The Eccentric

The Eccentric — presentation

L'Hurluberlu is a circus school located in Sainte-Sigolène , in Haute-Loire. Housed in a dedicated space at 6 impasse des Riouses , it develops a particularly broad project around transmission, amateur practice, improvement, adapted circus, creation and meeting with professional artists.

The association aims to promote circus arts in their various forms to all audiences. Its teaching approach places the participant at the heart of the learning process and seeks to guide each individual towards self-improvement in a supportive environment. Technical skill is therefore not separated from creativity , the joy of practice , personal expression, and interaction with others.

Educational cycles

To structure the progression of young practitioners, L'Hurluberlu organizes its educational project around three main cycles: Ludicirque, Technicirque and Créacirque.

Ludicirque

Ludicirque is designed to introduce young children to the circus. Play is the primary teaching tool, allowing children to experience circus activities, discover their physical capabilities, and gradually develop motor skills, independence, and imagination.

Circus Technicirque

Technicirque is primarily aimed at children aged 6-10. The sessions are longer and dedicate more time to technical learning, without neglecting play and creativity. Children discover several disciplines and gradually acquire the foundations necessary for more independent practice.

Circus Creacirque

Créacirque works with teenagers. The goal is no longer simply to master circus tricks: young people must gradually learn circus and expressive techniques in order to use them for creative purposes. Technique then becomes a tool serving an artistic intention and project.

This progression is complemented by several advanced groups. Primarily accessible to students with at least two years of experience, these groups allow for deeper learning and support for children and teenagers already committed to their circus journey.

Adults also have a weekly two-hour class covering all disciplines. The school therefore doesn't limit amateur practice to children: it also allows adults to discover or continue their circus arts training in a regular setting.

A free training area complements this offering. Free for members, it allows sufficiently independent practitioners to have additional time to work on their techniques outside of supervised classes.

Children can start practicing circus arts very early thanks to the Family Duo sessions. Designed for young children accompanied by an adult, these sessions allow families to share a discovery of the circus together. The accompanying adult can be the father, the mother, or another person wishing to share this experience with the child.

Teaching and disciplines

L'Hurluberlu's teaching is multidisciplinary. It draws on the major branches of circus arts and also includes complementary approaches during workshops and projects.

• Acrobatics
• Juggling
• Balances on objects
• Aerial disciplines
• Expression
• Trapeze (internship)
• Clown (intern)

The school also runs workshops during each school holiday period. These multidisciplinary workshops are open to children aged 3-5 and 6-15 and offer opportunities to practice acrobatics, juggling, balance, trapeze, and clowning. A performance or a sharing session with families may conclude the workshop.

Advanced training and masterclass

L'Hurluberlu also organizes specialized workshops and masterclasses. These events allow teenagers and adults to delve deeper into certain techniques with guest artists or educators.

• Acrobatic lifts
• Group acrobatics
• Flexibility
• Handstands
• Aerial fabric

This openness to further training and external speakers allows the school to offer complementary options to regular courses and to create bridges between amateur practice and the professional world.

Adapted Circus — Handi'cirque

One of L'Hurluberlu's most important characteristics is its commitment to adapted circus arts. Since 2016, the school has offered a course specifically designed for children with autism. This activity, now integrated into the season under the name Handi'cirque , welcomes a deliberately very small group to allow for tailored support.

The school considers circus arts to be particularly beneficial for developing motor skills, creativity, and self-expression in people with disabilities. The diversity of disciplines allows for varied activities and adaptations to the abilities of the participants.

This approach continues beyond the weekly classes. L'Hurluberlu works with specialized organizations, including special education institutions (IME) and the ADAPEI des Roches residence. Sessions can take place directly at these facilities or in the circus hall in Sainte-Sigolène.

Outreach interventions

More broadly, the school has a significant outreach program. Its team can travel to schools, leisure centers, nurseries, early childhood centers, and various other institutions. It also works with nursing homes, further expanding the range of people it serves.

L'Hurluberlu can therefore work with people of all ages, from early childhood to seniors, and in contexts as different as school, leisure, medical-social or support for the elderly.

Artistic creation and festival

Artistic creation also plays an important role in the project. All students participate in the Chap'erlipopette festival and present their end-of-year creations. Teenagers enrolled in specialized programs can also develop more advanced collaborative projects.

The school also participates in FFEC network events. It was notably present at the 2026 Regional Meetings and has already presented creations at the FFEC National Showcases. In 2024, L'Hurluberlu notably presented an aerial hoop act.

The association's other major feature is Chap'erlipopette , its own circus festival. Organized every year in Sainte-Sigolène, it serves both as a school celebration and a genuine cultural event open to the wider region.

• A meeting between amateur practice and professional circus
• Presentations of student creations
• Performances by professional artists and companies
• Creative residencies during the festival
• School sessions and activities aimed at IME and EHPAD

In 2026, the eighth edition took place from June 1st to 6th at the Sainte-Sigolène sports complex. The first four evenings were dedicated to student performances. The program also included professional presentations, a creation by parent-child groups, a collective creation by teenagers, and various events designed to bring students, artists, and the public together.

Chap'erlipopette's philosophy directly reflects that of the school: mutual aid, cooperation, welcome and respect are central values, for students as well as for artists, technicians, volunteers and spectators.

Networking, recognition, and professional creations

This participation in the federal network is consistent with the recognition the school enjoys. L'Hurluberlu belongs to FREC Auvergne and holds FFEC accreditation no. 43345. The school is thus part of a national network of organizations committed to quality and safety in circus arts education.

L'Hurluberlu is also involved in professional creation. The association notably participated in the creation of "N'en jetez plus!", a show produced by the company La Soupe aux Étoiles , combining circus, storytelling and music for an audience from 6 years old.

This activity demonstrates that the structure does not function solely as a leisure school. It seeks to create links between transmission, amateur practice, professional creation, cultural dissemination and territorial action.

From the first discovery in a family duo to the creations of teenagers, from Handi'cirque to workshops in nursing homes, from children's courses to adult masterclasses and the professional shows of Chap'erlipopette, the circus is considered as a space for progression, expression, meeting and sharing.