Larbi Circus School – Neuchâtel
Founded in 1993 by professional acrobat Larbi Ben Mansour, the Larbi Circus School is located in downtown Neuchâtel, Switzerland. It offers children from age 4, teenagers, and adults a multidisciplinary approach to circus arts training in a fun and family-friendly atmosphere. Acrobatics, juggling, trapeze, unicycle, balance, and flexibility are among the disciplines taught. The school also organizes holiday workshops, shows, and various circus-related events.
2001 Neuchâtel
The Larbi Circus School is an amateur circus arts school located in the heart of Neuchâtel , Switzerland. Founded in 1993 by Larbi Ben Mansour , it is considered the first circus school in the canton of Neuchâtel.
Its founder has a particularly rich artistic background. Originally from Tangier , Morocco, Larbi Ben Mansour discovered acrobatics in his childhood and joined the troupe of the famous acrobat Ali Hassani at the age of ten.
He then participated for many years in international tours with this troupe, notably in major circus establishments such as the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and the Knie Circus .
Having settled in Switzerland in 1991, he decided to pass on his experience by creating his own circus school two years later.
Originally located in Monruz , on rue des Gouttes-d'Or, the school moved in 2003 to its current premises on rue de l'Écluse, in the city center of Neuchâtel.
A teaching approach based on discovery and progression
Since its creation, it has developed a teaching based on the discovery of different circus disciplines , individual progression and the pleasure of practicing together .
The Larbi Circus School welcomes children from the age of four , but also teenagers and adults.
The courses are organised by age groups in order to offer activities adapted to the motor development and abilities of each participant.
The youngest (4 to 6 years old)
The youngest children, aged four to six, discover the basics of circus arts through one-hour sessions. This initial approach allows them to gradually develop coordination , balance , motor skills , and body confidence .
Students aged seven and over
From the age of seven, students participate in longer workshops, lasting an hour and a half , allowing them to explore the different techniques in greater depth.
The subjects taught
The school notably offers training in acrobatics , a central discipline in the career of its founder.
Juggling also forms an important part of the activities and allows one to work on precision, coordination, concentration and perseverance .
Participants can discover unicycling and various balance techniques, but also learn about trapeze , flexibility and other circus disciplines.
Specific groups are offered to teenagers and adults , allowing them to discover the circus or to continue a practice already undertaken.
A friendly, family atmosphere
The teaching approach emphasizes a family-like , friendly , and fun atmosphere. The goal is to allow everyone to discover circus arts, regardless of their initial level, and to progress according to their abilities.
The direct transmission of Larbi Ben Mansour's experience is one of the distinctive features of the institution.
Additional activities
The school also develops complementary activities around fitness gymnastics , mainly aimed at adults.
These sessions allow you to work on physical fitness , mobility and body maintenance in an accessible setting.
Internships during school holidays
Internships constitute another important aspect of the educational project.
Organised during school holidays , they welcome both children discovering the circus and participants wishing to deepen their practice.
These courses allow you to experience several disciplines over a concentrated period, including acrobatics , juggling , trapeze , unicycle , flexibility and magic .
The artistic and scenic dimension
The school also places great importance on the artistic and theatrical dimension .
It organizes shows allowing students to present their learning in front of an audience.
These performances combine different disciplines and allow participants to discover the preparation of an act , teamwork and the experience of being on stage .
Artistic performances for events
In addition to educational activities, the Larbi Circus School offers artistic performances for various private or public events.
She performs particularly at village festivals , weddings and other events wishing to include a show or circus entertainment.
Specific activities can also be organised for children's birthdays .
A circus accessible to all
The desire to make the circus accessible is also evident in the way the school operates, offering a free introductory lesson and able to consider personalized financial arrangements for families experiencing difficulties.
With over thirty years of existence , the Larbi Circus School occupies a historic place in the transmission of circus arts in Neuchâtel.
His teaching combines the experience of a former international artist, a multidisciplinary practice open to all ages and a friendly approach promoting enjoyment, learning and the discovery of live performance.
