PPCM

Le Plus Petit Cirque du Monde (PPCM) is both a circus arts school, a venue for artistic residencies and performances, a place for social gatherings and encounters, and above all a laboratory where civic, artistic, and educational initiatives come together for the well-being and personal development of everyone.

Founded in 1992 by residents of Bagneux in the Paris region, Le Plus Petit Cirque du Monde (PPCM) has become a dynamic actor in the territory where it was created and now has an international reach thanks to its commitment to the educational, artistic, civic, economic, and urban development of peripheral territories through art and culture.

Since 2015, PPCM has strengthened its local roots with the construction of a permanent physical venue, featuring a 28-meter-high circus tent. In 2023, PPCM received the “Centre Culturel de Rencontres” label from the French Ministry of Culture, becoming the first Cultural Meeting Centre located on the outskirts of a major metropolitan area.

The training branch of PPCM upholds the same values and standards as the organization’s overall project. Since 2016, PPCM’s training center has organized preparatory programs for the profession of circus artist. Since 2023, PPCM has also become a certifying training organisation, delivering the RS 6335 certification: “Designing and Leading a Socially-Oriented Artistic Project Using Circus Arts.”

Training offered

1 – Preparatory Training in Urban Acrobatic Arts

This one-year program serves as a springboard to prepare young participants for auditions to continue their studies in other circus schools. The training enables students to build strong foundations in acrobatics and dance, define and practice a specialization, discover parkour and Functional Analysis of the Body in Dance Movement (AFCMD), develop acting skills, work with experienced teachers and artists, shape their training project, exchange with other students, and participate in research periods as well as public presentations.

Content:

• Acrobatic techniques (acrobatics / parkour)

• Balance

• Trampoline

• Physical preparation

• Functional Analysis of the Body in Dance Movement (AFCMD)

• Circus discipline specialization

• Dance (hip-hop, break, classical, acro-dance, contemporary)

• Stage performance / acting

• Meetings with artists in residence

• Exchanges with students from other artistic disciplines (theatre, dance, music)

• Creative space and show preparation

• Preparation and mentoring for students’ professional projects

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2 – Training Path Leading to the Certification “Designing and Leading a Socially-Oriented Artistic Project Using Circus Arts” (RS 6335)

Social circus is defined as a form of intervention that uses circus arts techniques and, more broadly, body-based artistic practices such as dance, in the service of an artistic project with a social and inclusive purpose.

The training leading to the certification can take place alongside the preparatory training for candidates aged 18 to 23, or as a separate program for those over 23. The program is a specialization for circus artists or facilitators and focuses on the methodology of social circus. It enables participants to analyze the territory in which they will work, identify the specific needs of different audiences, learn the fundamentals of human body functioning, meet professionals from the performing arts sector, organize social circus sessions, manage groups, apply an ethical framework, and evaluate their actions.

Content:

• Identifying the challenges of different social contexts
• Planning social circus activities
• Defining objectives and selecting appropriate activities
• Setting up a safe space adapted to the activities and participants
• Knowledge and verification of equipment
• Group management
• Understanding the stages of children’s psychomotor development
• Functional anatomy knowledge
• Circus arts practice
• Establishing and applying a code of ethics
• Nonviolent communication methods
• Practice of circus arts, dance, and theatre
• Cultural mediation
• Use of games and improvisation exercises
• Preparation of a public presentation

The training takes place entirely in person at the facilities of Le Plus Petit Cirque du Monde in Bagneux.

Objectives

At the end of this program, participants will be able to mobilize the necessary skills in real-life situations to design, ensure the safety of, and lead social circus activities adapted to different audiences and intervention contexts.

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3 – AFCMD & Circus Arts Modules

Introduction to AFCMD (Functional Analysis of the Body in Dance Movement) and circus techniques. AFCMD is based on theoretical knowledge of the human body and proposes a practical approach centered on movement analysis. It sheds light on the mechanisms of movement through a sensory and conscious exploration of the body in motion.

Within the demanding context of circus arts, AFCMD helps prevent injuries and promotes better body organization. It also provides educational and creative tools to develop body awareness, mobility, and expressive movement.

Teaching Methods

All training programs rely on active learning methods, placing participants at the center of the learning process. A constant link is maintained between theory and practice.

• Theoretical input and practical workshops
• Educational games and situational exercises
• Debates and presentations
• Case studies
• Viewing audiovisual materials and critical analysis
• Research and creative workshops
• Observation and analysis of practice through iconographic and textual materials
• Physical practice and movement analysis
• Guided improvisation and exploratory research

Admission

1 – Preparatory Training in Urban Acrobatic Arts

Prerequisites:

• Be between 18 and 22 years old
• Provide proof of at least 3 years of confirmed practice in circus arts or dance, with a specialization in circus arts or urban arts
• Have a French social security number

Application documents required:

• An application file (including evaluation grids and a description of experience in circus arts) – available for download on the PPCM website
• A detailed CV
• A cover letter
• A video demonstrating the applicant’s specialization

Candidates shortlisted based on their application file will be invited to an individual interview and may be asked to provide additional supporting documents.

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2 – Training Path Leading to the Certification “Designing and Leading a Socially-Oriented Artistic Project Using Circus Arts” (RS 6335)

Prerequisites:

Applicants must meet one of the following conditions:

• Hold a professional certification, such as:
  • Baccalauréat with a circus specialization
  • Circus arts facilitation certificates (BIAC, TIAC, BISAC, BAFA with circus option, BPJEPS Circus Activities)
  • State Diploma for Teaching Circus Arts (DE Professeur Arts du Cirque)
  • Higher National Professional Diploma in Circus Arts (DNSP Arts du Cirque)
  • And have proven experience in facilitating circus arts activities

or

• Provide proof of at least 3 years of practice in circus arts or dance, as well as experience in facilitating circus arts activities

Additional requirements:

• Hold a PSC1 first aid certificate at the time of entry into the training program
• Have a French social security number

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3 – AFCMD & Circus Arts Modules

Prerequisites:

• Provide proof of at least 3 years of confirmed practice in circus arts or dance.
   

Disciplines taught

See the section “Training Programs Offered.”

Learn more about this number

Founded in 1992

Management

• Director : Eleftérios Kechagioglou
• Program Director – AFCMD Instructor : Katérina Flora

School year

From October to June

Teaching languages

French and English

Location

Impasse de la renardière
92220 Bagneux
France

Contact

+33 (0)1 46 64 93 62
www.lepluspetitcirquedumonde.fr
info@ppcm.fr