Orsola Circus School

The Orsola Circus School

The Orsola Circus School is an amateur circus school located in the Loir-et-Cher department, with two practice locations in Chitenay and Contres , in the commune of Controis-en-Sologne . Situated near Blois , Chambord , and Cheverny , it offers classes, workshops, and introductory sessions throughout the year, allowing children to discover the circus arts and progress in various disciplines. Some workshops and courses are also open to adults.

Governance and family tradition

The school is run by the association Comité d'Initiation aux Arts du Cirque and is part of a true family circus tradition. It is directed by Johnny Orsola , whose real name is Jean-François Delporte , a tightrope walker and heir to a family whose history in the circus world goes back several generations.

The family history is closely linked to tightrope walking. The known origins of the Delporte lineage date back to Dominique Delporte , born in Arras in 1775. Over generations, connections were forged between different families of tightrope walkers and circus artists, notably the Ravel and Orselle families. It is within this tradition that the stage name Orsola emerged and was passed down. Even today, several generations of the family are involved in preserving and passing on the circus arts.

Teaching staff

Johnny Orsola manages the school and holds the Circus Arts Instructor Certificate from the French Association of Adapted Circus. The teaching team also includes Melania , Fanny, and Massimiliano , all holders of the BAFA (French youth work qualification), along with the new generation of the Orsola family: Alessio , Jaze , and Renzo .

Courses and workshops

The Orsola Circus School offers regular classes throughout the year. The main workshops welcome children from first grade ( CP) onwards, as well as adults. Several weekly sessions are organized in Chitenay and Contres to allow for regular practice and progress throughout the season.

Baby Circus

The youngest children have access to specially adapted workshops with " Baby Circus ". These classes are designed for children in preschool, between the ages of 3 and 5. They provide a playful introduction to the world of circus arts and allow children to gradually develop their motor skills, coordination, balance, and spatial awareness through age-appropriate activities.

Subjects taught

• Juggling
• The hula-hoop
• The balances
• The trapeze
• The tightrope walker's wire
• Acrobatics
• The clown

Shows and staging

The training isn't limited to technical skills. Preparing and performing shows are also part of the students' experience. Throughout the season, the children have the opportunity to present the results of their work to an audience. The school organizes mid-season performances as well as end-of-year shows for the various groups from Chitenay and Contres.

These performances allow students to gradually discover the different dimensions of circus arts creation: training, rehearsal, staging, costumes, and presentation before an audience. They represent the culmination of the work done collectively during classes and give young practitioners their first experience of the ring and of performance.

Internships and discovery days

In addition to weekly classes, the Orsola Circus School organizes numerous introductory workshops during school holidays, with the exception of the Christmas holidays. These workshops are offered to children from 5 years old as well as adults and take place mainly under the big top in Chitenay.

The workshops are organized over several consecutive days, allowing for a deeper immersion in the world of circus arts. Participants discover and experience different workshops, train throughout the week, and participate in preparing a performance. A show is organized on Friday evening to present the work done during the workshop to families.

The school also offers occasional circus arts discovery days during school holidays. These days allow children who do not attend year-round classes to try out different circus activities before potentially continuing with a workshop or regular practice.

School visits and the big top

Another unique feature of the Orsola Circus School is its ability to travel. With its big top , the Orsola family works directly with schools to implement " Circus in Schools " projects. The big top can be set up in or near a school for one or two weeks.

During these sessions, students discover circus arts with the Orsola team and work across different disciplines. The project can involve several classes and culminates in a performance for families. This format offers a true immersion in the world of circus and allows children to discover both the practical aspects and the artistic and collaborative dimensions of a show.

One-off activities and events

The school also organizes various one-off events. Birthday parties can be held under the big top, with introductory sessions allowing children to try out several circus disciplines. The association also participates in various events and develops circus-related activities, such as its Christmas Circus .

Mission and transmission

The Orsola Circus School is thus simultaneously an amateur training school, a place for passing on a family circus heritage, and a structure capable of developing touring projects. Its operation combines weekly classes, holiday workshops, student performances, introductory sessions, and direct interventions in schools.

Through its locations in Chitenay and Contres and the travels of its big top, the school helps make circus arts accessible to children and families in Loir-et-Cher and beyond. Family tradition plays a special role in this project: circus techniques, particularly the tradition of tightrope walking, are combined with a pedagogical approach designed to introduce new generations to the diversity of circus arts.