Pop Circus

Presentation

Pop Circus, founded in 1975 by André de Lavenère-Lussan, better known as "Monsieur l'Abbé" , is the historic circus school of Auch, in the Gers region. With over fifty years of history , it is among the oldest circus schools in France and occupies a special place in the history of the development of circus arts in Auch.

Pedagogy

The Pop Circus project is based on a simple idea: to allow everyone to flourish "by playing at the circus." The school promotes a pedagogy founded on the sharing of knowledge : mutual learning, cooperation, and transmission between practitioners—those who have mastered a technique help those who are learning it. The circus thus becomes both a space for artistic learning and a place for meeting, mutual support, and building self-confidence.

Publics and workshops

The school welcomes children, teenagers, and adults to regular workshops organized by age group. Published courses start from age 6 and are offered at several levels and in various troupes.

• Poppy's — from age 6 .
• Weeky's — for ages 9-12 .
• Several teenage troupes — up to 18 years old .
• Adult troupe — for practitioners over 18 years of age .

Collective and stage dimension

The collective element plays a vital role: the workshops are structured around a theme chosen with the children and place great emphasis on dreams and imagination . A presentation of the work is offered to families at the end of the workshop, allowing participants to gradually discover the stage presence of the circus.

Internships — school holidays

During school holidays, Pop Circus organizes discovery and initiation workshops with formats adapted according to age.

• Traditional courses — full days, open to children from CP (first grade) onwards.
• Adapted formats — specific sessions for 4-6 year olds .
• Adapted formats — specific sessions for 7-10 year olds .

Framework and procedures

The training courses are supervised by qualified professionals (for example, BPJEPS Circus Activities or BIAC) and use professional equipment. The FFEC license or insurance is included in the trainee registration process.

Inclusion and social action

Pop Circus has developed genuine expertise working with socially disadvantaged groups or people with disabilities. This dimension is emphasized in the school's mission: inclusion is a core component, not an occasional activity, which also positions the school within the field of adapted sport.

Partnerships and teaching at the high school level

The school is deeply involved in arts and cultural education. It partners with Circa – Pôle National Cirque and the Lycée Le Garros in Auch for circus arts instruction at the high school level. High school students have dedicated time slots at Pop Circus for their artistic practice.

This collaboration brings together three complementary partners: a school, a historic circus arts school, and a National Circus Center dedicated to professional creation. Students can thus combine practical experience, circus culture, and exposure to a professional environment.

Network and events

Pop Circus actively participates in the FFEC network. A member since 1988, it belongs to FREC Midi-Pyrénées and regularly takes part in regional and national circus school meetings.

In 2025 , the school celebrated its 50th anniversary as part of the CIRCa Festival. An exceptional evening entitled "Together" brought together the teenage and adult troupes of Pop Circus with professional and amateur artists for a collective creation specially conceived for this anniversary.

Relationship with the professional world

The 50th anniversary highlighted the school's influence on several generations: dozens of young people who attended Pop Circus have gone on to pursue professional careers in the circus. However, the school remains first and foremost an amateur training ground whose primary mission is to allow everyone to discover and practice the circus arts.

LéVA — creation and experimentation

Pop Circus also has LéVA , a space dedicated to artistic creation and experimentation, which hosts projects and strengthens the links between amateur practice and artistic creation.

2026-2027 Season

Registration for the 2026-2027 season's workshops is now open. They continue the school's historical approach: to offer a physical, artistic and collective practice where each child can find their place, experiment with several disciplines and build something with others.

Identity and values

Through classes, workshops, shows, school projects, inclusive initiatives, and collaborations with Circa, Pop Circus is much more than a recreational school: it is one of the historical pillars of Auch's circus culture. Its identity is based on a generous approach to knowledge transfer: learning by doing, learning with others, and passing on knowledge in turn. Juggling, acrobatics, balance, and aerial disciplines serve not only technical and motor skills, but also creativity, independence, confidence, and the ability to participate in a collective project.

More than fifty years after its creation, the Pop Circus continues to keep its famous "Pop spirit" alive in Auch: playing at the circus, progressing together and allowing everyone to find their place in the ring.