Armazém Aério

Armazém Aério, which translates as “aerial warehouse”, is an academy and company of novo circo, or new circus: the kind of circus built from acrobatics, dance and theatre rather than animal acts. A group of circus artists set it up in 2004 as a place to learn aerial acrobatics in Portugal, and it still has that focus. It also runs a performing company, so the teachers are working artists.

The Lisbon classes take place in Teatro da Luz, also called Teatro Dom Luiz Filipe, on Largo da Luz in Carnide. There is a second base south of the river, in the Sociedade Filarmónica Incrível Almadense, an old Almada music society.

The heart of every class is aerial work. Children learn on five pieces of kit: the tecido (long hanging fabric, often called aerial silks), the trapeze, the lyra (a steel hoop hung from the ceiling), the aerial net and the rope. Around that the academy teaches performance, dance and theatre, because each trick eventually has to become part of a show.

Classes are for children, teenagers and adults, of any gender and with or without experience. The teachers assess each new student and place them in a level:

• Iniciados (beginners)
• Experientes (experienced)
• Avançados (advanced)
• Masters, a selective group that students join by invitation

Children are grouped by age as well as level, and the timetable includes a Teens group.

Students take part in public shows, each built around a theme with its own original production. The academy page says there are three a year; the 2026/27 calendar lists two at Teatro da Luz, a Christmas show on 4 to 6 December 2026 and the end-of-year show on 4 to 6 June 2027. There are no classes on the Monday after a show weekend. The company’s own recent productions included Natal de Oz (December 2025), A Cor das Minhas Asas (March 2026) and Omnium (June 2026), which gives you a sense of the storytelling style.

For a child who has never been on a stage, performing a trapeze routine under theatre lights in front of family is a big moment. For a shy child it can be a gentler route to performing than a school play, because the focus is on the trick, not on lines.

Both studios take children from age 6, with no upper age limit. (Some family websites give the minimum as 5; the academy’s own 2026/27 pages say 6.) The detailed timetables are published as images on the class pages, so check the days and times for your child’s age group there.

In Lisbon the 2026/27 monthly fees were:

• one class a week: €50 (€45 with the family discount)
• two classes a week: €65 (€60 with the family discount)
• three classes a week: €75 (€70 with the family discount)

Each year there’s also a €20 enrolment fee, €30 insurance and a €25 deposit that is held for July.

In Almada, one class a week was €50 and two were €65, with €5 off per person for members of the same household. Enrolment there was free in September 2026, and December fees have a 15% discount.

The year started on 3 September 2026. Breaks fall at Christmas (21 December 2026 to 3 January 2027), Carnival (8 and 9 February 2027) and Easter (26 to 28 March 2027), plus public holidays. You can join during the year if there’s a space.

Book a trial class, called an aula experimental, through the online form on the website. The academy then emails you the place, day and time. Enrolment for 2026/27 is done online through its member system. Questions go to armazemaerio@gmail.com or +351 932 904 467 / 468.

The Lisbon theatre hosts three-hour circus parties that combine an activity session with party time:

• Circense, from age 6: aerial acrobatics on fabric, floor acrobatics and human pyramids, and ball juggling. €16 a child.
• Aéreos, from age 9: a longer aerial session on fabric, trapeze and lyra. €18 a child.

Parties take 12 to 20 children, including the birthday child, who goes free, with a minimum charge for 12. A €100 deposit secures the date. Slots are Saturday 15:00 to 18:00 and Sunday 10:00 to 13:00 or 15:00 to 18:00. Parents bring the food and cake; the venue provides tables and a fridge.

Aerial work asks a lot of hands, arms and nerve, and a child who dislikes heights may need time. This is a weekly commitment rather than a drop-in, so it suits a child who already wants to try circus.

Lisbon has several circus schools, each with its own style. Chapitô below the castle runs children’s circus and dance workshops, Jaya Aerial Lab has kids’ aerial classes and holiday camps, Gato Ruim in Loures takes children from age 3, and Perfolie Arte serves the Cascais side.

What age can children start at Armazém Aério?

From age 6, at both the Lisbon and Almada studios, according to the academy’s 2026/27 pages. There is no upper age limit.

How much do circus classes cost at Armazém Aério?

In Lisbon, €50 a month for one class a week, €65 for two and €75 for three in 2026/27, with €5 off for siblings. Add €20 enrolment, €30 insurance and a €25 deposit each year.

Can my child try a class first?

Yes. Book an aula experimental through the online form, and the academy emails you the day, time and place.

Do the children perform?

Yes. Students perform in public shows at Teatro da Luz. In 2026/27 these are the Christmas show on 4 to 6 December and the end-of-year show on 4 to 6 June.

Can we hold a birthday party there?

Yes, at Teatro da Luz on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings or afternoons. Parties last three hours and cost €16 a child (from age 6) or €18 for the aerial version (from age 9), for 12 to 20 children.