Aula de Teatre i Dansa d’Andorra la Vella

The Aula de Teatre i Dansa d'Andorra la Vella is a municipal school dedicated to the performing arts, located in the capital of the Principality of Andorra. It is part of the Comú d'Andorra la Vella and develops a regular program throughout the year in theatre, dance and circus arts.

The school welcomes children, teenagers, and adults and aims to provide a genuine space for training , meeting , and exchanging ideas around artistic practices. Circus students can begin from the age of 5 .

Circus arts are an integral part of its educational program. They are not only offered as one-off workshops: regular classes are organized throughout the school year and adapted to the different age groups and skill levels of the participants.

For younger children, the school offers, in particular , aerial circus training allowing them to gradually discover different families of circus disciplines.

Children are introduced to aerial arts, as well as juggling and object manipulation . The aim is to allow them to experiment with different techniques before gradually developing their preferences and skills.

Among the accessories used are the hula hoop , juggling scarves , flower sticks , spinning plates , and diabolo . This diversity allows for the exploration of various forms of manipulation and the development of coordination, concentration, precision, and control of movement.

The diabolo is an excellent introduction to juggling. Students gradually learn to control the object, maintain its rotation, and then experiment with different movements and figures.

Flower sticks allow you to discover another form of manipulation requiring coordination between both hands, precision and understanding of the movement of the object.

Chinese plates and scarves also offer suitable approaches to discovering juggling and allow younger children to gradually understand the concepts of trajectory, balance and rhythm.

Aerial disciplines also occupy an important place in the teaching offered in Andorra la Vella.

The training begins with ground preparation designed to develop the skills necessary for aerial practice. Students work on coordination, mobility, strength, and body awareness before gradually progressing to the first figures in the silks.

Acrosport is one of the tools used to prepare the body for acrobatics. Group exercises help to work on support, balance, confidence, and the relationship with partners.

Acroyoga is also used in some groups as a preparatory method. It allows participants to work on balance, body positioning, and partner work before transferring some of these skills to aerial apparatus.

For teenagers , learning aerial silks allows them to gradually gain strength , flexibility , and confidence . Students discover how to get on the apparatus and perform their first moves.

Ground work and acrobatic figures performed in groups or pairs complement this teaching and allow the development of skills that can then be used in aerial work.

Different levels also allow practitioners who have already mastered the basics to continue their progression. The intermediate level, for example, delves deeper into aerial acrobatics and allows for the development of more complex figures and sequences.

Adults also have access to courses dedicated to aerial silks. The instruction combines physical conditioning , acrosport , acroyoga , and aerial practice to progressively build the skills necessary for working on the silks.

Several time slots are offered to allow for regular practice. For adults seeking more flexibility in their schedule, the school also offers hourly packages allowing participation in workshops according to their availability and available spaces.

A cross-disciplinary approach to the performing arts

The pedagogical approach of the Aula de Teatre i Dansa does not completely separate the different disciplines of the performing arts. Theatre , dance and circus coexist within the same institution and contribute to a shared culture of artistic expression.

This proximity allows circus practitioners to evolve in an environment where technique is not considered solely as a physical activity but also as a means of expression .

The school's mission is indeed both educational and artistic . It aims to transmit skills while creating a meeting place where students can experiment, create and share their practices.

The stage as the culmination of learning

The training programs culminate in the creation of stage performances . Students participate in the end-of-year shows and festivals organized by the institution.

This stage experience is an important step in the learning process. It allows students to transform the techniques acquired during classes into a performance intended to be presented to an audience.

Students must then learn to build sequences, memorize their movements, manage stage space and develop their presence in front of the audience.

For practitioners of aerial disciplines, this artistic dimension makes it possible in particular to go beyond the isolated execution of a figure to begin to build real aerial sequences and choreographies .

How it works and where it's practiced

The school's operations follow the rhythm of the academic year . Activities generally begin in September or early October, depending on the subject, and continue throughout the season.

Circus and aerial silks classes are mainly held at the Sala Spartan of the Centre Esportiu dels Serradells , an important sports facility in Andorra la Vella that provides the necessary facilities for aerial practices.

A unique feature in the Andorran cultural landscape

The Aula de Teatre i Dansa thus possesses an interesting peculiarity in the Andorran cultural landscape: it brings together within a single municipal project the teaching of theatre , dance and circus .

Its offering allows children to discover the circus from the age of 5 and then to continue their practice during adolescence and adulthood.