Italo Medini Circus School

The Italo Medini Circus School

The Italo Medini Circus School is located in Fontenay-sous-Bois, in the Val-de-Marne, under the Italo Medini big top at the Espace culturel Gérard-Philipe. Founded by Italo and Josiane Medini , it has been developing a project dedicated to the discovery, learning, improvement and transmission of circus arts for over thirty years.

Family history

The school's roots lie in a true circus family history. Italo Medini comes from two circus families and was trained by his father, Carlo, himself an acrobat, clown, musician, and composer. A juggler and acrobat, Italo performed on stage from childhood before developing an international artistic career. His wife, Josiane Medini, pursued a career as a contortionist. Together, they performed in numerous international venues before passing on their experience and knowledge to new generations of artists.

Target audience and educational project

The school now welcomes a particularly wide audience. Its program ranges from introducing very young children to circus arts to advanced training and specialization, also including opportunities for professional artists. Children, teenagers, and adults come together under the same big top, in a place where amateur practice, teaching, professional training, and artistic creation are closely intertwined.

Path by age

Children as young as 2 can begin their discovery with Lolihop workshops. For younger children, sessions are organized progressively according to their age. Parent-child workshops are offered specifically for toddlers aged 2 to 3. Children then gradually discover acrobatics, juggling, and balancing on objects through exercises adapted to the development of their motor skills and independence.

From age 6, the curriculum gradually becomes more comprehensive. Then, from age 8, "all disciplines" classes allow students to explore a wide range of circus techniques. Several groups are organized according to experience and skill level to ensure a progression tailored to each student.

Management

The training is provided by a team of professionals, each with their own area of expertise. The school includes specialists in acrobatics, tightrope walking, juggling, aerial arts, contortion, and circus arts. This diversity allows students to encounter a variety of technical and artistic approaches throughout their training.

Masterclasses and advanced training

For those wishing to delve deeper into a particular discipline, the Italo Medini Circus School also offers MasterClasses . These allow participants to move beyond a multidisciplinary introduction to more specialized work in juggling, acrobatics, aerial arts, tightrope walking, or contortion. These courses are taught by artists and instructors with extensive professional experience in their respective fields.

Aerial disciplines

Aerial disciplines play a particularly important role in this advanced training program. Instruction is provided by specialized artists who may have experience with the trapeze, aerial silks, rope, or other apparatus. The school thus maintains a direct link between amateur training and the technical demands of the professional circus.

Adult practice

Adult practice is also an integral part of the project. A multi-discipline course allows adults to discover or refine the various techniques offered by the school, regardless of their initial level. This activity emphasizes both the enjoyment of practicing and sharing a group activity, as well as technical progress.

Professionals, residencies and creation

One of the key features of the Italo Medini Circus School is the daily coexistence of amateurs and professionals. Many former students who have gone on to become professional artists continue to frequent the school. The big top is also open as a training, rehearsal, and creative space for circus arts professionals.

The school hosts artists in residence and supports the creation of new acts. Professional and experienced amateur circus performers can use the space to research, rehearse, develop, or refine their work. This ongoing artistic presence helps make the big top not only a place of learning but also a vibrant space for circus creation.

Artistic journeys and amateur creation

Throughout its history, the school has supported numerous artists who have gone on to develop professional careers. Some alumni or artists who have worked there have presented their creations in companies, cabarets, circuses, and festivals in France and abroad. The school maintains ties with many of them and regularly showcases their work.

Amateur creation is also encouraged. Some courses allow students to work on building acts and gradually explore the artistic dimension of the circus. Technique then becomes a tool serving a personal vision that blends movement, stage presence, and artistic exploration.

Adapted circus

The Italo Medini Circus School also places great importance on adapted circus arts. Josiane Medini became involved very early on in welcoming people with disabilities and trained for the Specialized Circus Arts Instructor Certificate. This commitment continues today with workshops that welcome groups from specialized educational institutions (IME and EMP).

In these workshops, activities and equipment are adapted to each participant's abilities and challenges. The goal remains the transmission of circus arts, but with a teaching approach that allows everyone to gradually discover a new space, new apparatus, and different physical experiences. Circus then becomes a tool for motor skills, expression, confidence, and connection.

External activities and internships

The school also develops programs with schools and various specific audiences. Its team can host groups under the big top or perform in other venues to introduce circus arts. This activity helps broaden access to circus arts beyond just those enrolled in the weekly classes.

During school holidays, with the exception of Christmas break, workshops supplement regular instruction. Preschool children aged 4 to 5 can participate in introductory workshops including acrobatics, object balancing, static trapeze, and juggling. From age 6, introductory and advanced workshops also offer the opportunity to explore contortion alongside other disciplines.

The big top

The big top is a central element of the school's identity. Located at the Espace culturel Gérard-Philipe, it allows students to practice directly in an environment associated with creation and live performance. Inaugurated in 2009, it has become, over the years, a recognized landmark in the cultural life of Fontenay-sous-Bois.

Teaching staff

The current teaching team brings together diverse profiles and backgrounds. This diversity of skills allows the school to offer a particularly broad curriculum, ranging from the initial discovery of circus arts to technical specialization.

• Élodie — circus arts instructor, acrobat, juggler and tightrope walker
• Betty — artist and teacher specializing in yarn
• Victor — juggler, acrobat and initiator of circus arts
• Laure Sinic — aerial artist trained at the National Circus Arts Centre
• Josiane Medini — co-founder of the school, former contortionist and holder of the BIAC and BISAC diplomas

Some members of the team themselves began their journey as students at the school before becoming artists or teachers, thus promoting the encounter between generations.

30 years and current events

In 2024, the Italo Medini Circus School celebrated its 30th anniversary with a large open-air event bringing together students, artists, teachers, alumni, and partners who have contributed to its history. This anniversary highlighted the school's special place in the cultural landscape of Fontenay-sous-Bois and its role in passing on the circus arts for several decades.

Today

Today, the Italo Medini Circus School remains simultaneously a school for amateur practice, a place of discovery for toddlers, a space for skill development, a suitable circus structure, and a workspace for artists. Under the same big top, children discovering their first moves, teenagers, amateur adults, teachers, and professional circus performers come together in creation or rehearsal.

This coexistence between transmission, amateur practice, and professional creation is one of the venue's main distinguishing features. It allows students to learn circus arts in an environment where these remain directly linked to the ring, creation, and live performance.