They have a background in circus pedagogy and drama therapy. 

This year, we had an amazing group of people join us on the course. Altogether there were participants from seven different countries. It also highlighted how playfulness can open up new ways of learning. It’s all about sharing and coming together—even though we come from different backgrounds. Aiming for collaboration between different fields enriches the work and practice of everyone involved.  

Youth Exchange programs 2025 – Movement in nature  

This week we had guests from four different circus schools joining us for the youth exchange programs. Earlier in the spring, the young participants got to plan the themes for the week themselves. They chose to focus on nature and movement – and that’s how the name MOVENTURE was born.  

On Thursday and Friday, the youth took part in workshops where they talked about the week’s main theme. Together they discussed things like the circular economy, outdoor activities, being environmentally friendly, and what nature means to each of them. At the end of the workshops, everyone created photo collages based on what they had talked about. 

During the week, the participants got to explore Finnish nature with visits to Suolijärvi and the Etelä-Hervanta youth center. For many, swimming in a lake and experiencing the forest was something completely new. In addition to the staff from Sorin Sirkus, the week was supported by Laura Meuronen, a youth worker from the City of Tampere. One big highlight was the visit to Särkänniemi amusement park, where everyone also got to watch a performance by Sorin Sirkus’s youth group. 

Along with workshops, games and all kinds of activities, the youth filled out a daily feedback form and answered a “question of the day.” Some of the most important things that came up were getting to know new cultures, learning different languages, making new friends – and of course trying out fun circus tricks. Youth exchanges like this are a great way to bring people together. The week ended with a celebration for everyone, where each participant received a certificate for being part of the experience.  

Thank you to everyone who made this past week possible!