CAU Granada – Escuela Internacional de Circo y Teatro

CAU Granada is an international circus and theatre school dedicated to the professional training of contemporary circus artists.

The Centro de Artes Urbanas was created in 2009 in Andalusia.

The project develops a concept of circus in which technical mastery , artistic research and stage creation are inseparable.

The school considers circus as an art in permanent relationship with theatre, dance, movement and other forms of contemporary creation.

Its goal is to train artists capable not only of performing , but also of conceiving and developing their own projects .

A two-year vocational training program

The vocational training takes place over two consecutive academic years .

• The first year includes more than 1,150 hours of training.
• The second year represents more than 1,400 additional hours .

The curriculum combines compulsory technical subjects , artistic instruction , specializations and modules dedicated to creation and production .

The first year: building the foundations

The first year allows students to build a solid physical, technical and artistic foundation .

technical disciplines

Acrobatics is one of the fundamental teachings.

Vertical exercises help develop balance, alignment, strength, and body control.

Physical preparation accompanies the entire curriculum. It is associated with work devoted to anatomy, biomechanics and injury prevention .

Theatre and stage performance

Theatre plays a particularly important role in education.

• Physical theatre allows us to connect movement, interpretation and stage presence.
• The clown provides another language that allows for the development of personality, relationship with the public, and performance skills.

Dance complements this physical and artistic training.

The school thus seeks to avoid a separation between circus technique and stage expression .

Specialization pathways

Students can gradually move towards different specialization pathways.

• Acrodance is one of these approaches.
• Acrobatic lifts allow for the development of teamwork, weight relationships, trust, and partner techniques.
• Balances constitute another area of specialization.
• Aerial disciplines allow students to develop specific research around working in suspension.
• Acrobatics and verticals also constitute a route in their own right.

The courses remain flexible enough to allow students to build a training program that matches their artistic profile.

The second year: towards artistic autonomy

The second year builds upon the techniques acquired previously. Students gradually develop genuine artistic autonomy .

Creation then becomes a central element of the curriculum. Students learn to construct and develop their own stage proposals.

Dramaturgy and composition are integrated into the training process. Knowledge of lighting , sound , and production also allows for a better understanding of the various stages involved in creating a show.

The curriculum therefore does not only aim to train performers specializing in a single technique. It prepares artists capable of actively participating in the entire creative process .

Selection and entry into the school

Admission to the school is by selection .

1. Candidates undergo a physical test designed to assess strength, flexibility, endurance, coordination, and acrobatic skills.
2. A theatrical test allows for the evaluation of interpretation skills and artistic expression.
3. An individual interview completes the selection process.
4. Candidates can also present an act in a circus specialty .

The school places as much importance on artistic potential as on physical abilities .

A practical and progressive teaching method

The training uses a practical , progressive and experience- based pedagogy.

• Artistic projects are an important part of learning.
• Personal research is encouraged throughout the course.
• Students regularly present their work in public settings .
• The second year must notably lead to the creation of an individual or collective work .

These experiences allow students to confront the realities of live performance before they leave school.

Professional integration and link with the sector

The CAU explicitly aims to facilitate the professional integration of its students. The curriculum includes production concepts and prepares future artists to develop viable projects.

The school also serves as a meeting place with professional artists and companies. A significant number of the teachers are themselves working artists . This close relationship allows students to remain directly connected to the contemporary realities of the industry.

The CAU workspaces

The CAU has several workspaces. Its main location is in Ogíjares , in the Granada metropolitan area.

• The main hall has over 400 m2 and a height of approximately eight meters. It is equipped to accommodate various circus techniques, including the flying trapeze .
• An additional 300 m2 is dedicated to dance work.
• The space also includes changing rooms, a workshop, offices and areas for students.
• It can be transformed into a performance space for student presentations and guest companies.

The school also uses partner spaces dedicated in particular to dance and movement arts.

Artistic residencies and professional development

The CAU also develops artistic residencies . These programs extend training by offering opportunities for research, creation, and professional development.

The curriculum explicitly presents training as a step preceding professional development pathways , residencies , and research programs associated with the CAU project. The school thus maintains a direct link between training and professional integration.

The CAU Festival – Circo y Artes Urbanas

The project also develops the CAU Festival – Circo y Artes Urbanas . Created from the school, this festival is dedicated to contemporary circus, creation and new forms of stage writing.

• It gives significant importance to new creations and artistic research .
• The festival also contributes to increasing the visibility of contemporary circus among the public.

The social dimension of creation

The social dimension is also part of the CAU's identity. The school aims to train artists capable of understanding the social context in which they develop their work.

Creation is viewed as an artistic practice that can question and transform society .

Since its creation, several generations of artists have graduated from the CAU and pursued their careers in the professional sector. The school thus directly contributes to the development of a professional contemporary circus community in Andalusia.

A comprehensive project

Today, CAU Granada is a project that brings together professional training , research , creation , residencies , dissemination and a festival .

Its intensive two-year program allows future artists to acquire advanced technical skills while developing their artistic identity , creative autonomy , and ability to integrate into the professional sector of contemporary circus.