Cirqu’Conflex – Anderlecht social circus school

Cirqu'Conflex is a Brussels-based association specializing in the transmission of circus arts and the development of social circus. Located in Anderlecht, it has been developing an educational project since 1994 that combines circus practice, creativity, intercultural encounters and civic participation.

The story of Cirqu'Conflex

The story of Cirqu'Conflex began in 1991 with Vincent Bouzin , a social worker and circus enthusiast.

At that time, he worked in an open-environment support service located in the Cureghem district of Anderlecht. Wishing to reach out to young people and engage more with public spaces, he began using circus techniques as a means of animation and exchange.

An initial workshop was organized during a summer youth program. Due to the interest it generated, the activity became weekly and new groups were gradually created.

Requests from other associations and schools increased, leading to the official creation of Cirqu'Conflex in November 1994 .

Since that date, the structure has developed while maintaining a particular philosophy: to consider the circus as a tool for education , social integration , personal development and emancipation .

Cirqu'Conflex is now accredited as a Centre for Expression and Creativity and a Youth Centre .

It welcomes a very diverse public, from children as young as 8 to adults and seniors, without distinction of origin, background or level of practice.

His approach is based on the idea that circus arts constitute a formidable field for individual and collective experimentation, in which competition gives way to self-improvement , cooperation and solidarity .

The subjects taught

The association offers weekly workshops dedicated to different circus disciplines.

Juggling

Juggling plays an important role in the teaching, particularly the manipulation of balls and clubs . Participants develop their coordination, concentration, precision, and sense of rhythm.

Balance techniques

Balance techniques constitute another aspect of learning.

Students can discover, among other things, the unicycle , the balance ball , the cable and the rolla-bolla .

Acrobatics

Acrobatics is also widely represented, with workshops to develop body control, coordination and teamwork.

More specific courses allow for in-depth study of dynamic and static acrobatic techniques, as well as acrodance .

Aerial arts

Aerial arts are an integral part of Cirqu'Conflex's programming.

Participants can discover aerial silks , trapeze , hoop and rope , with sessions adapted to different levels.

An essential artistic dimension

The artistic dimension occupies a place as important as technical learning.

The association offers workshops in clowning , physical theatre , circus arts creation and movement exploration .

Students are encouraged to experiment, invent, and gradually build their own artistic language.

Some workshops combine several disciplines in a collective creative approach, allowing simultaneous work on juggling, acrobatics, balance and stage expression.

The school also offers more original activities, such as workshops combining stilts and theatre , or research combining aerial disciplines, dance and memory .

This diversity allows participants to discover the circus in very different forms and to find the techniques that correspond to their desires.

A suitable teaching method

The groups are intentionally limited in order to encourage interaction and allow for tailored support.

Cirqu'Conflex's teaching method prioritizes personal progress , creativity and mutual support rather than the exclusive pursuit of technical performance.

Internships and independent practice space

In addition to regular classes, the association organizes workshops during school holidays.

These workshops allow participants to discover various circus techniques or to deepen their knowledge of a specific practice in a more intensive setting.

Cirqu'Conflex also has a space for exchanges and meetings dedicated to independent practice.

Participants can use the association's various rooms, including a large juggling and acrobatics room, a bodywork room, and a room equipped for aerial disciplines.

Equipment is provided: apparatus , landing mat , balance wire and various circus equipment.

This space promotes encounters between amateur and experienced practitioners as well as the sharing of knowledge.

A fundamental social dimension

The social dimension is one of the fundamental characteristics of Cirqu'Conflex.

The association develops partnerships with schools, cultural centers, youth centers, homework clubs, local missions and various socio-cultural structures in the Brussels Region.

These collaborations make it possible to use the circus as an educational tool for very diverse audiences.

Projects can take the form of weekly workshops, internships or interventions tailored to the needs of partner organizations.

The performances are generally built jointly by a Cirqu'Conflex facilitator and a professional from the partner organization, in order to combine circus skills and knowledge of the audience.

Reflection and transmission around the social circus

The organization also develops significant work in reflection and transmission around social circus.

She is notably the author of the educational work " The social circus: an educational tool accessible to all ", which presents her approach and the different possibilities of using the circus in the educational, cultural and social sectors.

Since 2017 , Cirqu'Conflex has also offered specific training dedicated to social circus .

Aimed at facilitators, educators, teachers, social workers, artists and other professionals, this training allows you to discover how to integrate circus techniques and teaching methods into different professional contexts.

Youth center and artists' residence

The association also develops a genuine Youth Centre activity, with meeting spaces, cultural outings, collective projects and various artistic activities.

It also hosts artists in residence and makes some of its premises available to other associations.

Financial accessibility

Finally, financial accessibility is an important element of his project.

Cirqu'Conflex is developing a solidarity scheme called " Suspend your circus ", which helps to finance activities for people who do not have the necessary resources.