Circoball
Founded in 1993 in La Roche-sur-Yon, Circoballe is an amateur circus arts association open to children, teenagers and adults. It offers juggling, object balancing, aerial silks, acrobatics and theatre, as well as open practice, workshops and show creation projects.
Siège administratif : Pôle associatif, 71 boulevard Aristide-Briand, boîte 120, 85000 La Roche-sur-Yon
Circoballe is an association dedicated to the practice and transmission of circus arts in La Roche-sur-Yon, Vendée. Created in 1993 by Laurence Busson, it has been developing artistic and cultural activities for children, young people and adults for over thirty years.
The association welcomes around forty members each year, ranging in age from 6 years old to adults. Its project is based on learning circus techniques, amateur practice, exchanges between practitioners, and artistic creation.
Historical disciplines
Juggling has historically been one of Circoballe's main disciplines. Participants can discover or refine various object manipulation techniques.
Balancing on objects is another important aspect of the association. Throughout its history, Circoballe has notably offered the practice of the balance ball , the tightrope , the American roller and the unicycle .
Aerial practices have been added to these historical disciplines. Aerial silks now occupies a clearly identified place in Circoballe's offerings, with specific supervised courses as well as time slots allowing practitioners to continue their training.
Acrobatics is also one of the circus techniques developed by the association since its creation.
Circoballe finally combines circus training with a dimension of expression and creation. Theatre is now among the activities offered by the association and allows for a complement to technical work with an approach more focused on stage presence and artistic development.
Free practice, a unique feature of Circoballe
One of the distinctive features of Circoballe lies in the space given to free practice .
Adults can have designated time slots during which they can train independently. This system encourages interaction between practitioners and allows everyone to develop the disciplines that interest them at their own pace.
A specific aerial circus course complements this independent practice for adults wishing to benefit from supervised instruction.
The association offers two free trial sessions to allow new practitioners to discover how it works and its activities.
Artistic creation and performances
Artistic creation is an integral part of Circoballe's identity.
The very purpose of the association includes not only the initiation and improvement of circus techniques, but also the creation and dissemination of amateur and professional shows .
This artistic dimension is particularly evident in the shows developed by the association.
"The Sound of Balls" is an original creation blending juggling , music , poetry , and humor . Designed for all audiences, the show can be presented both indoors and outdoors.
Interventions, initiations and courses
Circoballe also develops intervention and initiation projects outside of its regular workshops.
The association participates in local events, cultural events and activities to introduce circus arts to new audiences.
His teaching experience allows him to offer introductions to different techniques, particularly around juggling and balancing .
Internships complement the regular workshops.
They allow for a more intensive approach to circus arts over a set period and are among the activities listed by the City of La Roche-sur-Yon for the association.
A story of supporting practitioners
Circoballe also has a particular history of supporting practitioners wishing to deepen their training.
Over the years, some students who started their practice in the association have gone on to higher education or a professional career in circus arts.
An amateur practice structure
This story does not transform Circoballe into a professional training program: its current activity remains that of an amateur and recreational practice structure. It does, however, demonstrate that a practice begun within the association can be developed over several years and serve as a foundation for a more advanced artistic path.
A human scale and a place for exchange.
The association maintains a relatively human size, with around forty members welcomed each year.
This dimension promotes encounters between practitioners and corresponds to one of Circoballe's historical objectives: to offer not only technical workshops, but also a place for artistic and cultural exchanges .
Children can discover the basics of circus arts from the age of 6 , while teenagers can continue and deepen their practice.
Adults have access to free practice slots and specific instruction in aerial circus arts .
This coexistence of different ages and levels allows for continuity between discovery, regular practice and amateur improvement.
Practical information
The main location is at the Laennec hall , rue de la Vergne in La Roche-sur-Yon.
Circoballe also has an administrative headquarters at the Pôle associatif in La Roche-sur-Yon.
A community project focused on discovery, practice and creation
After more than thirty years of existence, Circoballe continues an association project focused on the discovery , practice and creation around circus arts.
- Juggling
- Acrobatics
- Balances on objects
- Aerial fabric
- Theater
Courses for young people, workshops for adults, free practice, internships, interventions and the creation of shows complement this activity.
Circoballe is thus a human-sized, community-based amateur circus school , deeply rooted in the cultural life of La Roche-sur-Yon, allowing both a first discovery and regular practice and improvement over several years.
