Ecole nationale de cirque de chatellerault - encc

National Circus School of Châtellerault

With a delay of 12 minutes, the school opened its gates on the 14th of January, 1994.

It was obvious for all that the school would be a shared place for creators, trainers, shows, young people learning about circus for fun , audiences, technician and stage managers, circus stories, artists continuing to learn and students  learning by improving treir skills.

This project could only be realised with the vsupport of the French Ministries of Culture, National education and Work, local public bodies ,as well as European and national funds and private sponsorship.

Nowadays about 400 students meet every year at the school, pursuing and developing their own artistic path. Each one with his/her own learning process, rythm and direction.

Teaching is centred on the students, involving
knowledge of contemporary creation
encouraging creative and expressive behaviour and leading to artistic virtusosity and technical prowess.

ENCC has encouraged the development of specific trainings since 1995. A permanent,  qualified teaching team, from both artistic and sports background, along with external artists, develops this training using teachning methods that reflect he diversity of circus arts practice today.

Several shows punctuate the students' diverse educational and artistic experience throughout the year:

• School shows: the second year students of the circus arts optional subject for A-level perform in March, the first year students perform at the end of June, the third years' final show is in mid-July.
• Professional shows : "Cirque en décembre" and "Cirque invité" are two events featuring former students who have become professional artists.

Ecole Nationale de Cirque de Châtellerault

1 rue Jean Monnet
"La Manufacture"
86100 Châtellerault
France

Phone: +33 549 85 81 81
Fax: +33 549 20 17 75

Founded in 1994

Director: Pascale Marcellino
Educational Director: Fabrice Berthet

Curriculum offered:

• Baccalauréat littéraire option arts du cirque (Literature-oriented A-level with Circus Arts as an option): three years of high/secondary school.
  Selection process from March to May based on  school report, 5 workshops (acrobatics, equilibristics, dance, drama and physical preparation) and interview.
  in 2012: application forms available from february to april, auditions on 14th and 15th May, 2012.
  Free curriculum - from September to mid-July
• Continuing education: maybe paid for by AFDAS (French continuing education fund).
  Selection according to projects and objectives.
• Complementary professional training: minimum of 6 months according to the artistic project and goals. Remunerated training contract.