Fontys Academy of the Arts – Circus and Performance Art

Fontys Academy of the Arts is an arts higher education institution located in Tilburg , the Netherlands . Its Circus and Performance Art program offers a four-year professional training course for students wishing to become contemporary circus artists.

Integrated within Fontys University of Applied Sciences , this program delivers a Bachelor of Arts recognized in Dutch higher education.

The school welcomes international students and delivers its courses entirely in English .

Its goal is to train versatile artists, capable of developing a high-level circus technique while building their own artistic identity.

Specialized professional training

The Bachelor of Circus and Performance Art combines in-depth technical training with an artistic creation process.

Each student develops a specialization in a circus discipline, which forms the starting point of their journey.

The teaching allows one to perfect technical skills while exploring the creative possibilities of the chosen discipline.

Students gradually learn to transform their technical skills into a personal artistic language .

The training places great importance on individuality and autonomy .

The educational program can be adapted to the artistic needs and professional goals of the students.

The school thus encourages everyone to develop their own style and to seek new forms of expression.

The circus disciplines taught

Fontys offers training covering several major families of circus arts.

The disciplines offered by the institution include, in particular:

• Juggling and object manipulation .
• Acrobatic lifts and hand-to-hand acrobatics.
• Acrobatics in pairs .
• The swinging trapeze .
• The fixed trapeze .
• The Chinese pole .
• The aerial rope .
• Aerial straps .

Students deepen their main discipline with the guidance of specialist teachers.

Technical exercises help develop the strength, coordination, precision and body control necessary for professional practice.

Aerial disciplines require, in particular, appropriate physical preparation, while acrobatic lifts rely on communication and trust between partners.

The training also allows for the exploration of different approaches to movement and performance.

A multidisciplinary arts education

One of Fontys' distinctive features is its integration into a major arts academy.

The Tilburg campus brings together seventeen artistic programs in fields such as music, dance, theatre, circus, design and visual arts.

This environment fosters encounters and collaborations between students from different disciplines.

Future circus artists can thus enrich their practice through exchanges with other forms of artistic expression.

The goal is to go beyond simple technical demonstration to develop personal stage proposals .

Students are encouraged to experiment, to explore new possibilities for movement, and to reflect on the place of their discipline in contemporary creation.

They learn to design performances that can take different forms: individual acts, collective creations, contemporary circus shows or interdisciplinary projects.

Developing one's artistic identity

The training places a central place on personal research .

Students are invited to reflect on their background, their motivations, and the subjects they wish to explore through their artistic practice.

The teaching aims to develop artists capable of making autonomous creative choices.

Each student can thus gradually build their own unique artistic universe.

Teachers support this research by offering working methods adapted to individual objectives.

This approach helps to develop creativity, critical thinking and the ability to build personal projects.

Students are also encouraged to step out of their comfort zone and experiment with new learning methods.

An international teaching team

Fontys Circus and Performance Art relies on teachers with international experience in circus and performance arts.

The establishment regularly features guest artists .

These instructors can support students for several weeks and introduce them to different technical or artistic approaches.

This system allows students to meet professionals from diverse backgrounds.

It also promotes openness to different aesthetics of contemporary circus.

Teaching is based on a relationship of trust between students and teachers.

The school encourages communication, respect and consideration of individual needs.

Autonomy is an important dimension of training.

Students gradually learn to organize their work and develop their self-training skills.

Facilities adapted to professional practice

The program benefits from training spaces specifically designed for circus disciplines.

The school has a professional room equipped to allow the practice of aerial, acrobatic and manipulation techniques.

These facilities offer students an environment suitable for intensive practice.

The training takes place on the Zwijsenplein campus in Tilburg.

This campus brings together the various artistic programs of Fontys in an environment that promotes creation and interdisciplinary exchange.

Students thus benefit from a working environment combining technical equipment and proximity to other artistic disciplines.

Four years to build your career path

The Bachelor's program takes place over four years of full-time study .

The training allows students to progressively develop their technical mastery, autonomy and artistic skills.

Throughout their journey, they are encouraged to explore different creative methods and discover the realities of the professional sector.

The third year offers, in particular, opportunities to personalize the curriculum.

Students can undertake a period of training outside their institution as part of a supplementary program, called a minor.

This opportunity allows them to deepen certain skills or discover another artistic environment.

The organization of the curriculum thus facilitates the construction of a path adapted to the ambitions of each student.

Performances and professional experiences

Fontys places particular importance on meetings with the professional world.

Students develop their network through teachers, guest artists, internships and performances.

They participate in projects that allow them to put their skills into practice in creative and performance situations.

These experiences help prepare them for the demands of an artistic career.

The establishment also maintains relationships with several players in the cultural and circus sector.

Among the partners mentioned are Festival Circolo and INTENTS .

Fontys is also a member of the European Federation of Professional Circus Schools, FEDEC.

This international openness promotes exchanges with other circus schools and professionals.

Preparing for a career in contemporary circus

The program prepares students to work in various sectors of the performing arts.

Graduates can join contemporary circus companies, participate in variety shows or develop independent creations.

Some choose to work as performing artists within professional companies.

Others develop an independent activity or found their own artistic collective.

Opportunities also include street performances, site-specific creations, cultural events and various forms of visual theatre.

The program encourages students to think about their professional future and to develop the skills necessary to build their career.

The goal is to train artists capable of adapting to a constantly evolving sector.

Admission by audition

Admission to the Bachelor of Circus and Performance Art is selective .

Applicants must possess a secondary school leaving certificate that meets the admission requirements for Dutch higher education.

A sufficient level of English is also required to follow the courses.

The procedure includes an artistic and technical evaluation .

Candidates must present their skills in a circus discipline and demonstrate their potential for progression.

The jury is not only looking for a high level of technical skill.

It also assesses motivation, creativity, openness to learning, and the ability to develop a personal artistic approach.

Candidates may apply individually or, when their discipline requires it, with a partner.

The school is looking for motivated students, capable of fully committing to a demanding professional training program.

An international training program in Tilburg

Located in the south of the Netherlands, Tilburg has a particularly developed cultural and artistic life.

Fontys Academy of the Arts contributes to this dynamic by bringing together different disciplines within the same campus.

The Circus and Performance Art program is part of this approach of creation and international openness.

Students benefit from an environment in which circus technique, artistic experimentation and collaborations play a central role.

Thanks to its four-year Bachelor's degree, its international teachers and its links with the professional sector, Fontys is an important school for young artists wishing to pursue higher education in the field of contemporary circus.

The training allows students to develop a personal artistic practice while preparing them for a professional career in Europe and internationally.