News

🎪 Circ'à Pic: a committed and inclusive circus school in a rural setting

Par NetJuggler | Tue 10th June 2025

In the heart of a vibrant community space , Circ'à Pic breathes a breath of freedom and magic into contemporary circus. Conceived as a laboratory for artistic and social experimentation, this unique circus school brings together young and old around movement, creativity… and a powerful human project. Created by Yannick and Lauréline, known as Trempette, this place becomes much more than a learning space: a factory of connections, encounters, and dreams .

Circ'à Pic: who are they? what are they?

The project began after Yannick and Trempette met. Yannick is an activist involved in alternative circles, while Trempette has been passionate about circus arts since childhood and recently completed her BPJEPS circus training after years of working with all types of audiences. Together, they dreamed of a socially conscious circus school that would also be part of a larger collective project. The turning point: to create a circus school based on their own desires and values, inspired by their various encounters.

This shared vision gave birth to Circ'à Pic , a school in a rural setting that combines artistic transmission, welcoming diverse audiences, and active participation in a local collective ecosystem.

A school open to all audiences

The school is open to all and aims to make this great diversity accessible to everyone. Special education institutions, leisure centers, young people at risk of dropping out of school, asylum seekers, schools... and so on.

Circ'à Pic is not limited to circus training for children. It also caters to often overlooked audiences, with workshops tailored to their specific needs.

A pedagogy enriched by personal experience

I've discovered all these different groups, and I love the diversity, the range of activities I can adapt, like a detective, to each group to best address the issues they need to tackle. The focus on supporting people recovering from illness or getting back in shape was developed following my own health challenges, having battled cancer. I wanted to offer activities specifically for this group.

Trempette's personal experience gives a unique depth to the pedagogy put in place, which is centered on kindness, adaptation, and respect for each person's pace.

The teaching approach is tailored to each individual within the group, creating a space where everyone feels included, where the group functions as a cohesive unit, and where everyone can see themselves progressing regardless of their physical condition or abilities. The aim is to foster confidence in one's body through circus arts.

The teaching approach is tailored to each individual within the group, successfully creating a group where everyone finds their place, where the group functions as a cohesive unit, and where everyone can see themselves progress regardless of their physical condition or abilities. The aim is to foster confidence in one's body through circus arts.

A vibrant team, comprised of professionals and volunteers.

We have 5 or 6 instructors who work with us year-round, offering workshops. Volunteers are involved in the running of the circus school, participatory projects, and events.

Circ-en Vue 2018 Volunteers - ©️photo Circ'à Pik

Far from a pyramidal structure, Circ'à Pic is based on a collective dynamic , with strong involvement from volunteers and passionate participants.

Circ'à Pic's regular activities

6-12 year olds, all circus activities on Monday evenings
Adapted circus / fitness (post-illness, post-cancer, rehabilitation, post-maternity...) Wednesdays from 6pm to 7pm
Acrobatics and acrobatic lifts: Wednesday evenings from 7pm to 8pm

And in terms of internships, the program is extensive:

"Clown workshops with Vicky Versari: beginner, advanced, creation / research lab"
Aerial workshops with Djamilia Jarnot: rope, silks, trapeze, from beginners to advanced levels
Handstand workshops, parent-child workshops, children's workshops with me: beginner to intermediate levels
Workshop with young people in reintegration programs with the Auberge Tilcara: self-confidence, letting go"

How are the speakers chosen?

"The instructors: true educators passionate about their profession and who love to share their knowledge with real pedagogical preparation. They are often friends from the circus community.
The artists: according to the requests and projects proposed in resonance with the place."

And for artists, the residency is also part of the school's DNA :

"To allow artists to have access to a venue, a 130m² barn/circus hall, to support artistic projects by offering residency showcases, to keep the circus school and the venue alive."

Circ'en Vue: a mini street arts and juggling convention

"Being a juggler, immersing myself again two years ago in the festival/convention dynamic that I love so much and that I had forgotten during the creation of the school. I love the atmosphere, the sharing that takes place at conventions..."

Circ'en Vue returns in 2025 with a new formula, at the crossroads of a festival and a juggling convention.

"This year it's the Street Arts Festival and Mini Convention"
Get your diaries out! 🤩 Circ' en vue returns in 2025!!!
A first 2 in 1: Juggling Festival and Mini Convention.
Shows, concerts, entertainment, DJs...🥳
This year we've decided to pay the artists as much as possible. So, instead of a hat, there's a pay-what-you-want entry fee of €8 to €20, depending on your means. Children can pay what they can. All proceeds will go towards paying the artists.
Food trucks / Refreshments / Giant wooden games / Petanque courts... The site is open non-stop.

A preview of Saturday's program:

3:30 pm: Storytelling for children and craft workshops...
4:15 pm: Cie Tau, show “Barefoot, at home”
4:45 PM: Cie C'est pas Permis - “Flûte alors!”
5:55 pm: Cie Les Tournesols - “Au hasard des oiseaux”
7:20 pm: Cie Pittoresque - “A Short, Smooth Chat”
8:05 p.m.: “Acoté” show, clowns
9:15 PM: Bacano Banda Concert
11:25 PM: DJ Les Latinos
01:30: Renegade (juggling games...)

Yes, it's open to everyone, with no specific level required.

Ongoing projects, and dreams to come

Continue developing the circus barn so that workshops can be held there year-round, more residencies can be accommodated, the space can be loaned/rented out, and other circus performers or other disciplines can be offered in the barn.

And in the longer term?

Having plenty of funding to be able to offer free activities to everyone, bringing in lots of speakers from all over, hosting many performance residencies, allowing all artists to enjoy and bring this place to life, creating a welcoming and warm circus hall with a mezzanine and small cozy spaces, keeping the circus alive every day in the barn, also hosting residencies for musicians, yoga associations or others... making this place a space for the arts and for encounters.

How to follow the Circ'à Pic adventure?

"The Facebook page circapic.fr / the website is currently under repair circapic.fr"
Register by email or phone: circapic@gmail.com / 06.10.68.72.76
To support us: spread the word, share the news on Facebook, get involved in volunteer projects and events, and donate on HelloAsso to help with the circus school's construction.