Circus Durch-Starter
With Lara Schawalder
| Location | Training hall |
| Age | 6 – 8 years |
| Level | All Levels |
| Normal price | 532.00 CHF |
| Legi/Cultural Legi | 380.00 CHF |
- 31.08.2026 (Festival ZirQus)
- 14.09.2026 (Knabenschiessen)
- 05.10.2026 (Fall vacation)
- 12.10.2026 (Fall vacation)
- 21.12.2026 (Christmas vacation)
- 28.12.2026 (Christmas vacation)
Zirkusquartier Zurich
Space for contemporary circus
The Zirkusquartier is Zurich’s production, performance, training, and learning center for contemporary circus and the home of the Zirkus Chnopf.
With its diverse program of shows, workshops, and courses, Zirkusquartier invites visitors of all ages to explore the many facets of circus and get involved themselves. It also offers a wide range of opportunities and resources for professional circus artists.
The Zirkusquartier is a vibrant meeting place for children, teenagers, and adults; for professionals and hobbyists; for visitors and circus artists; and, above all, for the local community. It offers a welcoming space to learn, train, perform, and connect.
Founded in 2016 by Zirkus Chnopf, the Zirkusquartier continues to serve as the company’s creative home, where new productions are developed and rehearsed.
10 Years of Zirkusquartier
We’re celebrating our anniversary—with shows, DJs, and a festive circus night full of surprises!
The Zirkusquartier was established in 2016 as the winter home of the Zirkus Chnopf, and over the past 10 years it has evolved into a centre for contemporary circus with a wide range of offerings.
Let’s celebrate at the Nuit du Cirque! There will be two circus shows, drinks from the bar, and wraps from Zirkus Chnopf. On Saturday night, DJ sets ranging from baile to techno will make the Güterbahnhof shake, and circus surprises—from burlesque to clownesque, from spectacular to sentimental—will make the night shine.
Celebrate the past 10 years with us—let’s raise a glass and hit the dance floor together!
Shows
Circus moments: from large circus festivals to small tryouts, you can experience a variety of shows in the Zirkusquartier.
Workshops
Our regular workshops with renowned Artists offer the perfect opportunity to get to know different circus disciplines.
Courses
Learn a wide variety of acrobatic disciplines in our weekly courses or come along to our open training sessions!
For new bookers, the first lesson of the fall session is the trial lesson. Please book online, then a final decision can be made about the booking .
This course is aimed at school children aged 6-8 years and is the follow-up course to the “Circus Starter” course. It is not necessary to attend the preliminary course to participate.
We get off to a playful start and develop strength, coordination and agility in an age-appropriate way. We consolidate the basic acrobatic figures on the floor – rolls, wheels, headstands, handstands, pyramids. From time to time, we also try jumping on the trampoline and swinging in the air on the aerial silk.
The joy of movement and creativity in doing things together are just as important as the precise teaching of the basics. The children refine their self-awareness and strengthen their self-confidence: the best preparation for any further art of movement!
Clothing: Comfortable sportswear. Turntäppeli or barefoot. In the winter months, we recommend long training clothes for before and after the course. Children with long hair should have a hair tie with them.
Lara Schawalder
Lara Schawalder grew up in the Zurich Oberland. At the age of 20, she went to Paris for seven years, attended the ECM-ISAS musical school and trained at the Les Noctambules circus school, where she specialized in floor acrobatics and aerial silk. Since then, she has worked at home and abroad as an artist and is regularly teaching children, teenagers and adults.
| Price | Lesson of 60 minutes | Entire session (19 lessons) |
| Normal price: | 28.00 CHF | 532.00 CHF |
| Legi/cultural legi of the parents: | 20.00 CHF | 380.00 CHF |
Individual lessons cannot be booked. Entry during the current session is possible at any time if capacity is available. The price will be adjusted accordingly.
Course information:
General
- The course takes place once a week (except during school vacations and public holidays)
- Course duration: 60 minutes
- Start: August 17, 26 (from the end of the 2026 school summer vacation)
- End: February 1, 27 (until one week before the 2027 sports vacations), 19 lessons in total
Trial lessons
- Please book online.
- The first lesson from the date of booking is always a trial lesson and costs CHF 20.
- A final decision on the booking can then be made: The registration or deregistration for the entire course session must reach us by e-mail (kontakt@zirkusquartier.ch) three days after the trial lesson.
- If you book and confirm the appointment, the trial lesson will be charged even if you do not attend.
Access
- It is always possible to join the course during the current session if capacity is available.
- Simply book online, the first lesson is a trial lesson.
- You will only be charged from the definitive start date after the trial lesson.
Discounts
- Legi & Kulturlegi
- For children’s courses we also accept parents’ Legi and Kulturlegi.
- We offer a CHF 5 discount per lesson on the second course booked.
Child protection
- Zirkusquartier is a member of Versa, the association for the prevention of sexual exploitation of children in sport.