Nomadic Circus

Nomadic Circus — Circus Arts Centre

Cirque Nomade is a Circus Arts Center located in Boulogne-Billancourt, in the Hauts-de-Seine department. Its history began in 1990 when Gaël Massot , trained in circus arts by Annie Fratellini and a prize-winner at a very young age at the Espoirs de la Magie competition, founded the École des Arts du Cirque et du Spectacle (School of Circus and Performing Arts). In 2005, he created the École des Arts de la Piste – Cirque Nomade (School of Ring Arts – Cirque Nomade ), which continues and develops this project of passing on knowledge and skills.

History and local roots

The association's history is closely linked to Boulogne-Billancourt. Gaël Massot grew up in the communal housing complex at 14 rue de Sèvres, a project conceived in the 1950s where community, sporting, and cultural activities played a significant role. It was in this environment that the idea for a school dedicated to circus and performing arts was born.

Offer and target audiences

Today, Cirque Nomade offers amateur circus classes accessible from age 3 to adulthood. The courses cater to both beginners and experienced practitioners, allowing for progression from playful discovery to specialization and the creation of acts.

• Minis Circus (for younger children): courses and games to discover acrobatics, juggling and balancing on objects while developing motor skills and creativity.
• From age 5 : the trapeze is among the disciplines offered and students begin to create small acts.
• Groups 8-11 years : association for discovery and improvement in acrobatics, juggling, balancing on objects and trapeze.
• Pre-teens and teenagers : opportunity to specialize further in aerial disciplines, balances, juggling and acrobatics.
• Advanced Teens : reserved for young people whose level has been validated by the teaching team; with three hours of weekly practice, it allows them to deepen their knowledge of circus specialties and develop the creation of acts.
• Adults : an all-discipline course to discover or deepen aerial arts, juggling, acrobatics and object balancing while participating in a creative process.

Pedagogy and creation

Cirque Nomade's pedagogy is not limited to the acquisition of technical skills. The association considers the practice of circus arts as an artistic , sporting , family and fun activity that also allows for the development of relationships with others, self-improvement, teamwork and solidarity.

Creativity plays a significant role: students gradually learn to connect technique and artistic intention in order to create individual or group performances. This aspect can lead to public presentations.

Internships

The workshops are another important part of the project. They are organized during school holidays and cater to different ages and skill levels. Younger children discover the circus through games and activities involving acrobatics, juggling, and balancing on objects, while older children can further develop their skills.

Cirque Nomade has developed creative circus workshops for teenagers, aiming to combine technique and artistic approach to create an act or a collective performance. Workshops for teenagers and adults, as well as parent-child workshops, have also been offered.

Family dimension and intergenerational workshops

This family dimension perfectly reflects the identity of the association. Workshops allow parents, grandparents and children to practice circus arts together through games, duo techniques and group exercises.

Actions outside the walls and public

Each year, the association develops circus arts discovery projects with various partners. Schools, colleges, high schools, and leisure centers are among the organizations that benefit from its educational expertise. Projects can be adapted to the objectives and characteristics of the group involved.

The association also has a historical experience of working with IME and people with disabilities, even if its current site does not present an independent weekly program entitled "adapted circus".

Dance and the professional dimension

Cirque Nomade also has a dance section. Created in 2009 under the name Elanse , it now offers classes and workshops for teenagers and adults. Modern dance, contemporary dance, and floor barre are among the styles featured in the 2026-2027 program.

Cirque Nomade also has a professional dimension with Maboul Troubadour . Founded by Gaël Massot , this troupe develops creations blending clowning, dance, circus performances, and music. They perform on stage, in the street, and in various event settings.

This coexistence between amateur teaching and professional activity allows students to develop in an environment where the practice of circus remains connected to live performance and artistic creation.

Conclusion

Cirque Nomade is thus a school particularly rooted in the cultural life of Boulogne-Billancourt. After more than thirty years of transmission, its project combines discovery, amateur practice, improvement, creation, workshops, educational activities, dance and professional performance.

From the 3-year- old discovering balance and juggling for the first time to the experienced teenager working on their specialties and creations, via adults, families and schools, Cirque Nomade champions a practice where technical progression remains closely associated with creativity , community , self-improvement and the pleasure of live performance .