Bordeaux Circus School

The Bordeaux Circus School (ECB) – Cultural Center for Circus Arts

The Bordeaux Circus School (ECB) – Cultural Center for Circus Arts is a historic institution dedicated to the discovery, teaching, training, and promotion of circus arts. Founded in 1981 as a non-profit organization, it is now located at 286 Boulevard Alfred Daney in Bordeaux, in the Bordeaux Maritime district, near the Bassins à Flots. For over forty years, it has been a meeting place for amateur practitioners, artists, students on the path to professionalization, instructors, and circus enthusiasts.

One of the school's distinctive features is its location under a big top , which immediately immerses participants in the world of the circus ring. The establishment now boasts over 1,000 square meters of space dedicated to amateur practice and professional training. Its large big top includes a 10 x 10 meter ring equipped with a dance floor, areas for physical conditioning, and various zones designed for practicing circus arts.

A circus school for children, teenagers and adults

Amateur practice is one of the ECB's main focuses. Throughout the school year, the school organizes weekly workshops in small groups, led by professional instructors. Classes are primarily held in the Bordeaux big top, but the school also runs workshops in the town of Beautiran.

The program caters to a very wide audience, from young children to adults. The different groups allow the teaching methods to be adapted to each individual's age, physical development, and skill level. The school also offers workshops dedicated to the Art of Movement, inspired in particular by the Yamakasi , for various age groups.

The teaching aims to go beyond simply learning a series of figures. ECB's pedagogy progressively develops the student's autonomy in their artistic practice, both technically and safely. The methods are adapted to each student and implemented by a team of professional educators, artists, and instructors.

Discover the different disciplines of the circus

The activities offered allow students to explore the major branches of circus arts. Depending on the workshops and courses, students may discover, among other things:

• Acrobatics
• The balances
• Juggling and object manipulation
• Aerial disciplines: trapeze, aerial silks, aerial hoop, rope

The artistic dimension also plays an important role. Exercises in play, improvisation, and physical expression accompany technical learning. For children, the work aims in particular to develop body awareness, self-confidence and trust in others, the ability to perform sequences alone or in groups, and, gradually, to perform in front of an audience.

A teaching method that brings amateurs and future professionals closer together

An interesting feature of the Bordeaux Circus School lies in the links created between amateur practice and professional training.

Children and teenagers aged 6 to 17 can be accompanied by students from the preparatory program for higher education in circus arts. Each student in the preparatory class mentors a group throughout the year and regularly participates in the supervision alongside the professional instructor. Together, they contribute to the staging of the end-of-year show.

This organization allows young amateurs to interact with people engaged in genuine artistic and professional careers. Amateur students and future artists can thus observe each other's practices and share the same environment under the big top.

Internships during school holidays

In addition to regular workshops, ECB organizes circus camps throughout the year and during school holidays. These are open to children from age 3 and are organized according to different age groups and formats:

• Parent-child workshops for 3-4 year olds
• Early learning for 4-5 year olds
• Discovery activities for 6-7 year olds and 8-10 year olds
• Internships for teenagers
• Adult internships

These more intensive periods allow you to discover several disciplines, to develop an already existing practice or simply to have a first experience under a big top.

A true training center for circus professions

The Bordeaux Circus School also has a significant professional training program. It supports people who wish to make circus arts their profession, from preparation for higher education to professional integration, and also offers continuing education for artists already working in the field.

Its offerings include preparatory courses for higher education in circus arts, skills upgrading and professional integration programs, as well as continuing education workshops. The ECB training organization is also Qualiopi certified for its training programs. The school has been a member of FEDEC since 2014, where it is listed as a preparatory school.

• Leading figures in the aviation industry
• Experts in acrobatics
• References for the Chinese pole and partner acrobatics
• Guest artists bringing specific artistic specialties and approaches

A place of artistic creation and emergence

ECB also defines itself as a player in the emerging circus scene. Thanks to the permanent presence of professional and trainee artists, the school supports research and creation processes and fosters encounters between artists, students and audiences.

This dimension is reflected in particular by the "Morceaux Choisis" (Selected Pieces) series, which allows professional, amateur, and emerging artists to present excerpts of their creations or works in progress to the public. These gatherings are designed as spaces for experimentation and exchange around the circus arts creation process.

The school also participates in events around contemporary circus, such as La Nuit du Cirque , and develops open stages and various encounters under its big top.

Chapitô Festival and Student Performances

School life is punctuated by various highlights. Each year, Chapitô en fête notably brings together the different audiences of ECB.

• For several days, the amateur students present their end-of-year shows.
• Artists from the network, students in training, and artists using the training spaces can present their creations during open mic nights.
• Animations and introductory workshops allow the public to discover the disciplines of contemporary circus

Mediation and external interventions

The Bordeaux Circus School also develops a significant cultural outreach program. It works primarily in schools, with specific audiences, and with public and private organizations. In these projects, circus arts are used as a medium to achieve educational, social, cultural, or artistic objectives defined in collaboration with the partner organization.

ECB also develops partnerships with various cultural and educational stakeholders in the region and participates in events and projects organized outside its own venues. It is notably a member of the IDDAC Gironde mediation network.

A school open to the professional world

The Bordeaux Circus School therefore occupies a special place: it brings together in one place amateur practice, professional training, creation, mediation and artistic emergence.

This proximity allows children and adults practicing for leisure to interact with students preparing for higher education, professional artists, instructors, and companies. The school thus presents itself as a true hub and gathering place for artists, amateurs, instructors, and circus enthusiasts.