Troupe of Wise Men

The Troupe of Wise Men

La Troupe de Pas Sages is an adapted circus school located in Grenoble and intended for adults with intellectual disabilities . Created in April 2002 as an independent association, it originated from a circus workshop set up in 1993 at the IME Henri Daudignon.

Origin and foundation

The project originated with young people practicing circus arts at the IME (Medico-Educational Institute) who wanted to continue this activity once they became adults and entered the workforce, particularly in sheltered workshops (ESATs) or mainstream employment. Together with professionals from the institution and their families, they participated in creating a structure that would allow them to continue this practice within a community-based framework.

Mission and philosophy

The Troupe de Pas Sages was thus built around a particularly strong idea: to allow adults with intellectual disabilities to be considered and recognized as true amateur artists , capable of learning, creating and presenting their work in front of an audience.

The project is therefore not limited to offering a physical or occupational activity. Circus arts become a genuine means of artistic expression , personal development , and participation in cultural life.

Artistic creation and performances

Artistic creation and public performance occupy an essential place. Participants work on their circus techniques to create acts and then shows presented to very different audiences.

• "Hyphen"
• "School in turmoil"
• "Charivari"
• "Cabaret atmosphere"

The creation of "L'école émoi" combined circus and music and constituted an important step in the troupe's artistic evolution. "Ambiance Cabaret" then offered a show of approximately one hour blending various circus techniques with a theatrical and musical dimension inspired by the world of cabaret.

The performances can combine juggling, human pyramids, and other circus arts in a truly theatrical production. The goal is to move beyond a series of technical demonstrations to create a coherent show for the audience.

Career path and recognition

• From 2004 onwards, participation in the Regional Meetings of the network of circus schools.
• In 2005 , a pyramid scene presented at the FREC meetings was selected for the National and European Meetings of Circus Schools in Strasbourg.
• The same creation was chosen for the schools' show at the CIRCa festival in Auch: a performance under a big top in front of more than 1,500 spectators.

This recognition is a particularly important moment for the participants and reinforces their desire to develop real shows.

The Troupe de Pas Sages has remained firmly committed to the federal network. It is still a member of the FREC Rhône-Alpes and holds FFEC accreditation no. 38255.

This federal activity is still ongoing: in May 2026 , La Troupe de Pas Sages participated in the Rhône-Alpes Regional Meetings held in Voiron. Twelve schools and 163 participants were gathered for this edition, confirming the continued active presence of the organization within the network of circus schools.

Distinctions

• Regional winner of the Social Economy Initiative Awards and Trophies from the Crédit Coopératif Foundation in 2014 .
• Project nominated in the "School and Culture" category of the APAJH Trophies in 2017 .

Inclusive approach and public relations

The school has developed a deeply inclusive approach, but with one important difference: it doesn't simply integrate a few people with disabilities into a general circus school. Its project was specifically created by and for adults with intellectual disabilities .

The artists participate in a collective project that values their skills, progress, and commitment. The performance becomes both an artistic end in itself and a tool for engaging with society.

The relationship with the public is particularly important. The association seeks to create opportunities for interaction that challenge common perceptions of disability. Performances can therefore be followed by discussions between artists and audience members.

The Troupe de Pas Sages thus constitutes a particularly original experiment within the French landscape of circus schools. Its operation combines regular practice, technical progression, artistic creation, performances and participation in federal competitions.

More than twenty years after its creation, the organization remains active in Grenoble and continues to participate in the life of the FFEC network. It offers adults with intellectual disabilities a space in which circus arts become simultaneously a cultural practice, a means of expression, a collective adventure, and an opportunity to be fully recognized as amateur artists.