Circus in Leon

Presentation

Founded in 2008 , Cirque à Léon is a non-profit circus school based in Santec, Finistère , which now operates across a large area of North Finistère and as far as Côtes-d'Armor. The association offers regular classes at several locations, while also developing workshops, retreats, outreach programs, artistic creation, and performance programming.

• Santec
• Morlaix
• Sibiril
• Lesneven
• Lanmeur
• Lannion

Cirque à Léon is accredited by the FFEC for amateur practice under number 29314 and belongs to the FREC Bretagne. The school also holds accreditation from the Ministry of Youth and Popular Education and from the Finistère Academic Inspectorate. The association is also recognized as being of general interest.

The project's story begins with Céline Levadoux and Christophe , both trained at Alain Fratellini's circus school. After creating their circus-theater company in 2002, they settled in Brittany and dedicated their artistic experience to passing on the circus arts. The Cirque à Léon association was founded in 2008.

Since then, the project has grown considerably. The school now brings together several hundred practitioners and has a professional team made up of educators who themselves have artistic experience in the circus.

Pedagogy

Teaching is based on a non-competitive approach. The school aims to develop physical skills through play and to support the personal development of each student. Autonomy and mutual support are two essential pillars of its pedagogy.

Each child, teenager, or adult is thus encouraged to progress at their own pace. The goal is not to compare performances but to allow each person to discover their potential, develop their creativity, and gradually find their own way of practicing circus arts.

• Juggling : develops coordination, precision, concentration, rhythm and relationship to the object.
• Balancing on objects : allows you to work on positioning, proprioception and body control.
• Acrobatics : explores the possibilities of the body in space.
• Aerial disciplines : allow you to experience suspension, height and movement.
• Stagecraft : gradually transforms a circus technique into an artistic medium, by working on presence, gaze, intention and relationship with the audience.

In addition to this multidisciplinary approach, Cirque à Léon develops several specialized workshops . The school notably offers specializations in aerial disciplines, street arts, and monobasket , an original team sport combining unicycle and ball games.

The association also offers exam preparation for young people wishing to pursue higher education in circus arts. Several former students have become professional artists, are continuing their studies, or work in the circus industry.

Public and interventions

The practice is open to an extremely wide audience: the association announces that it welcomes children from 6 months old , as well as older children, teenagers, and adults. The school responds to individual requests as well as group projects and works particularly in schools and specialized institutions .

Teaching staff

The teaching team brings together complementary profiles, trained and experienced in the field of circus and performing arts.

• Céline and Christophe : trained at Alain Fratellini's school, have been teaching since 2008.
• Anthony : joined the team in 2021 after being a student and then a trainer at the Orge Circus School.
• Fiona : Breton-speaking facilitator, arrived in 2022 after training at Dédale de Clown and a stint at La Volière.
• Joseph : an accomplished juggler, joined the school in 2024 after teaching in Reunion Island with Cirquez Décalé.
• Maïwenn : former student of Cirque à Léon, has been teaching since the start of the 2025 academic year and also teaches in Breton.

The team boasts several professional qualifications: Christophe holds a BPJEPS (Brevet Professionnel de la Jeunesse, de l'Éducation Populaire et du Sport) in Circus Activities , Céline a BIAC (Brevet d'Initiative d'Animateur Technicien), Anthony has a double degree in STAPS (Sciences et Techniques des Activités Physiques et Sportives), and several members hold the TIAC (Titre Intervenant en Activités Physiques et Technique). The association also regularly hosts young people in civic service.

The possibility of practicing and transmitting circus arts in the Breton language is a strong feature of Cirque à Léon, particularly present in some workshops and summer camps.

Internships, stays and big top

Holiday camps are designed as times for recreational discovery or in-depth learning. Every summer, Cirque à Léon sets up its big top on Dossen beach in Santec , transforming the site into a temporary school, a creative space, and a cultural venue.

Children and teenagers can participate in workshops under a big top. Parent-child workshops, specialized programs, and masterclasses led by professional artists are also organized.

• In 2026: aerial silks master class with the company Les 2 Dames au Volant.
• In 2026: mini flying trapeze master class with Pierre Lucas and Titouan, with the participation of P'tit Cirk.

Summer 2026 also marked the launch of the first Circus holiday camps in Léon , combining intensive practice under the big top, camping at Dossen, beach, maritime forest, large games, evenings, shows and cinema.

A stay for 8-12 year olds entirely in Breton was organised, with the support of the VACAF schemes, Pass Colo and departmental aid intended for young people from Finistère.

The big top also plays a vital role in cultural dissemination . Every summer, Cirque à Léon organizes more than twenty artistic events open to the public.

The " À Bout de Chap' " program combines circus performances, film screenings, concerts, and open mic nights for emerging and local artists. For a few months, the big top becomes a temporary cultural venue set up right next to the beach.

Creation and companies

The close relationship between the school and professional artists is a key characteristic of Cirque à Léon. Students can attend shows, meet artists, and participate in masterclasses related to the productions presented under the big top.

The association supports young artists through Le Cri du Léon , a troupe of talented young people from the school. Throughout the year, participants have dedicated time for work and creation to develop a show presented in the summer under a big top and outside of Santec.

• 2022: I am too many
• 2023: Insania
• 2024: Cypress of You
• 2025: The Caravan Wedding

Networks and events

Cirque à Léon actively participates in circus school networks. Its students take part in the FFEC's Regional and National Meetings . The school was notably represented at the Brittany 2026 Regional Meetings at Cirque Métropole.

• Rouerig Patati Festival
• Le Chap' Festival – brass bands and circus
• Outings to contemporary circus shows
• Tour of the island of Batz by unicycle

This diversity sums up the identity of the project: Cirque à Léon seeks to build around practitioners a true circus culture , made up of practice, shows, meetings, creation, festivals and collective experiences.