Centre national des arts du cirque - cnac

National Centre for Circus Arts

The National Centre for Circus Arts (CNAC) was created to allow young people who whish and are able to become circus artists to do so, whether or not they belong to a circus family.

From the very beginning ithis education project became part of the nouveau cirque movement. Therefore it gives the students the ability to master vocabulary and  skills in order to serve the renewal of circus arts aesthetics and contemporary creation.

The syllabus was developed in order to achieve this mix of specialised training, dance and drama, music, and general subjects such as arts history, philosophy, anthropology and aesthetics. The CNAC trains artistic interpreters and commits itself to discovering and raising the best circus creators of tomorrow.

The CNAC does not have a preparatory schooll, or  a leisure and recreational school. It was created thanks to, and is funded by, the French Ministry of Culture and Communication.

Centre National des Arts du Cirque- CNAC
1, rue du Cirque
51000 Châlons en Champagne
France

Phone: +33 326 21 12 43
Fax: +33 326 21 80 38

Founded in 1985

Director: Gérard Fasoli

Curriculum offered:

• Diplôme des métiers d'arts (Professional Artist Diploma): professional training with the delivery of a furthre education qualification (soon to become a Bachelor's degree) followed by a year dedicated to the professional integration of young graduates.

Download here the description of the new higher education DNSP circus artist common course  with the École Nationale des Arts du Cirque de Rosny-sous-Bois (in French)

Admission: application forms to be retreated in January and February and be dismissed in March. Preselections and selections from mid- to late May. Results announced late May.

In 2012-2013: Common course ENACR-CNAC (DNSP): Written application to be completed by 15 March. Auditions of the shortlisted candidates on 7, 8, 9, 10 May. Final auditions from 8 to 15  July. 

Download here the application documents (in French): Application form 2013, the Complementary form 2013, the eligibilty requirements.

Requirements: A-level or equivalent. Acrobatic skills, command of a specialist circus skill, artistic capacities, and knowledge of dance, music and drama.

School year from early September to early July (2nd year) and mid July (1st year).