INAC - Instituto Nacional de Artes do Circo

INAC is an international center dedicated exclusively to circus arts, based in the North of Portugal.
The Institute has two main missions: to train artists who have an multidisciplinary approach which can lead to the development and establishment of new artistic aesthetics; and to reach out to all audiences, spreading and implementing contemporary circus in Portugal, providing a new offer and enriching the current cultural panorama.
Traditionally, the circus is a "big family", and INAC is no exception. All of our projects are made with love for what we do, compassion, and a lot of hard work.
The building
INAC classes run under a 3000m2 space, organized between: circus area, acrobatic area, dance and theatre studio, theoretical room, artistic residence space with black box, photo and vídeo studio.
INAC is open from Monday to Friday, from 9:00 to 21:00.
The projects
Here are some of INAC projects: “Professional Circus Program”, “Preparatory Circus program”, “Circo de papel” (contemporary circus shows under a circus tent), “Circo por Todos” (Social project), “Artistic residences”, “Circo à noite” (regular circus classes from 3 years old), “Cupula Festival” (Circus Village Festival every year in September).
Curriculum offered
- Professional Circus Program
- Preparatory Circus Program
- Regular Circus Classes
- Professional Circus Program:
INAC’s contemporary circus training program is aimed at stimulating and training young circus artists in a high technical and artistic level.
- 2-year courses, with a total of 2800 hours.
- September to June, from 9:00 to 17:30
- 3300€ per year
- Preparatory Circus Program
This is a course focused on the technical aspect of Circus, giving the students the tools needed for a healthy regurlar circus practice. Besides the circus techniques, there are the acrobatics disciplines and some of the artistic disciplines. The students work in a laboratory where they prepare a public presentation. At the end of the preparatory year, the students will be ready for auditioning the professional circus program at INAC or any other professional circus school.
- 1-year course, with a total of 1400 hours.
- September to June, from 9h00 to 17h30
- 3300€ per year
Admission
for both Professional and preparatory program
Entry requirements:
- Aged 18 and over
- A high school diploma or a higher education diploma (not mandatory)
- Providing a medical certificate for sports activities
Selection procedure:
- Physical fitness test (strength and flexibility)
- Acrobatic Tests
- Interpretation Workshop
- Movement Workshop
- Presentation of an individual act lasting a maximum of 3 minutes,
- Individual interview
Every year, INAC offers one scolarship to one student, for the 2-year professional circus program.
More info: www.inac.com.pt