Créacirque – Namur Circus School

Créacirque is the Circus School of Namur. Created in 1994, it has been developing a teaching dedicated to the different families of circus arts for more than thirty years and today welcomes its students in a room of the Sainte-Marie Institute in Jambes.

A four-dimensional project

His project is based on four dimensions emphasized by the school: creativity , sharing , performance , and aesthetics . Technical learning is therefore seen as a foundation that gradually allows students to explore, create, and develop genuine artistic expression.

A multidisciplinary approach

To discover the world of circus as a whole, Créacirque offers multidisciplinary courses . These allow you to explore different facets of the circus by combining balance, juggling, aerial disciplines, acrobatics and acting.

This approach allows practitioners to discover several technical families before gradually developing their preferences and, if they wish, joining more specialized courses.

The subjects taught

Acrobatics

Acrobatics is one of the main areas of teaching. It is approached as an art of movement and risk management, allowing the development of flexibility , muscle tone , reflexes , spatial awareness and body awareness .

The program includes floor exercises, pyramids, and acrobatic partner work. The training can therefore be individual or group-based, with a significant emphasis on trust and cooperation between partners.

Juggling

Juggling also has specific courses. It is considered a manipulation skill requiring precision , coordination and regularity , but the objective does not stop at technical mastery.

Once the basic skills are acquired, the school aims to place the juggler in a creative situation. The objects and techniques learned then become tools for imagining and building a personal performance.

The unicycle

Unicycling is another important specialty at Créacirque. The school has a group of advanced unicyclists who explore the discipline beyond simple transportation.

Participants can work on group choreography but also discover more specialized forms such as unicycle trials or unicycle basketball. The unicycle thus becomes a medium for collective creation as well as an exercise in balance and dexterity.

Aerial disciplines

Aerial disciplines also occupy an important place. Instruction includes, in particular, the fixed trapeze , rope , silks and aerial hoop .

These practices require the participant to learn to orient themselves in space and to gradually manage the apprehension related to height and risk, while developing strength , mobility and body control .

The large trampoline

The large trampoline also offers specific instruction. Practitioners learn the fundamental figures before progressing to more complex movements involving rotations and changes of position.

The balances

Balances are practiced in several forms. Créacirque specifically mentions hand balances , cable balancing, and acrobatic partnering , allowing for the exploration of both individual mastery and working with a partner.

The acting

Acting complements this technical training. It allows students to explore stage presence, to play and to research a character in order to integrate a true theatrical dimension into circus practice.

Levels and free training

Several disciplines are organized according to different levels. The beginner level is dedicated to acquiring the basics, while the advanced groups allow participants to refine their skills and explore more advanced techniques.

Créacirque also offers open training sessions. These spaces allow practitioners who already possess a certain level of autonomy to work on the technique of their choice and develop their own research.

The progression offered by the school can thus lead from an initial multidisciplinary discovery to a much more specialized practice, and then to a process of personal research and creation.

The scenic dimension

The performance aspect is an integral part of the project. Students present their work in shows, allowing them to compare the learning acquired during classes with the experience of the public.

Internships, schools and events

In addition to annual courses, Créacirque organizes workshops and various one-off activities around circus arts.

The school also works directly with educational institutions. It offers half-day introductory sessions, full-day sessions, or projects organized over several sessions .

In these projects, children can discover different circus equipment and techniques before delving deeper into specific practices. Projects organized over several sessions can culminate in the creation of a show.

Créacirque also participates in events and demonstrations by offering introductory spaces allowing the public to discover juggling, balancing, unicycling, acrobatics and other circus techniques.

A comprehensive school in Namur

After more than thirty years of activity, Créacirque has become a particularly comprehensive school for the Namur region. The diversity of its disciplines, its different levels, its specialized courses, its open training sessions, and the importance placed on creation allow it to support both the discovery of circus arts and the development of in-depth technical and artistic practice.