Green Carpet School

The Green Carpet Circus School

The Tapis Vert Circus School is an amateur circus school located in Lalacelle , in the Orne department, in the heart of the Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park . It is part of Tapis Vert , a center for artistic residencies, creation and training developed in an exceptional rural and natural environment, near the Orne, Mayenne and Sarthe departments.

History and mission

The association Les Rencontres du Tapis Vert was created in 1983 to support and develop amateur artistic practices. Initially focused on opera singing and chamber music, the project gradually opened up to traditional music and dance, theatre, clowning and then circus arts.

Today, Le Tapis Vert is simultaneously a place of transmission, a residence center for professional artists, a training space, a performance venue and the site of a circus school.

The Big Top and the Disciplines

The Tapis Vert Circus School operates under a real big top. Its teaching is multidisciplinary and allows students to discover the main branches of circus arts. The disciplines explicitly practiced include:

• juggling
• acrobatics
• acrobatic lifts
• trapeze
• aerial fabric
• thread
• balance ball
• clown

The equipment available under the big top also includes balls , scarves , clubs and rolla-bolla .

Management

Supervision is one of the school's strengths. Le Tapis Vert indicates that it uses teachers from national circus schools in Châlons, Berlin or Montreal and instructors with professional qualifications such as the BPJEPS, the BIAC or the State Diploma for circus teachers.

This close relationship with entertainment professionals is reinforced by the very purpose of Tapis Vert, which regularly hosts circus companies in residence.

2026-2027 Season

For the 2026-2027 season, the school offers three weekly classes every Wednesday, excluding school holidays. Thirty sessions are planned between October 2026 and June 2027.

• a parent-child class for children aged 3 and up
• a course for children aged 7 to 11
• a course for teenagers and adults as well as for experienced practitioners over 10 years old who have already attended the school the previous year

The season starts on Wednesday , October 7, 2026. A free trial lesson is offered, subject to availability.

The year is not limited to technical training: the students also work on preparing a public performance that concludes the season under the big top. This performance in front of an audience allows them to showcase their skills and explore the artistic and collective dimensions of the circus.

Public and location

The school welcomes students from Lalacelle as well as the surrounding rural communities. Historically, participants come from a radius of approximately 25 km .

This location is particularly interesting in a rural area: the school offers the opportunity to regularly practice circus arts without having to go to a large urban area.

Affiliations

The Tapis Vert Circus School is a member of the French Federation of Circus Schools and is currently listed in the federation's directory. It is affiliated with FREC Atlantique , a regional network that brings together federated schools in part of Western France.

Residences, internships and facilities

The Tapis Vert project, however, goes far beyond weekly classes. The association hosts artists and companies in residence throughout the year for the creation of shows, rehearsals, recordings and artistic research.

• equipped workspaces
• sound and light control
• On-site accommodation depending on the projects

Circus companies, musical ensembles, theatre artists and dancers can make use of these spaces and services.

Le Tapis Vert also features a barn, a theatre, a ballroom, studios, and several self-catering accommodation options. This setup allows groups and companies to stay on-site for several days and fosters connections between professional artists, trainees, amateur students, and local residents.

School/professional creation intersection

This close relationship between school and professional creation is an essential characteristic of the place. Over the years, Le Tapis Vert has worked with or maintained links with numerous artistic teams, including contemporary circus companies and collectives.

Residency showings, premieres of performances and public presentations allow the local public and students to discover creations in progress.

Internships and artistic diversity

The association also organizes artistic workshops for both amateurs and professionals. The Tapis Vert program is not limited to circus arts: chamber music, traditional music, dance, clowning, theatre, and other artistic practices also find their place there.

This diversity helps to create an environment where disciplines can meet and where circus practice naturally engages in dialogue with other forms of live performance.

Cultural activities in the area

Le Tapis Vert develops cultural activities across the region. Public presentations, indoor and outdoor performances, and school visits provide valuable opportunities to connect with local residents.

The association thus claims a role as a cultural structure in rural areas, at the crossroads of amateur practice, training and professional creation.

Conclusion

With its affiliated school, classes starting at age 3 , multidisciplinary approach, big top, workshops, artist residencies, and accommodations, Le Tapis Vert offers a unique setting for discovering and developing circus arts. Students don't just practice in a gym; they thrive in a true creative space where children, adults, amateurs, professional artists, and resident companies come together.