The Arenas

Presentation

Les Arénos is a circus school and professional performing arts company located in Manduel, in the Gard department, near Nîmes. Founded in 1994 , the association has been developing activities for over thirty years combining the teaching of circus arts, the creation of shows, clowning, magic, juggling, acrobatics and equestrian arts.

The association Les Arénos was officially registered on April 21, 1994. Its historical purpose is the creation of shows for children and adults, particularly those featuring clowns and magic. Over time, the organization has developed an identity at the crossroads of a circus school and an artistic company.

Affiliations and recognition

Les Arénos still belongs to the network of the French Federation of Circus Schools (FFEC). The organization is affiliated with FREC Soleil and holds FFEC accreditation number 30259. The Federation lists Christine Chacon as the school's contact person.

This federal recognition clearly distinguishes Les Arénos from a simple company offering occasional entertainment. The transmission of circus arts is an integral part of the organization's identity, alongside its professional performance activities.

Artistic identity

One of the unique aspects of the Arénos lies precisely in this close link between practice and performance. Several current professional directories present the organization as an association of professionals in equestrian arts, circus arts, and magic.

Shows for young audiences

The shows for young audiences combine visual humor and circus techniques. Jojo the Clown and his partner have notably developed shows blending comic acrobatics, juggling and magic, with a significant emphasis on interaction with the audience .

This participatory dimension reflects a show design intended to create a direct relationship with young audiences. Children are not simply spectators of a series of acts: humor, games, and participation can help draw them into the world of the circus ring.

Juggling is thus a clearly documented discipline in the activities of Les Arénos. Acrobatics are also explicitly present in the company's shows, as are magic and clowning.

Equestrian Arts

Equestrian arts are another important feature. The organization is always presented publicly as bringing together professionals in equestrian arts, circus arts, and magic. Historical performances also document shows that combine humor, fantasy, and equestrian feats.

Contexts of intervention

• Shows for young audiences
• Municipal events
• Holidays
• Cultural events
• Interventions aimed at children (leisure centers, educational programs)

Furthermore, the transmission of knowledge goes beyond the mere framework of a performance. Over the years, several communities have documented interventions by Les Arénos with children in leisure centers and other educational settings, providing an introduction to or discovery of circus arts.

Profile and pedagogy

The structure therefore has a particularly hybrid profile: an amateur practice school affiliated and approved by the French Federation of Circus Schools on one side, and a professional artistic company and service provider on the other.

This close relationship between teaching and performance potentially allows practitioners to discover circus arts in an environment where the stage dimension, the relationship with the public and professional experience are very present.

Local roots

The history of the venue is also part of the cultural landscape of the Gard region. Based in Manduel for several decades, Les Arénos are regularly involved in events in the Gard and more broadly in the south of France.

The association has participated in various municipal events, children's shows, and cultural activities. The character of Jojo the Clown is one of the figures most frequently associated with its work.

The school is currently still listed by the French Federation of Circus Schools at 35 rue des Tamaris in Manduel . It belongs to FREC Soleil , a regional network bringing together federated schools in part of southern France.

Its FFEC accreditation number 30259 confirms its registration within the federal network of circus schools. The FFEC currently lists Christine Chacon as the manager, along with a telephone number and email address for direct contact with the organization.

It is therefore not possible to reliably present a current schedule of courses, the age groups accepted, the annual fees or the schedule of internships without obtaining this information directly from the school.

The same caution is necessary regarding the detailed list of equipment taught. Juggling and acrobatics are clearly documented, as are clowning, magic, and equestrian arts.

However, current public information does not allow us to state precisely that disciplines such as diabolo, unicycle, clubs, devil stick, rolla-bolla, trapeze or aerial silks are taught during the 2026-2027 season.

• Discipline whose teaching is not publicly confirmed: diabolo
• unicycle
• clubs
• devil's stick
• rolla-bolla
• trapeze
• aerial fabric

This lack of recent information obviously does not mean that these disciplines are not practiced. It simply means that it would be unwise to list them as current activities without a recent publication from the school.

Conclusion

Les Arénos thus constitutes a historical circus structure in Manduel, whose uniqueness lies in the association of several worlds: circus school, clown, magic, juggling, acrobatics, show for young audiences and equestrian arts.

More than thirty years after the creation of the association, the current presence of the Arénos in the directory of the French Federation of Circus Schools and their accreditation no. 30259 confirm the continuity of their registration in the federal network.

For families or organizations wishing to know precisely the current course offerings, the ages accepted, the workshops, the prices or the possibilities for intervention, direct contact with Christine Chacon and the Arénos team remains the most reliable source today.