PAD

The PAD Circus School

The PAD Circus School is a circus arts school located in Sainte-Maxime, in the Var region. Created in 2002 around the project of Pierre-Antoine Dussouillez , it has been developing the teaching and amateur practice of circus for more than twenty years with a particularly wide audience, from toddlers to adults.

The school is now located in the Camp Ferrat business park in Sainte-Maxime. It has a space dedicated to practice and welcomes its students throughout the year to discover, learn and deepen their knowledge of different circus disciplines.

Circus training can begin very early, as the PAD Circus School welcomes children from the age of 18 months . The program then continues with older children, teenagers, and adults, allowing circus arts to be considered both as an introductory activity and as a regular amateur pursuit.

• Juggling: requires coordination, dexterity, concentration and relationship to objects.
• Acrobatics: develops bodily capabilities, strength, flexibility and awareness of movement.
• Balances: confront the practitioner with new points of support.
• Aerial disciplines: allow you to experience height, suspension and inversions.

The diversity of disciplines has been at the heart of the school's identity since its inception. Pierre-Antoine Dussouillez , the founder of Cirque PAD, himself possesses a particularly versatile artistic background, notably in contortion, acrobatics, trapeze, and aerial arts. When the school was established in Sainte-Maxime, its teaching already combined aerial arts, acrobatics, juggling, and balance.

The PAD Circus School is not just for children. Adults can also practice circus arts there, and the school has developed various programs around aerial arts throughout its history.

The teaching is based on an amateur approach. The goal is to allow people to discover and learn the basics of circus arts, and then progress in an environment adapted to each person's age and skill level.

In addition to regular classes, Cirque PAD also organizes workshops during school holidays. This activity has been a part of the school's program for many years and allows children to discover circus arts during the holidays or to intensify their training over a few days.

The organization can also participate in events and the creation of shows. This dimension has been included from the outset in the purpose of the parent association IPSEITE , which includes not only teaching circus arts but also organizing, creating, and participating in events or shows related to the circus.

This relationship to the stage naturally complements technical learning: circus arts are not only considered as a physical activity, but also as an artistic practice intended to be shared with an audience.

The school is also part of the cultural and community landscape of Sainte-Maxime and the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. Its activities are now listed by the official Sainte-Maxime tourist destination, which presents it as an amateur school dedicated to introducing and exploring the circus arts.

The school is now listed by the FFEC with Audrey Dussouillez as the contact. This family continuity accompanies the evolution of a structure originally created around the artistic and educational journey of Pierre-Antoine Dussouillez.

The activity remains fully current: in 2026 , the PAD Circus School is announced to be open all year round and continues to welcome children and adults in Sainte-Maxime.

In summary

With over twenty years of experience , the PAD Circus School is a well-established institution in the Var region for discovering and practicing circus arts. From introductory classes for children as young as 18 months to adult classes, from holiday workshops to regular practice, it offers a versatile approach combining juggling, acrobatics, balancing , and aerial disciplines . Its long history, its FFEC accreditation, the diversity of ages it welcomes, and its permanent location in Sainte-Maxime have made it a leading school for amateur circus arts in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez.