Cirk'en Z'ailes

Cirk'en z'ailes is the circus school of Club Vert AAEP , an association based in Auxerre, in the Yonne department. Club Vert occupies a four-hectare site on the banks of the Yonne River, in a natural setting dedicated to leisure, sports, and educational activities. The circus school is now one of the organization's main activity centers, alongside the Gulli'Vert leisure center and the various sports activities offered on the site.

A circus school established in 1994

The history of Cirk'en z'ailes dates back to 1994, the year the circus school and the Club Vert association were founded. In 2000, various organizations, including Club Vert, the AAEP (Association for the Promotion of Circus Arts), the circus school, and the leisure center, were brought together under the umbrella of Club Vert AAEP. The school thus benefits from over thirty years of experience in teaching and introducing circus arts in Auxerre. Today, Cirk'en z'ailes is presented by Club Vert as the only circus school in the Yonne department accredited by the FFEC (French Federation of Circus Schools).

A veritable big top dedicated to the circus arts

One of Cirk'en z'ailes ' distinctive features is offering its activities in a heated big top, allowing students to develop in an environment directly associated with the circus world. The building and big top dedicated to the school constitute a fully-fledged public venue for circus arts. A safety inspection conducted in 2025 confirmed its continued openness to the public, with a total capacity of 149 people . This facility allows the school to offer a wide variety of disciplines, including those requiring specific equipment such as aerial arts and trampoline.

A practice starting from 18 months

Cirk'en z'ailes stands out for the wide range of ages it welcomes. The school presents its offerings as accessible from 18 months to 77 years old , in other words, from early childhood to adulthood. The youngest children can begin with a parent-child workshop designed for children aged 18 months to two and a half years. This initial introduction allows them to gradually discover movement, space, and equipment in the presence of an adult.

• Children's groups organized by age range: 3-5 years , 6-7 years , 8-9 years , 10-12 years then 13-16 years .
• Specific courses are also offered to adults.
• This organization allows the duration, content and requirements of the sessions to be adapted to the development and abilities of the participants.

Balances on objects

The school offers a comprehensive introduction to object balancing , one of the major traditional disciplines within circus arts. These disciplines allow for the gradual development of balance, coordination, concentration, and body control. They also require perseverance: progress often involves numerous attempts before a movement or position can be stabilized.

• Balance ball
• Thread
• Rola-bola
• Unicycle
• Stilts

Aerial disciplines

Thanks to its equipment, Cirk'en z'ailes can also offer various aerial disciplines. Students thus discover another dimension of circus arts, in which work on strength, flexibility and coordination is gradually accompanied by a familiarization with heights.

• Trapeze
• Smooth rope
• Ribbon

Acrobatics and trampoline

Acrobatics is also one of the fundamental disciplines taught at Cirk'en z'ailes . It is practiced on the ground as well as using small and large trampolines. Students can thus develop their motor skills, muscle tone, and body awareness before progressing to more complex movements.

Juggling and manipulation

Juggling is another essential element of the learning process. The variety of equipment allows each practitioner to discover several types of manipulation and potentially develop a preference for certain props. Juggling notably contributes to the development of hand-eye coordination, rhythm, concentration, and perseverance.

• Balls
• Chinese plates
• Diabolos
• Clubs

Mime, clowning and acting

Cirk'en z'ailes doesn't limit its teaching to the physical techniques of the circus. The school also places importance on acting and stage presence. Students can work on mime, clowning, and short skits. This dimension is important because it allows students to connect mastering an apparatus or technique to creating a full-fledged act.

Effort, courage and self-improvement

Cirk'en z'ailes ' educational approach combines the world of circus arts with values such as effort, courage, discipline, and pushing one's limits. Learning to juggle, ride a unicycle, walk a tightrope, or perform an acrobatic feat requires time and numerous repetitions. The ultimate goal, however, is for everyone to find a discipline in which they enjoy progressing and expressing themselves.

Courses also available for adults

Unlike some schools primarily geared towards children, Cirk'en z'ailes maintains a genuine offering for adults. For the 2025-2026 season, a two-hour weekly class was specifically dedicated to them. The school thus allows adults to begin or continue their circus arts training in the same environment as the other groups.

Interventions with schools

Cirk'en z'ailes ' activities extend beyond the weekly classes held under the big top. The school welcomes classes from preschool through middle school. It can also travel directly to schools. This outreach capability allows children and teenagers who don't necessarily attend school to discover circus arts as part of their leisure activities. Projects can thus be integrated into educational programs developed in partnership with schools.

Leisure centers and groups

Cirk'en z'ailes also works with leisure centers and camps. This activity fits naturally within the environment of Club Vert, which itself has Gulli'Vert , its own leisure center for children aged 3 to 13. Activities offered at Gulli'Vert include, in particular, discovering the world of the circus. This close relationship between the circus school and the leisure center facilitates connections between circus practice, community outreach, and adult education.

Shows for different occasions

The school can also offer performances put on by its staff or by the children themselves. These performances can be organized for events such as Christmas parties or school celebrations. Performing in front of an audience gives an artistic dimension to the technical skills learned and allows participants to experience being on stage.

Birthdays themed around circus arts

Cirk'en z'ailes also offers a birthday party package for children, centered around circus arts. A 1.5-hour workshop allows a group of up to twelve children to explore different circus skills under the guidance of a professional instructor. Afterwards, a space is made available for families to host a birthday party. This package provides another entry point into circus arts for children who aren't necessarily enrolled for the year.

A school integrated into a larger community project

Cirk'en z'ailes also has the unique distinction of being part of a larger organization offering a wide range of other activities. Club Vert is a relaxation, sports, and leisure center nestled in four hectares of green space on the banks of the Yonne River. In addition to the circus school and leisure center, it develops various sporting activities and provides spaces for meetings and events. This location allows the circus school to be part of a broader community project focused on leisure, education, and sports and artistic practice.

After more than thirty years in existence, Cirk'en z'ailes has become a major player in amateur circus arts in the Yonne region. Its big top, its affiliation with the FFEC (French Federation of Circus Arts), the diversity of disciplines offered, and its openness to audiences ranging from young children to adults allow it to offer a particularly comprehensive introduction to circus arts in Auxerre.