From Safe Space to Brave Space

The Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership ‘Circus Clinic - The art of wellbeing’ aims to cross-fertilise circus practice by mental health insights. Through practical research and workshops, circus organisations open up a dialogue with youth aid, mental healthcare, experts and professionals from the welfare sector. Curious to see how that turns out? So were we, so we visited Circus in Motion (Cirkus in Beweging), the project coordinator, during one of their work sessions.  


When we practice circus, we take care of the individual in the group.
Cirkus in Beweging

Trial and error 

It’s quiet in the streets of Leuven, when we’re in search of the Public Library ‘Tweebronnen’, where the Circus in Motion office resides at the moment. When we walk in, about fifteen employees from different circus organisations are gathered around the table, they’re from Belgium, Italy and Czech Republic. They’re about to finish an important task: a textbook on mental wellbeing and circus. There’s no lack of enthusiasm: they excitedly elaborate on their accomplishments of these past few months. Showing us pictures, while recounting memories.  

“We’re not that good at sitting still,” someone laughs. “The past few meetings were more active, with different workshops and project visits.” The displayed photos illustrate what we expected to see when we think of ‘circus’: juggling and acrobatics. However, there’s more to the images than entertainment: they demonstrate how these three organisations tested and researched – with trial and error - what circus can mean for the mental wellbeing of young people.  

Safety first 

We let the group continue their work and find a quiet spot where we can talk to Hana Davidovà, teacher at CIRQUEON (Czech Republic) and Sarah Cinardi, teacher at the Fondazione Unitti per Crescere Insieme (Italy).  

Hana: “There are many differences between our organisations, but we have a clear common ground. We aim to create a safe space for the participants of our circus activities. Sarah wholeheartedly agrees: “the base of everything is a safe space, that then becomes a brave space”  

Sarah: “A safe space gives young people the courage to be themselves, to express themselves, to overcome fears, to try new things and to get to know new people.” Safety is one of the core values for growth, that’s for sure. “Creating such a safe space allows young people to be themselves which contributes to their mental wellbeing”, Sarah and Hana know.   

In circus young people learn how to explore and push their boundaries, nevertheless it’s always adapted to their own abilities. Sarah: “When I teach juggling, many participants think: “I’m never going to be able to do this.” I always tell them: “You can’t do it just yet, but you will be able to.” That’s completely different than saying: “You need to want it enough to be able to do it." No, when practicing circus, it’s each to their own ability and level. You come as you are on your own level and can explore new things, within your own limits. You will arrive at your best, not as the best.”  

The art of wellbeing 

What makes Circus Clinic such an innovative project? The experience and expertise of different circus schools is joined with the expertise of psychologists and psychomotor therapists. Their findings have been collected in a tangible outcome: a textbook called “Circus Clinic: the art of wellbeing.” This book collects inspiring cases and work formats to use circus as a method to improve the mental health of youth.  

The book receives its finishing touches this weekend. However, that’s not the project’s only outcome. Sarah: “An international project entails more than merely the completion of the proposed task. It’s about cultural encounters too: there are many different contexts to take into account. Everyone has their own role in the process, assigned accordingly to their talents.”  

You will arrive at your best, not the best.
Sarah Cinardi

Each project its own process 

Hana regrets the project coming to its end, right when the group dynamic is at its best. But the collaboration went through a couple of difficult times too. What got them through it? They kept their common goal in mind: improving the world through circus. Because they all agree that circus can contribute to a better world. “We believe that the principles we use can be applied in every context to help anyone as much as possible,” emphasises Hana.  

Collaboration with co-workers holds great value for us as professionals,” says Sarah. She realised this when she taught circus to children in refugee camps in Italy. Everyone involved in the project felt the need to share their expertise and experiences. This way, common practices from welfare were adopted by the circus practice; cross-fertilisation is reciprocal. “We’re all people, and we all need support and self-care,” concludes Hana.  

Away with the tigers 

In the year 2023 the new textbook will be launched during several events in Italy, Czech Republic and Belgium and distributed in different languages. What’s their dream for the cooperation in the future? “Create as many safe spaces as possible for young people in the world of circus. And to initiate as much cross-fertilisation as possible between circus and therapy.”  

And what about their personal dreams? Sarah: ”I would love seeing this combination of circus and therapy flourish in Italy, by distributing the textbook, and by training people myself. The circus world in Italy is less advanced than Belgium or the Czech Republic, that’s why this international collaboration was so valuable for me personally”. Hana on the other hand is so fascinated by the things she learned during the cooperation that she aspires to study psychology

Hana contests people’s narrow vision on circus. “Of course, tigers,” confirms Sarah. We laugh in agreement, because animal tricks, juggling and clowns are exactly what circus calls to mind. So it’s a shared wish of Sarah and Hana that the cliché image of circus is adjusted by the success of this partnership and that a broader audience discovers the methodological power of circus. After this this conversation with Hana and Sarah, we’re definitely persuaded! 

Creating safety for the participants in our circus activities is our common ground.
Hana Davidová

Youth Partnership 

Circus Clinic is a Youth Partnership. In this type of project organisations from multiple countries set up a long-term international collaboration with impact on youth and youth work.

Circus in Motion

Circus in Motion is an open house for circus education. Children and (young) adults can experiment and get a taste of the art of circus. Through their international projects and cooperations Circus in Motion wants to strengthen youth circus.  


Text: Barbara Cleynen en Laure Lambert  
Beeld: Pieter Doms  

This article appeared in the 9th edition of our SCOOP magazine (in Dutch)