Circonove – Escola de Circo de Santiago de Compostela

Circonove is a circus school and creative space located in Santiago de Compostela , Galicia.

The project is managed by the Asociación Sociocultural Circo Nove and is part of the development of contemporary Galician circus.

The structure occupies a large hall dedicated to the training, practice, rehearsals, creation and production of new circus and cabaret shows.

The school was created to address the lack of circus training opportunities in Galicia, which previously forced many young people interested in these disciplines to leave to train in other regions or abroad.

A diverse range of training opportunities

Circonove now offers a particularly diverse regular service.

For children

Children can discover the circus from the age of three thanks to pre-circus classes.

This training uses fine and gross psychomotor skills and respects the developmental pace specific to young children.

Juggling, balancing, ground acrobatics and first aerial experiences are gradually introduced.

From the age of six , various courses allow learning to continue.

• Multidisciplinary workshops offer an introduction to several families of circus techniques.
• Acrobatic gymnastics allows you to work on rolls, jumps, balances, verticals, coordination and various body skills.
• Children progress through several levels adapted to their age and technical skills.

Aerial disciplines for young people

Young people can also specialize in aerial disciplines .

Trapeze, silks, rope, hoop and aerial hammock are among the apparatus used.

The classes combine physical preparation , technique on the different equipment , creation of sequences and mobility work .

Adult education

Adult education is particularly well-developed.

• Students can practice acrobatics and verticals .
• Juggling helps develop coordination, rhythm, and object manipulation.
• Several training courses are dedicated to aerial techniques .

Trapeze, silks, rope, hoop and aerial loop are among the disciplines offered.

Students learn the basic techniques necessary to gradually progress towards a more independent practice.

Physical preparation and flexibility accompany this learning.

Air conditioning and Chinese mast

Circonove also offers specific air conditioning services.

This training is aimed at both amateur acrobats and professionals wishing to improve their physical qualities applicable to different apparatus.

The Chinese pole complements the training program.

This discipline is approached through ascents, figures, descents, physical preparation and body control.

The technical work is complemented by research into movement and the stage use of the apparatus.

Clown and creative laboratory

The clown also features in the program.

Participants work on acting, improvisation, stage presence, spontaneity and audience interaction.

Circonove also offers a laboratory dedicated to the creation of acts.

This space allows both students and professionals to experiment with different creative tools and methodologies.

• The work can lead to the construction of individual or collective numbers .
• The creations can then be presented at galas and events organised by Circonove.

School is therefore not limited to the technical learning of disciplines.

It also seeks to create bridges between learning , artistic research and presentation to the public .

Comprehensive training and scholarships

Circonove also offers a complete training program combining several fundamental circus disciplines.

Physical preparation, clowning, acrobatics, aerial techniques, juggling and verticals can be combined in this course.

Scholarships allow some people with limited economic resources to access this training.

• The awarding process involves auditions .
• In return, the beneficiaries participate in certain tasks necessary for the collective functioning of the place and its events.

A professional teaching team

The teaching is provided by artists and educators who themselves have professional backgrounds in the circus.

Several teachers were trained in specialized institutions in Spain and abroad.

A training ground for professionals

However, training is only one of Circonove's functions.

The facility is also an important training ground for professional artists .

Several dozen professional artists regularly use its facilities.

They have a space that allows them to maintain their physical condition, deepen their techniques and pursue their personal research.

This activity promotes encounters between artists, amateurs, teachers and companies.

The exchange of techniques, knowledge and experiences is part of how the place works.

A player in contemporary creation

Circonove also plays an important role in contemporary creation .

The structure accommodates individual or collective rehearsals and creative processes.

Numerous Galician and foreign companies have used its facilities.

An annual residency program allows companies to reserve different spaces for their research and creations.

Several companies also use Circonove regularly as a workplace.

The project explicitly seeks to meet the needs of Galician creators and emerging companies.

A cultural factory

Circonove thus functions as a true cultural factory dedicated to contemporary circus.

• Artists can train there.
• They can rehearse there.
• They can develop new shows .
• They can also present their research and performances to the public .

The cabarets of Circonove constitute one of the main spaces for meeting with spectators.

They host short acts of acrobatics, juggling, clowning, aerial disciplines, dance and other performing arts.

An educational activity for schoolchildren

The organization also develops a significant educational activity with schools.

Educational visits allow primary and secondary school students to discover the world of the circus.

• Children and teenagers can meet artists and discover their way of life and their work.
• They experiment with different disciplines.
• An artistic demonstration performed by the participants completes the visit.

Circonove works with teachers to prepare tools and teaching units around circus arts.

Camps are also organised during holiday periods.

This activity complements the regular courses offered throughout the year.

An associative and socio-cultural dimension

Finally, Circonove has a strong associative and socio-cultural dimension.

Its operation is based on a community bringing together artists, professionals and practitioners.

Access to training can be facilitated by a scholarship system.

The organization also participates in networks and projects dedicated to socio-educational circus and inclusion .

Training, amateur practice, professional development and artistic creation thus coexist in the same space.

A place for all audiences

• Children can discover the circus from their earliest years.
• Teenagers can explore several techniques in greater depth.
• Adults have access to a particularly diverse range of specialized services.
• Those wishing to develop a more comprehensive practice can combine several fundamental disciplines.
• Professional artists have a permanent place for training and research.
• Companies can benefit from rehearsal spaces and residencies.
• Schools can finally discover the circus as part of dedicated educational activities.