Jaya Aerial Lab

Jaya is an aerial arts school in central Lisbon, on Rua da Escola de Medicina Veterinária. Most of its timetable is for adults: aerial silks, trapeze, hoop, lyra, straps and rope, plus pole dance, yoga and cross-training. Alongside that it runs weekly classes for children and teenagers and a holiday camp for school-age children. The name comes from a Sanskrit word for victory, which the school explains as winning over yourself.

The building is large for a city-centre studio. Jaya has 800 square metres spread over six studios. The biggest is 150 square metres with a nine-metre ceiling, which is the height aerial work needs; the smaller rooms have ceilings from about three to five and a half metres.

The camp is the part of Jaya most likely to help a working parent. It runs during the Christmas, Easter and summer holidays and fills whole days with four strands of activity:

• aerial acrobatics on vertical fabric, trapeze and lyra
• floor acrobatics
• acting and theatre
• dance and movement

The mix matters. Children who arrive for the trapeze also spend time on drama and dance, and children who are nervous of heights have plenty to do on the floor.

Jaya’s two language versions disagree on the details. The English page says the camp is for ages 6 to 15 and runs from 08:30 to 17:30. The Portuguese page says ages 6 to 12, from 09:00 to 17:00. Neither page lists dates, prices, lunch arrangements or what to bring, so email or ring before you plan your holiday around it, and ask specifically about the upper age if you have a young teenager.

In term time, Jaya lists two groups:

• Jaya Kids, for ages 6 to 14: an introduction to aerial acrobatics on vertical fabric, trapeze, lyra and rope, plus floor acrobatics.
• Aerial Teens, for ages 13 to 17: the same four aerial apparatus and floor acrobatics, pitched at teenagers.

Both are open-level classes, so beginners and returning students train together, and each has a maximum of 16 students. Jaya says the classes build coordination, strength and flexibility, and also self-esteem, confidence and team spirit.

The class times sit on the schedule page. Monthly fees and any extras are paid by direct debit, and you can pay two or more months up front. Jaya only offers a trial class to people who can then train regularly in the Lisbon area, so it isn’t a one-off taster for visitors.

Aerial acrobatics suits children who climb everything and aren’t bothered by being off the ground. It’s also a good fit for a child who has tried gymnastics and found it too competitive, since the emphasis is on learning tricks and putting them together into routines. A child who hates heights may still enjoy the camp, because half the programme is floor-based.

Groups of up to 16 are fairly large for aerial work, which means some waiting for a turn on each apparatus. Ask how many teachers work with each group.

Because so little is published, a short email saves surprises. Ask for the camp dates and the price per week or per day, whether lunch is provided or packed, what clothes and shoes to send, how many children there are per teacher, and whether you can book single days. If your child is 13 or older, check which age limit applies this year.

The studio is at Rua da Escola de Medicina Veterinária 15/17 in central Lisbon. Jaya’s website doesn’t give transport or parking details, so check the route before the first day of camp.

If Jaya’s camp dates don’t fit, Perfolie Arte near Cascais runs a weekly summer camp with published prices. For weekly classes, Armazém Aério in Carnide performs twice a year on a theatre stage, Chapitô below the castle runs children’s workshops, and Gato Ruim in Loures starts at age 3.

How old do children need to be for the holiday camp?

At least 6. The upper limit is given as 15 on the English page and 12 on the Portuguese page, so confirm when you book.

What are the camp hours?

The English page says 08:30 to 17:30 and the Portuguese page 09:00 to 17:00. Either way it’s a full day, and children stay with the Jaya team.

How much does the holiday camp cost?

Prices aren’t published online. Contact jayaerialab@gmail.com or +351 969 330 433 for current rates and dates.

Does Jaya have regular circus classes for children?

Yes. Jaya Kids is for ages 6 to 14 and Aerial Teens for ages 13 to 17, both open level with up to 16 students.

Can my child just try one class?

Only if they plan to carry on. Jaya offers trial classes to people who can then practise regularly in the Lisbon area.