ENACR

Presentation

The National Circus Arts School of Rosny-sous-Bois, better known as ENACR, is one of the historic institutions for circus arts education in France. Located in Rosny-sous-Bois, in Seine-Saint-Denis, it now develops a particularly comprehensive program combining preparatory training for circus professions, university diploma, teacher training, amateur practice, professional training, internships, creation, shows and cultural activities.

History

The school's history began in 1983 with Bernard Turin and a group of enthusiasts, with the support of the Rosny-sous-Bois municipality. The project initially stemmed from a desire to offer aerial arts activities to adults. The curriculum then expanded to include children and gradually became multidisciplinary.

From 1986 onwards, the school developed a more structured training program and distinguished itself through a renewed approach to circus arts, both in its teaching methods and its staging. The Rosny-sous-Bois Circus School was founded at the end of the 1980s.

In 1994, Bernard Turin, who was also then head of the National Circus Arts Centre in Châlons-en-Champagne, succeeded Anny Goyer. The institution was entrusted with the Artistic Certificate in Circus Techniques and took the name it still bears today: National Circus Arts School of Rosny-sous-Bois – ENACR .

The big top

ENACR is housed in an impressive 2,340 m² permanent big top village . Designed by architects Patrick Bouchain and Loïc Julienne , this seven-pole structure evokes a large tent or a kite and offers conditions particularly suited to circus arts. It welcomes amateur students, students in training, and professional artists alike.

Preparatory training

The preparatory program is now one of the institution's major focuses. It is aimed at young people aged 17 to 23 who wish to become circus artists and prepare for entry into specialized higher education institutions. The program lasts two years and is now part of the DEUST "Animation and Management of Physical, Sports or Cultural Activities – Circus Arts Track," a national university diploma at the Bac+2 level awarded by the UFR SESS-STAPS of the University of Paris-Est Créteil in partnership with ENACR.

Educational content

The training program is based on a demanding core curriculum that allows students to acquire and consolidate the fundamental technical skills of the circus while progressively developing a specialization. Students work in particular on:

• acrobatics
• trampoline
• balances
• physical preparation
• dance
• singing
• theatrical performance

First year

The first year allows students to explore different disciplines, gradually identify a specialization, and discover the diverse professional realities of the sector. The school covers topics such as social circus, ring management, collective creation, and individual creation. All circus specializations can be considered within this program, with the exception of working with animals, magic, and clowning.

Second year

The second year continues the technical and artistic development with the aim of preparing students for entrance exams to higher education institutions. Each student benefits from academic support that allows them to simultaneously develop their technical skills, their artistic identity, their knowledge of the professional sector, and their ability to create a personal project.

Admission

Admission to this program is based on a competitive examination. The procedure includes several stages:

1. An initial selection was made based on applications.
2. A one-week internship in Rosny-sous-Bois.
3. Participation in group workshops on circus techniques, basic physical skills, physical preparation, dance and play.
4. An individual interview.
5. The presentation of a personal number.

Network and partnerships

ENACR's training program is particularly well-connected to the national and international network of circus schools. The institution is a member of the French Federation of Circus Schools and FEDEC , which classifies it as a preparatory school. This openness allows students to develop in an environment directly linked to higher education institutions and the professional sector.

Teacher training

ENACR is also involved in teacher training. Alongside the National Circus Arts Centre in Châlons-en-Champagne and the Fratellini Academy, it participates in the implementation of the State Diploma for Circus Teachers . This national diploma, level 6 (equivalent to a Bachelor's degree ), is awarded by the Ministry of Culture and registered with the National Directory of Professional Certifications. ENACR thus contributes not only to the training of future artists, but also to that of professionals responsible for teaching circus arts.

Amateur practice

Amateur practice also constitutes a historical and still very important aspect of the project. The school welcomes children from the age of 3 and offers age-appropriate programs:

• 3 years: Baby-Cirk parent-child.
• 4–5 years: introductory workshops to discover the equipment, motor skills, balance and coordination through play.
• 6–9 years: basics of juggling, acrobatics, balances and aerial disciplines.

From age 10 and up, including adolescence

From age 10 onwards, and continuing into adolescence, the possibilities become considerably more specialized. Young people can practice:

• acrobatics and obstacle courses
• thread
• German wheel
• multidisciplinary aerial techniques
• fixed trapeze
• flying trapeze
• aerial hoop
• aerial fabric
• acrobatic lifts
• handstand
• multidisciplinary courses for a cross-disciplinary practice

Adults

Adults have a particularly wide range of options. ENACR notably offers:

• ground acrobatics
• doors
• Parkour and Tricking
• juggling
• German wheel
• aerial techniques
• fixed trapeze
• flying trapeze
• hoop
• trapeze dance
• fabric
• rope
• Chinese pole
• wire
• handstand
• Artistic martial arts classes and stunt basics

This diverse range of disciplines allows the school to cater to both those wishing to discover circus arts for enjoyment and experienced practitioners looking to refine their skills. The amateur classes, however, maintain a high level of artistic rigor: the year culminates in group presentations and performances under the big top.

Inclusion

Inclusion is now explicitly part of the leisure activities program. Since 2023, ENACR has been developing an approach to facilitate the inclusion of children with disabilities in its courses. The team strives to adapt support to each child's needs. The entrance exam for preparatory training can also be adapted for candidates with disabilities, with designated support staff within the institution.

Internships and stays

In addition to regular classes, ENACR organizes workshops during various school holidays. Children and adults can thus discover or further develop their skills in several circus disciplines under the big top. The school also organizes circus camps for children and teenagers.

Support for professional artists

Finally, ENACR serves as a true resource center for professional artists. Its big top is open for open training at certain times, providing artists with a fully equipped space to hone their skills, experiment, and develop new ideas. This initiative directly contributes to supporting artistic creation and the professional life of the circus sector.

Creation and encounters with the public

Creation and interaction with the public also play a vital role. The school produces shows with its students, organizes events under its big top, and develops artistic collaborations with cultural institutions, festivals, universities, and companies. Students are thus regularly exposed to the stage and to professional projects that extend beyond the purely academic realm.

Cultural Partnerships

ENACR maintains links with the University of Paris-Est Créteil, CENTQUATRE-PARIS , and numerous artistic teams. These collaborations can take the form of performances in public spaces, aerial creations, interdisciplinary projects, or participation in major cultural events.

Identity and project

More than forty years after the first courses were organized in Rosny-sous-Bois, ENACR retains a unique identity. It brings together under one big top the first discoveries of the circus at age 3, amateur practice for children and adults, intensive training for future artists, teacher training and professional training.

This ongoing interaction between amateurs, students, and artists is one of its greatest strengths. ENACR views circus arts as an activity accessible to all, a demanding artistic discipline, a space for creation, and a profession. Its mission thus combines knowledge transmission , technical excellence , creativity , inclusion , artistic research , international outreach , and professional development .