CiRK'eT'CéTéRa
CiRK'eT'CéTéRa is a circus school based in Oloron-Sainte-Marie, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department (64) , which also offers classes in Bidos and Bedous. Accessible from age 2 in family workshops and with no upper age limit, it offers a progressive introduction to the major branches of circus arts: juggling and object manipulation, object balancing, acrobatics, partner acrobatics, aerial disciplines, expression, play, and choreography , with swinging trapeze also available upon request. The school's teaching approach is centered on confidence, autonomy, creativity, and respect for each individual's pace. It also works with nurseries, schools, after-school programs, and specific audiences within the framework of inclusive and adapted circus arts, and can support activity leaders, future students of professional schools, and artists.
64400 Oloron-Sainte-Marie
CiRK'eT'CéTéRa — circus school in Haut-Béarn
CiRK'eT'CéTéRa is a circus school based in Oloron-Sainte-Marie, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department , which also operates in several towns in the Haut-Béarn region, notably Bidos, Bedous, and Oloron-Sainte-Marie . The association offers circus arts activities accessible from early childhood to adulthood, with a particular focus on personal development, creativity, autonomy, and inclusion .
Founder and background
The school project is closely linked to the career of Mathilde Demangeat – Aït Hmid , a circus artist and educator. After several years of experience in teaching and creating, she settled in the Aspe Valley in 2020 and gradually developed artistic workshops in the area. Requests from her students then led to the creation of a full-fledged circus school in Oloron-Sainte-Marie within the CiRK'eT'CéTéRa association.
Mathilde holds the BPJEPS Circus Activities qualification and completed her training leading to the State Diploma for Circus Teachers in 2025. Her training has allowed her to enrich her practice with several major institutions in the circus world, including the National Circus Arts Centre (CNAC), the ENACR in Rosny-sous-Bois, the Fratellini Academy, the Studio Léotard – Victor Formine Circus School and the National Circus School of Montreal .
Pedagogy
This experience informs a teaching approach that goes beyond purely technical performance. CiRK'eT'CéTéRa views circus disciplines as tools that allow each individual to discover their abilities, encounter difficulties, and then learn to overcome them. Gradually mastering a movement, a balance, or a figure helps build self-esteem while fostering an understanding that each participant possesses their own unique aptitudes and learning pace.
Subjects taught
- Object manipulation and juggling
- Balances on objects
- Aerial equipment
- Acrobatics
- Body balances
- Doors
- Play and expression
- Choreographic work
The school also offers specific instruction in swinging trapeze, an aerial discipline for which courses can be organised on request.
Educational pathways and target audiences
Children can thus gradually discover different ways of juggling, manipulating objects, working on their balance, moving on apparatus, practicing acrobatics, or building a physical relationship with a partner through lifts. As technical mastery progresses, the work can be enriched by expression, movement, and choreography in order to transform learning into genuine artistic expression.
Entry into this world can begin very early. Family workshops are available for children as young as two , allowing them to participate with their parents and siblings. Adults are not simply there to supervise: they actively participate in the activities, assist the younger children, and directly share their circus discoveries. These sessions foster both motor skills development and the parent-child bond.
From the age of four or five , learning gradually becomes more independent. The sessions are based on fun group exercises and progressive activities adapted to the children's abilities. The aim is to foster harmonious development by multiplying motor and artistic experiences without imposing a logic of competition or premature performance.
For older children, teenagers, and adults, the workshops offer an opportunity to explore the different branches of circus arts and gradually develop greater independence. The 2026-2027 season includes groups for 5-6 year olds, 7 year olds and older, teenagers and adults , as well as family workshops.
2026-2027 Season — Venues and Organization
For the 2026-2027 season , CiRK'eT'CéTéRa is expanding its courses to three locations:
- Bidos — classes for children on Wednesdays
- Bedous — courses for children, teenagers and adults
- Oloron-Sainte-Marie — monthly gatherings for young children and families
- Swinging trapeze lessons available upon request
This multi-site implementation corresponds to the territorial vocation of the project: to bring circus arts closer to the inhabitants of Haut-Béarn , including in rural areas.
Artistic creation and performances
CiRK'eT'CéTéRa's teaching method also places great importance on artistic creation . Circus arts are not seen as a simple succession of technical feats. Play, expression, choreographic research, and the development of personal projects allow students to learn to use their skills to communicate an intention and develop their own unique style.
- Harleen and the New World — 2022
- Circus Jocus Pyreneus — 2023
- The Merry-Go-Round of the Gods — 2026
- Participation in the Fête de la Musique in Oloron-Sainte-Marie — June 2026
The school also seeks to create bridges with the professional world. Between 2023 and 2025, young artists trained through educational projects notably spent several weeks on tour with the Cirque Morello and participated in the show with their own acts. Other projects allowed students to experience different artistic and professional environments.
Actions, interventions and training
- Interventions with very young children in nurseries and early childhood centers
- Activities in schools, after-school programs, leisure centers and themed stays
- Workshops designed for children, teenagers and adults
- Training and professional support: training for facilitators, preparation for a professional circus school, support for artists
- Possibility of opening training spaces to artists (as provided for in the association's regulations)
Inclusive and adapted circus
Particular attention is paid to inclusive and adapted circus arts . The school can develop programs for specific audiences and group settings such as residential care homes and nursing homes. The activities are designed based on the participants' abilities and adapted to the group's needs.
This approach aligns with CiRK'eT'CéTéRa's general philosophy: differences in ability are not considered an obstacle to practice. On the contrary, the diversity of circus disciplines allows us to seek out situations in which everyone can experiment, progress, and succeed.
The school also plays a role in arts and cultural education . Projects may combine circus arts practice with the exploration of circus history or other artistic disciplines. Visual arts, in particular, may be integrated into these activities to enrich the imagination and understanding of the circus world.
Through its regular classes, family workshops, school programs, inclusive projects, artistic creations, and mentoring, CiRK'eT'CéTéRa offers a particularly broad approach to circus arts . From 2-year-olds discovering their first somersaults with their parents to adult amateurs, including young people wishing to deepen their practice or prepare for a career path, everyone can find a place suited to their age, experience, and goals.
The school ultimately champions a circus in which learning, creating, and growing are intimately linked . Juggling, object manipulation, balances, acrobatics, lifts, aerial apparatus, swinging trapeze, expression, and choreography become all means of developing physical abilities, confidence, imagination, autonomy, and relationships with others.
