Alteractiv

AlterActiv – Circus School

AlterActiv – Circus School is located in Le Versoud, in the Grésivaudan Valley in Isère, near Grenoble. Founded in 2009, the AlterActiv association aims to promote personal development, self-expression, and community through cultural and sporting activities. Circus arts play a central role in this project, with the school affiliated with the FFEC (French Federation of Circus Schools).

Target audiences and pathways

The school offers a particularly broad range of circus arts activities, welcoming participants from toddlers to adults. Very young children can make their first discoveries in adapted workshops, notably in Baby Circus , while groups are then organized according to age and skill level. Teenagers and adults also have dedicated time slots allowing them to continue or deepen their practice.

Pedagogy

AlterActiv's teaching method is based on the discovery of the five main families of circus activities . The school alternates between guided workshops and practice time, allowing students to experiment with different disciplines before gradually developing their skills.

• Juggling and object manipulation : scarves, balls, clubs, rings, diabolos, devil sticks and Chinese plates.
• Acrobatics : static and dynamic exercises, mini-trampoline, hand-to-hand and Chinese pole.
• Balancing on objects : stilts, balance balls, wire, unicycles and rolla-bollas.
• Aerial arts : trapeze, rope, silks and aerial hoop.
• Artistic expression : clowning, mime, object manipulation, creation of acts and shows.

Juggling

Juggling and object manipulation are particularly diverse: scarves, balls, clubs, rings, diabolo, devil sticks, and spinning plates are among the equipment used. This variety allows for both learning basic throws and manipulations and progressing towards more complex techniques.

Acrobatics

Acrobatics includes static and dynamic exercises, as well as mini-trampoline, hand-to-hand acrobatics, and Chinese pole. Students develop coordination, body awareness, strength, flexibility, and confidence while discovering the individual and teamwork inherent in acrobatic disciplines.

Balances on objects

Another important part of the learning process involves balancing on objects. AlterActiv offers a variety of equipment, including stilts, balance balls, tightrope walkers, unicycles, and rolla-bollas. These workshops allow participants to work on balance, concentration, and movement control using a wide range of apparatus.

Aerial arts

Aerial arts complement this multidisciplinary approach with the trapeze, rope, silks and aerial hoop.

Artistic expression

The school does not reduce the circus to mere technical mastery: a fifth family is devoted to artistic expression, with clowning, mime, object manipulation, and work around the creation of acts and shows.

Educational project

The educational project aims to introduce circus arts as an art form that utilizes the body in its entirety. Technical content is tailored to each group and is integrated into a comprehensive educational framework . The association provides specialized equipment that is regularly updated and employs qualified circus arts instructors.

Teaching staff

The teaching team is led by Jérôme Cotté , director of the Circus School, who holds a DEUG STAPS (a two-year university diploma in Sports Science) and is accredited by the French Ministry of Education . Leonor Cotté Anton , holder of the BPJEPS Circus qualification, also regularly contributes, alongside educators and artists such as Anne Marchal and Fanette Peilhon . The school also occasionally invites specialized professionals to introduce students to new techniques and artistic approaches.

Accessibility — Handi Circus

An important aspect of the project also concerns the accessibility of circus arts. AlterActiv offers a Handi Cirque – Adapted Circus workshop for children with disabilities. For the 2026-2027 season, this class is scheduled for Saturdays and benefits from the pricing level corresponding to the lowest family income bracket.

Additional internships and workshops

In addition to weekly classes, AlterActiv organizes circus workshops during school holidays for children and teenagers. These workshops offer the opportunity to discover or further develop skills in acrobatics, object balancing, juggling, and aerial disciplines. Workshops for adults and parent-child sessions may also be offered occasionally.

External interventions

The school also develops numerous outreach programs. Thanks in particular to its accreditation from the French Ministry of Education , it can work in nurseries and early childhood centers, preschools, elementary schools, and middle schools. It also collaborates with municipalities, associations, and specialized organizations, offering introductory workshops, educational programs, activities, and projects that can culminate in the creation of a performance. Handi Cirque workshops are also conducted with specialized institutions.

Circus hall and residences

AlterActiv finally has its own circus hall in Le Versoud, which hosts not only classes and workshops but also artist residencies. This opening to professional creation fosters encounters between students, teachers, and artists, and complements the artistic dimension of the association's project.

Practical information

For the 2026-2027 season, AlterActiv will maintain the same classes and schedules as the previous season. Registration for new members opened on July 1, 2026 , and classes will resume on Monday, September 14, 2026. Registration is subject to availability, and some groups may have a waiting list.

Prices are determined based on factors such as family income, the chosen course, and the number of participants from the same household. Membership in the association and the FFEC license are also taken into account.

Thanks to its comprehensive offerings, AlterActiv is a leading circus school in the Grenoble metropolitan area and the Grésivaudan Valley. From introductory Baby Circus classes to adult practice, the school allows students to discover juggling, diabolo, acrobatics, balance, unicycle, Chinese pole, and aerial disciplines, as well as explore artistic creation and expression. Its adapted circus program, workshops, school programs, and artist residencies give the project a dimension that extends far beyond the scope of weekly classes alone.