Ball'Istik Circus School ASBL

Ball'Istik is a non-profit circus school located in Grandglise , in the municipality of Beloeil in the province of Hainaut. Present in the area for over ten years, it now has its own premises and is developing a project combining technical learning , artistic practice , creation and conviviality .

The school aims to make circus arts accessible to a particularly wide audience. It welcomes very young children as well as school-aged children, teenagers and adults, with workshops adapted to the different stages of progression.

A circus for all ages

For the youngest children, Ball'Istik offers an initial introduction through circus-based activities. Body work and games inspired by the circus allow for the gradual development of motor skills , coordination , balance , and ease of movement .

A parent-toddler workshop also allows children to discover this activity together with a parent. The school also offers a " Family Circus " workshop, designed for children accompanied by an adult and conceived as a truly shared activity.

Primary school children can then join multidisciplinary workshops in which they discover different families of circus arts before gradually developing their preferences.

Specialized workshops

Ball'Istik also offers a wide range of specialized workshops. Unicycling , in particular, is offered at several levels, allowing young people to begin the sport and then continue their progression.

Juggling is also widely represented. Workshops allow participants to discover different techniques, while older children can deepen their practice of diabolo , individual juggling and group passing .

Acrobatics

Acrobatics benefits from a specific program, notably with the Acromot' and Acromouv' workshops. The first allows children to begin acrobatic work in a playful way, while the second supports young people wishing to go further in this discipline.

The school also offers acrobatic partnering for older practitioners. This discipline develops teamwork , trust between partners , body positioning and the construction of figures with multiple participants.

Acro-dance, on the other hand, allows for a blend of acrobatic and dance movements. This workshop is a particularly good complement to regular technical training and allows participants to approach circus arts from a more choreographic perspective.

Aerial disciplines

Aerial disciplines also occupy an important place. Several workshops combine balance and aerial activities for children and teenagers, while Ball'Istik also develops aerial courses for teenagers and adults in partnership with the Centre des Arts de la Rue in Ath .

Stage presence

Stage performance is integrated into the educational project. A workshop dedicated to circus and comedy combines circus techniques, acting and stage work, while a specific improvisation workshop allows for the development of spontaneity , listening and presence .

Creation and production

Young people wishing to further develop their artistic approach can join creative workshops and personal projects . These advanced groups allow them to choose their techniques and work on their staging with the aim of creating shows that can be presented outside of school.

Ball'Istik also has a production team that creates and stages new shows. These productions can then be presented at festivals , public events , or private functions , offering young artists a genuine performance experience.

Handicirque

The school develops a particularly interesting approach around Handicirque . These sessions are intended for people with disabilities and use circus techniques as tools for motor , relational , creative and artistic development.

Juggling, balance, trapeze, and acrobatics are combined with stagecraft and movement. Activities are adapted to each participant's abilities, and progress is made without the pressure of performance , in an approach based on trust , respect , and enjoyment .

School interventions and internships

Ball'Istik also works with schools. The school can host classes on its premises or send its instructors to schools to offer introductory circus and circus-related motor skills workshops.

It also organizes introductory sessions allowing participants to try out different balance and juggling techniques. Balance balls , rola-bolas , diabolos , balls , and flower sticks are among the equipment used during these activities.

The courses organised during school holidays complement the annual workshops and offer children and teenagers the opportunity to discover the circus or to deepen their practice.

The school also offers activities for children who are homeschooled , confirming its commitment to adapting its offerings to different audiences and educational paths.

A complete vision of the circus

Ball'Istik thus promotes a vision of the circus that is family-friendly , playful , technical , and artistic . Learning the disciplines provides a foundation from which everyone can develop their motor skills , creativity , expression , and gradually build their own projects.

Thanks to the diversity of its workshops, its technical specializations, its family activities, its creative projects, its production group, its school actions and its Handicirque program, Ball'Istik constitutes a particularly complete circus school in the Beloeil region.