Cirq'Hop

Presentation

Founded in 2004, Cirq'Hop is a non-profit circus school located in the Grésivaudan Valley in Isère. Its activities primarily take place at the Salle Jean Vilar in Villard-Bonnot, in Brignoud, and at Le Cube in Bernin. The association currently has over 120 members and offers circus arts programs accessible from infancy to adulthood.

Implants

• Jean Vilar Hall in Villard-Bonnot
• Brignoud
• Cube in Bernin

Staff and audience

The association now has over 120 members and offers circus arts activities accessible from a child's first steps to adulthood.

Teaching and disciplines

The teaching is intentionally multidisciplinary. Practitioners can discover and explore numerous disciplines in greater depth:

• trapeze
• aerial fabric
• juggling
• diabolo
• acrobatics
• jumps
• thread
• mast
• balance ball
• unicycle
• different forms of balance

Specialized workshops occasionally allow participants to delve deeper into certain practices, particularly unicycling or aerial disciplines such as trapeze, silks and hoop.

Pedagogy and artistic creation

The teaching approach goes beyond simply acquiring technical skills. Lessons are tailored to the age and skill level of the groups and also aim to develop flexibility, motor skills, coordination, critical thinking, confidence, cooperation, and consideration for others. Artistic creation is an integral part of the program: students gradually learn to invent and structure a story, work on staging, and create a performance.

Groups and supervision

Groups are generally made up of 8 to 12 participants per instructor. Instruction is notably provided by Vincent Biichlé , holder of the Circus Arts Instructor Certificate – BIAC.

Recommended start times and time slots

Circus skills are introduced very early thanks to Baby Circus, which is accessible even for children who can walk. Classes then follow children, teenagers, and adults. For young people from middle school onwards, the association particularly recommends certain time slots at the Salle Jean Vilar in Brignoud, whose size allows for more work with the apparatus at height.

2026-2027 Season

For the 2026-2027 season, classes resume the week of September 14, 2026 and continue until June 2027. They are organized from Monday to Saturday, mainly in Villard-Bonnot and Bernin.

• Resumption: week of September 14, 2026
• End: June 2027
• Organization: Monday to Saturday
• Main locations: Villard-Bonnot and Bernin

The season ends with several end-of-year shows scheduled in June, allowing students to present to their families the work done during the year.

Internships

Cirq'Hop also organizes circus workshops during each school holiday period. Open to children and teenagers from 4 years old, they allow participants to discover or deepen their skills in different disciplines in a fun and group atmosphere.

The training camps generally last five days, with full-day or mini-camps combining half-days and full days. The practice days are structured around warm-ups, group acrobatics, and workshops allowing children to choose and experiment with several disciplines.

• General duration: five days
• Options: full courses or mini-courses (half-days and full days)
• Day's schedule: warm-ups, group acrobatics, optional workshops

Creative project during internship

When the schedule allows, the week gradually transforms into a genuine creative project. Participants choose a theme, develop a script, prepare the staging, and rehearse their acts before a dress rehearsal. A performance is then presented to families on Friday afternoon.

Pace and reception

The organization of the camps also takes into account the children's individual rhythms. Quiet time is scheduled during the lunch break, with books, drawing materials, and opportunities to rest. Children can bring their own packed lunches for lunch, and optional before- and after-school care is available.

Internship Calendar

The 2026-2027 season includes workshops during the All Saints' Day, Christmas, winter and spring breaks, as well as in July. This regular schedule makes Cirq'Hop a particularly active organization during school holidays.

One-off workshops and appointments

In addition to classes and workshops, the association organizes occasional workshops. Unicycling, in particular, is the focus of dedicated discovery and improvement days. Aerial workshops also allow participants to work on the trapeze, silks, and aerial hoop. Parent-child sessions are regularly offered to allow families to discover circus arts together.

External interventions

Cirq'Hop also performs outside its own venues through partnerships and events. The association has experience performing with its own equipment and occasionally participates in events organized in the Grésivaudan region.

Non-profit organization

Cirq'Hop operates through a team of volunteers. Claire Vautrin is currently the president. The volunteer team participates in organizing activities, registrations, events, and the general running of the association.

Conclusion

Cirq'Hop is thus a well-established amateur circus school in the Grésivaudan valley. Its project combines technical training, the discovery of a wide range of disciplines, creativity, cooperation, and the production of shows.

From Baby Circus to adult classes, from holiday camps to unicycle or aerial workshops, the association allows participants to discover and then develop their circus arts in a group setting. Its locations in Villard-Bonnot and Bernin enable it to serve several towns in the Grésivaudan Valley.