Circus makes it possible to understand each other without language

Frank Jahnsmüller & Susann Vogel

On the edge of the Sonnenberg, visible from Augustusburger Straße, stands a red and blue circus tent. The Birikino children's and youth circus is a project of the Don Bosco Haus Chemnitz and was founded in 2003. Since then, children and young people have been taking advantage of the open programme offered by the two circus teachers Frank Jahnsmüller and Susann Vogel. Stephan Gottwald, the good soul of the circus, is also involved in the workshops and training sessions and provides support wherever possible. We sat down together in the circus tent and talked to each other.

Circus Birikino has been around for over twelve years now. What is your aim with this project?
Frank Jahnsmüller: We want to ensure that children don't just stay at home and play TV or consoles, but that they get out and do something meaningful. We are an alternative to sports programmes that cost money. We pursue various educational objectives. The training improves coordination. Children and young people learn to work together on a show. Self-confidence is strengthened. The children get to know their strengths and weaknesses and recognise what they can achieve.
Susann Vogel: The great thing is that the children really don't have to pay any money here. We receive funding from the federal government through the Zirkus macht stark e. V. association. As a result, we have freelancers who actively support us during training and we have even had the opportunity to expand our programme. We are very grateful for this.

Do you work exclusively with children from Sonnenberg, or do you also have children from other neighbourhoods?
Frank Jahnsmüller : Our most important target group is of course the children and young people from Sonnenberg. But we have also opened up our programme because there is a lot of interest, especially from children from Gablenz or the Luther district. Those who want to are also welcome to come. That's the wonderful thing about the circus. It's open to everyone and doesn't impose any restrictions. Anyone can do circus.

How old are your youngest participants?
Frank Jahnsmüller : Those who come to us regularly should actually be at least eight years old. But there are also some who started when they were six or seven. Some bring their siblings with them, or their parents are there.
Susann Vogel: We have actually set the minimum age at first grade. Because that's when the children are mentally and physically ready to keep to the circus discipline. For children of nursery school age, the work is mainly in the area of imagination. This means that they play circus. We can start teaching the children discipline from year one. I simply can't put a kindergarten child on a walking ball or hang them from a trapeze.
Frank Jahnsmüller: It's theoretically possible. The only problem is that children are simply more independent from the first grade onwards. They can come here on their own and stay here on their own and are no longer dependent on parental supervision. What's more, the attention span of kindergarten children is not yet as long as that of school children.

How many children are you currently working with?
Frank Jahnsmüller : Around 15 to 25 children regularly attend the open training programme. We have an open programme here, so there is no compulsory attendance, as is perhaps the case with other leisure activities.

Do you also work with refugee children? How did that come about?
Susann Vogel: Exactly! That has something to do with "Circus makes you strong". We had the idea of working with the refugee children because we wanted to give them a carefree time. At least for a few hours. We applied for and received funding for this. We now train twice a week with 16 children from the initial reception centre in Ebersdorf. We pick the children up and drop them off again. Next week we are starting a hip-hop and breakdance course. We are working together with the Georg-Werth-Oberschule school, which looks after the children in the German courses. The children really appreciate this. Of course we notice the language barrier, but circus makes it possible to understand each other without language.

So what exactly do the children do here?
Frank Jahnsmüller: We are a purely artistic circus. We do acrobatics, juggling, diabolo, pois, balance, tightrope, slackline, ball skating, unicycling, trapeze, aerial acrobatics, and in summer we also offer clowning. So we really do have a broad programme. If a trainer comes along who can do something special, a hula hoop or something similar, then of course we offer that too.

Do you also have a programme for adults?
Frank Jahnsmüller: We have introduced a training session for adults. When the tent is up, adults can come once or twice a week in the evening. We supervise this, but it should actually be organised by the interested parties themselves. The idea is for them to teach each other things. A big highlight next year is the Catholic Day in Leipzig in May. The circus tent in Tschaikowskistraße will be specially dismantled for the event and set up again in Leipzig. There are two fixed dates every year for the Birikino circus. In spring there is a show to open the tent, in autumn a closing event.

How interested are local residents? Do many spectators come to your performances?
Frank Jahnsmüller: Well, a large part of the audience is made up of the children's parents, grandparents and relatives, of course. When we advertise, the tent is already well attended with 150 to 200 people. For the most part, it is well received and accepted by the local residents. We get predominantly positive feedback.

Was the location here chosen deliberately? After all, Tschaikowskistraße doesn't have the best reputation.
Frank Jahnsmüller: We deliberately chose this location here. Of course, we know the clichés, but that's why we work right here. Sonnenberg is a socially deprived area, this is where the children in need live and we are here to work with the children. The place was chosen to stay on the Sonnenberg. We had three options and everything fitted here. We are close to Don Bosco Haus and the children have short distances to travel. We are easily accessible by public transport, so children from other parts of the city can also reach us. The city has made the site available to us.

Are you networked with other initiatives on the Sonnenberg?
Frank Jahnsmüller: Yes, basically with the schools where we are also on site with school social work: that means with the Georg Werth Secondary School, the Pestalozzi School, the two primary schools Lessing and Sonnenberg Primary School. We receive a lot of support from the neighbourhood cooperative. We work closely with the kindergartens and with the new theatre on Zietenstraße KOMPLEX. So Sonnenberg has a worse reputation than it really has.

How do you feel about the development of Sonnenberg in recent years?
Susann Vogel: An incredible amount is happening in the cultural sector at the moment. More and more students are moving to the Sonnenberg. I lived in Berlin for a year and I have the feeling that Sonnenberg is "Little Kreuzberg". Many artists have even moved into Zietenstraße. The theatre fits in perfectly there and more and more small cafés are popping up. Unfortunately, some of them are closing again, which is very sad. You realise that the audience is still missing. But I think a lot is happening in Chemnitz in general. And you can also see that on the Sonnenberg.

You are both from Chemnitz and Karl-Marx-Stadt. Have you ever toyed with the idea of leaving the city or do you always want to stay here?
Susann Vogel: I'm very grateful that the circus is here and that's what I like to do. The circus keeps me here in Chemnitz. After what happens in Chemnitz, I can't say that I absolutely have to leave! Chemnitz is also becoming more and more connected. Everyone knows someone you're involved with. People are getting closer together and can work very well together.
Frank Jahnsmüller: For me, it's home! I was born here and have always stayed here. I was outside for a short time and was grateful that I didn't have to stay there. I set up the project here. That's exactly what it is for me!

How do you rate the city's development in recent years?
Frank Jahnsmüller : I live in Brühl and of course a lot has happened and continues to happen. Which I think is a shame: There are always people who don't like this development and would rather have their peace and quiet. But I think the path we're on is a good one! And we just have to keep working on it.
Susann Vogel: I was in Berlin in 2010/11 and realised on the weekends I was here that there was an incredible amount of building going on. I heard that students were opening a café here and there. A lot was being attempted on the Brühl and I was very excited to see how the development would continue. And that's still the case. People simply have more desire to set up and do something of their own. This naturally keeps young people in the city, who can realise their visions here.

Do you have to encourage the people of Chemnitz?
Susann Vogel: Yes, I would say so. Especially the older generation. The young have courage and the desire to do something. But the older generation is very scared because a lot is changing at the moment. Here, too, you simply have to encourage people that the new things are good and say "Come and have a look!".
Frank Jahnsmüller: There is always a fear of change. You can see that very clearly with the refugee issue. Of course, that takes courage. But you also have to be open. I think many people are courageous and want to make a difference in the city. The increased influx is not without reason. There are simply more opportunities here because there is more room to manoeuvre!