Indoor Circus

Presentation

Cirqu'Intérieur is a circus school created in 2016 by Christophe Millet and located in Périgny, near La Rochelle in Charente-Maritime. The association is housed under two big tops in the heart of P'Arc en Ciel, in the Palmilud park, a green environment that hosts educational activities, artists, and several events dedicated to contemporary circus.

Mission and project

The Cirqu'Intérieur project is based on a simple idea: to offer " a circus for everyone ." The association aims to make circus arts accessible to all ages and social backgrounds, to people with disabilities as well as other participants. Circus is viewed simultaneously as an artistic practice, a tool for personal development, and a means of fostering self-confidence , cooperation , motor skills , creativity , and self-expression .

Target audiences and age groups

The school offers regular classes from age 3 to adulthood. Younger children are placed in groups tailored to their development, while older children and teenagers can gradually deepen their practice. Adult classes for all levels are also available for those 16 and older .

Multidisciplinary teaching

Internships

The workshops further expand this range of skills. Children work in particular on the tightrope, the balance ball, the rolla-bolla, juggling, acrobatics, the trapeze and aerial silks.

• Wire
• Balance ball
• Rolla-bolla
• Juggling
• Acrobatics
• Trapeze
• Aerial fabric

For younger children, discovery involves playful motor courses combining juggling, balance, acrobatics, aerial arts, expression and clowning.

Specialized and advanced courses

Cirqu'Intérieur also offers a course specifically dedicated to aerial disciplines for students aged 10 and up. This program allows students drawn to working at heights to explore the subject further than in multidisciplinary courses.

Skill development is an integral part of the project. The school offers courses ranging from introductory to advanced levels and, in addition to weekly classes, organizes technical workshops for teenagers and adults.

Specific workshops

Specific workshops also allow participants to explore particular practices. Cirqu'Intérieur notably offers juggling and fire manipulation sessions for ages 14 and up , dedicated to discovering fire apparatus, as well as the products used, essential precautions, and techniques for safe practice.

Adapted circus

Adapted circus arts constitute another major focus of the association. From September to June, Cirqu'Intérieur organizes workshops for people with intellectual or mental disabilities and for people with neurodevelopmental disorders.

The sessions can take place directly under the tents in Périgny or within partner establishments. They are adapted to the abilities, needs and desires of the participants and aim in particular to develop motor skills, self-confidence, creativity and social connection.

The support provided can also include cultural outings, shows, meetings, and residencies. Adapted circus is therefore conceived as a genuine artistic and cultural journey, not simply as a one-off physical activity.

School and extracurricular interventions

School and extracurricular activities are also an important part of the team's work. From September to June, the team works with schools, colleges, and extracurricular facilities, either under tents or directly in the establishments.

Acrobatics, juggling, balance, and artistic expression are used as teaching tools. Projects are tailored to each age group and allow participants to develop motor skills, cooperation, self-expression, and confidence within a group.

Professional artistic action

The association also develops a genuine professional artistic program. Cirqu'Intérieur hosts artists in residence, supports the creation of events, and participates in the distribution of performances. The association thus presents itself as a place capable of forging links between social and cultural action.

This professional involvement is also visible in contemporary circus production networks. In 2026, Cirqu'Intérieur was notably among the co-producers of "Gaïa," a creation of Compagnie Bivouac.

Students thus develop in an environment where amateur practice regularly interacts with professional artists. This proximity fosters the discovery of live performance and ensures that circus training is not reduced to the mere acquisition of technical skills.

Events

Cirqu'Intérieur also organizes its own events. Every September, the " 1, 2, 3 Solo(s) " festival takes over the Palmilud park with shows, professional companies, introductory workshops and social spaces.

The 2026 edition, held from September 11 to 13 , hosted six companies, eleven performances and two cabarets. Workshops also allowed the public to try out the balance ball, the tightrope, the rolla-bolla or even the barrel.

In December, the association organizes another event under a big top, " A big top under the Christmas tree ", dedicated to live performance and circus during the holiday season.

These events are fully part of the Cirqu'Intérieur project: they create bridges between students, residents, professional artists and audiences who do not necessarily attend the school during the year.

Internships during the holidays

Holiday camps offer another entry point. Children aged 4 to 6 benefit from age-appropriate programs, while older children enjoy longer days that allow them to explore and delve deeper into various disciplines. A small group project can be presented to families at the end of the week.

2026-2027 Season and Registrations

For the 2026-2027 season, regular classes will resume the week of September 22, 2026. Registration for new members opened on September 5 , and the school maintains an offering ranging from parent-child practice to adult classes, with recreational, advanced, and specialized aerial courses.

Local presence and support

The school also benefits from a strong local presence. The City of Périgny supports its activities, and the two big tops are set up in the middle of Palmilud Park, a few minutes from the center of Périgny and near La Rochelle.

Conclusion

Thanks to this combination of teaching, inclusion, arts education, creation and dissemination, Cirqu'Intérieur goes far beyond the functioning of a traditional leisure school.

Children as young as three can discover circus arts, progress to more advanced or aerial practice, and participate in workshops and creative projects. Adults can begin or resume their circus training. People with disabilities benefit from adapted programs, while schools and colleges can develop educational pathways with the team.

At the same time, professional artists come to work under the big top, and companies are welcomed during festivals. This coexistence of amateur practice, social action, and professional creation is one of the defining characteristics of Cirqu'Intérieur.

In Périgny, Cirqu'Intérieur is simultaneously a school, a place for practice and skill development, a key player in adapted circus arts and arts education, a welcoming space for artists, and an organizer of circus events. Its location under a big top and its mission open to all make it an important player in the circus arts in the La Rochelle area and the Charente-Maritime region.