TPM Conservatory

Toulon Provence Méditerranée (TPM) Conservatory

The Toulon Provence Méditerranée (TPM) Conservatory is a regional conservatory offering instruction in music, dance, theatre, and circus arts. With over 3,000 students , approximately 200 teachers , nearly 70 disciplines , and 11 teaching sites spread across metropolitan France, it is one of the major French public institutions for artistic education .

Circus arts — presence and figures

Circus arts occupy a particularly unique place in this project. The department is primarily based in La Seyne-sur-Mer , where teaching is centered around the Le Cap circus school. The Conservatory's La Seyne site also hosts over 500 students and nearly 50 teachers across all disciplines.

The circus offering is particularly comprehensive, allowing participants to start from childhood , practice circus arts as amateurs , but also to follow a genuine diploma course that can lead to preparation for higher education.

From awakening to initiation

The discovery begins from age 5. In the heart of the Le Cap big top, children approach the circus through a playful pedagogy that gives an important place to imagination, creativity, relationship to space and body rhythm.

• Scarves, balls, clubs, diabolo, devil stick, contact ball
• Acrobatics, rolls, cartwheels, body balancing, acrobatic lifts
• Balance ball, tightrope, roller board, pedal bike
• Unicycle and stilts

From the age of 7 , aerial disciplines can complement ground-based practices. Children then discover the fixed trapeze, rope, aerial hoop, silks and small shuttlecock.

• Fixed trapeze
• Smooth rope
• Aerial hoop
• Fabric
• Small steering wheel

Awakening and initiation activities are available for children aged 5 to 12 , while aerial techniques begin at age 7. Students demonstrating the necessary skills can join the diploma program from age 8 , subject to assessment by the teaching team.

A genuine diploma program in circus arts

The major distinguishing feature of the TPM Conservatory is that it does not stop at amateur initiation. The department offers a structured curriculum in cycles , with assessments and institutional diplomas .

Throughout this process, the work gradually becomes more demanding. The Le Cap circus tent allows for the development of the following techniques:

• Acrobatics
• Balances
• Wire
• Roller board
• Unicycle
• Stilts
• Juggling
• Fixed trapeze and flying
• Smooth rope
• Aerial hoop
• Fabric

But the program isn't solely focused on technical skill. Students also work on set design, stage direction, adapted dance, and acting , in order to develop their sensitivity, independence, and ability to transform circus techniques into artistic expression. Encounters with contemporary artists and creators are an explicit part of the curriculum.

This dimension is essential for NetJuggler : the TPM Conservatory offers training in circus arts, and not simply a succession of sporting or technical activities.

Cycle 1, BECIR and CECIR

The diploma program is open to students from age 8. Depending on the entry level, prior circus or gymnastics experience may be required. The program then leads to the Becir and Cecir qualifications.

The curriculum then leads to the Brevet d'Études Circassiennes (BECIR) at the end of the second cycle and then to the Certificat d'Études Circassiennes (CECIR) at the end of the third cycle. The exams culminate in public performances under a big top.

The second cycle is accessible from age 11. In the recent educational structure, students work primarily on acrobatics, body movement, and one or more specializations, with possible additions:

• Acting
• Trampoline
• Flexibility
• Internships during school holidays

The training volume can reach approximately 7 hours per week depending on the year and the options chosen.

The third cycle is accessible from age 14 and leads to the CECIR. The historical curriculum published by the Conservatory provides for significant technical and artistic progression as well as specialization work.

The Conservatory still confirms today the actual existence of these diplomas: its examination shows publicly present the candidates for the BECIR and the CECIR .

A gateway to higher education

The diploma program is presented by the Conservatory as an intensive course that can lead either to a very good level of amateur practice, or to preparation for entry into higher education.

Circus workshop for teenagers and adults

For those who do not wish to pursue the diploma program, the Conservatory also offers a non-diploma circus workshop for ages 13 and up, with no upper age limit. It welcomes beginners as well as those with prior experience or former students of the introductory program who do not wish to enroll in the diploma program.

• Acrobatics
• Acrobatic lifts
• Balances
• Wire
• Roller board
• Unicycle
• Stilts
• Juggling
• Fixed trapeze
• Smooth rope
• Aerial hoop
• Fabric
• Clowning art

Clowning is accessible to those aged 16 and over. The Conservatory even indicates that professionals can find support in creating their acts through this program. Regular outings to shows also contribute to the cultural development of the participants.

A strong relationship with contemporary creation

The circus department doesn't operate in isolation. Meetings with creative artists are integrated into the curriculum, and students are regularly exposed to the stage, to creation, and to contemporary performance. The Conservatory's cultural season gives circus a prominent place through student performances, public examinations, interdisciplinary projects, and artistic partnerships.

• Partnership with the association Tout Fou To Fly and Co as part of the Un chapiteau de rencontres festival
• Examination-style performances allowing students to publicly present their work under a big top.
• Participation in the FFEC — presence confirmed for the 2025 and 2026 editions

Inclusive arts and adapted pathways

The pages for the introductory program, the diploma program, and the circus workshop all indicate that these courses can be offered within an adapted program, under the Conservatory's " Inclusive Arts " initiative. Therefore, I would use the tags Adapted Program • Inclusion • Inclusive Arts , without, however, transforming this into the "FFEC Adapted Circus" label if it is not explicitly stated.

Arts education and territory

The TPM Conservatory also conducts awareness-raising activities in schools through its agreement with the French Ministry of Education and its teachers who work in schools. This activity takes place within an institution spread across 11 municipalities in the Toulon Provence Méditerranée metropolitan area.

• Carqueiranne
• Hyères
• The Guard
• Le Pradet
• La Valette-du-Var
• Le Revest-les-Eaux
• Toulon
• La Seyne-sur-Mer
• Ollioules
• Six-Fours-les-Plages
• Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer

For the circus course, however, I would clearly choose La Seyne-sur-Mer as the main city: the official pages for the introductory course, the workshop and the diploma course all indicate La Seyne-sur-Mer as the circus teaching site.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the Circus Arts department at the TPM Conservatory offers a particularly comprehensive program: early learning from age 5 , introductory courses, diploma programs, specialization, BECIR and CECIR certifications , preparation for higher education, amateur workshops for teenagers and adults, clowning, mentoring by professionals, tailored pathways, and encounters with contemporary creation. For your directory, this is clearly one of the sections where you should highlight the continuity of the program , as a child can discover the diabolo or balance ball at age 5 and gradually progress to intensive practice, artistic specialization, and then preparation for higher education.