Mines de Rien Company

The Compagnie Mines de Rien supports the School of Circus and Theatre Arts of Upper Corsica , located in Bastia. Founded in 2004 by Natacha Conti , the company has since its inception developed a project in which artistic creation and transmission are closely linked.

A popular and artistic education project

The school is part of a popular, civic and artistic education approach. Its project aims to value each individual within a collective work, to promote openness as well as social and cultural diversity and to make the circus and theatre arts accessible to diverse audiences.

The activities are aimed at children, teenagers and adults, from beginners to those wishing to improve their skills. Weekly workshops are complemented by intensive courses, one-off workshops and mobile activities organized outside the school's usual premises.

Circus and theatre: two complementary approaches

Circus arts are a multidisciplinary field. Students discover and develop their skills in acrobatics, juggling, object balancing, and aerial disciplines. The Compagnie Mines de Rien has a particularly strong specialization in aerial arts , notably the trapeze, aerial silks, rope, and aerial hoop.

Theatre is the second major focus of the school. The work centers on the body, space, voice, dramatic and clowning performance, mime, improvisation, rhythm, and listening skills. This complementarity between circus and theatre allows for the combination of technical training and artistic expression .

A pedagogy centered on creativity and collaboration

The teaching method places great emphasis on creativity and imagination . Students gradually learn circus techniques while developing their own artistic voice. Safety and autonomy in practice are also essential teaching objectives.

The collective is central. The school seeks to develop mutual support, sharing, listening, and community. Technical learning thus becomes a tool for developing autonomy, initiative, cooperation, perseverance, and confidence.

Routes adapted to each age

The practice can begin in early childhood with "Pirouettes & Galipettes," a workshop for children aged 0 to 3 accompanied by an adult. The child is invited to freely explore a circus environment, to observe, experiment, and play with the adult.

The children then receive lessons tailored to their age and experience. The groups introduced to the subject gradually develop their autonomy, their technical skills in the different circus disciplines, and their ability to participate in a collective creation.

Teenagers can practice different techniques or choose more specific workshops. The goal is then to continue improving their skills, developing a personal artistic language, and acquiring sufficient safety knowledge to progress towards a more independent practice.

Creation as an educational purpose

Creation is a true educational objective . Students are regularly involved in preparing a show. The school thus seeks to connect the learning of techniques with stage presence , imagination, and artistic development.

The Compagnie Mines de Rien also develops specialized workshops . These may focus on Chinese pole or dance-circus , allowing participants to explore specific disciplines more closely or to combine circus arts with movement.

Beyond the courses: interventions and partnerships

The school's activities extend far beyond weekly classes. The company works in schools and with various organizations and institutions. Projects are developed in collaboration with partners and may combine artistic practice, meetings with artists, visits to cultural venues, and attendance at performances.

The school views artistic practice as a gateway to a broader culture of live performance . It seeks to create bridges between students, teachers, educators, artists, professionals in the socio-educational sector, and creative venues.

A welcome for all audiences

Particular attention is paid to specific audiences and people with disabilities . Since its inception, the company has developed tailored projects in partnership with professionals and institutions in the field. The goal is to enable everyone to practice, create, challenge themselves, and participate in an artistic project, taking into account their abilities and needs.

A key player in the development of circus arts in Corsica

The Compagnie Mines de Rien also participates in the development of circus arts throughout Corsica. In particular, it contributed to the creation of the Rencontres des Écoles de Cirque en Corse (Meetings of Circus Schools in Corsica ), designed as times for educational exchange between teachers, for meetings between students and artists, and for collective creation.

The school is also developing projects for young people who want to become more involved in creative work. The creation of a youth theatre company, in particular, allows them to extend their learning through more in-depth work on performance and stagecraft.

A particularly comprehensive amateur school

The School of Circus Arts and Theatre of Upper Corsica is a particularly comprehensive amateur school. Its identity is based on the intersection of circus and theatre , a strong specialization in aerial disciplines, artistic creation, and significant community education activities. Regular classes, workshops, performances, school programs, traveling projects, and outreach to specific audiences allow the circus arts to become a true tool for expression, connection, and creation .