École du Cirque Jules Verne

A unique structure in France, the Cirque Jules Verne is also a circus school. Through its Preparatory Class for Higher Education, it prepares students for entrance examinations to national and international schools of artistic creation.

Since its creation in 1982, the École du Cirque Jules Verne, strengthened by its history and its position within a Pôle National Cirque, has developed a unique identity in the French circus arts teaching landscape.

The quality of its teaching has earned the École du Cirque Jules Verne unquestionable national and international recognition.

The school's reputation is built on its high-quality teaching, the richness of its teachers' backgrounds and its ability to connect its students to the realities of the professional world. 

Training offered

Preparatory training for higher education

École du Cirque Jules Verne is a Preparatory Class for Higher Education. The aim of the course is to prepare students for the competitive entrance exams to circus arts schools in 2 years, with a volume of 1188 hours of training over one year, or 2376 hours over 2 years. 

The main aim of the core curriculum is to teach a foundation of acrobatic techniques, as well as dance and acting. Mastery of these fundamentals is the key to a perfect grasp of the different circus specialties, and the key to developing a specialty apparatus in the best possible conditions. 

Acrobatic fundamentals are complemented by theoretical courses to help students grasp the issues involved in being a circus artist: safety, health and knowledge of the cultural sector. 

The third component of the training program is the development of an artistic approach, with a focus on writing and dramaturgy workshops, access to Cirque Jules Verne programming, masterclasses with programmed artists and the staging of a collective creation by the Season's acolyte artist. Because writing a show is like doing a somersault - you have to learn!

Each student receives specific support, with individual interviews and group discussions. Last but not least, a health unit is on hand to help students deal with the specificities of being a circus artist. Everything is in place to take care of them and guide them towards a promising career! 

General training objectives

• Offer a training program to acquire the fundamentals: acrobatic core, circus specialties, dance movement and acting. 
• Integrate the theoretical aspects needed to train a circus artist in health and anatomy, accident prevention, technique and safety, the performing arts environment, circus history, production concepts, educational initiatives and the construction of a regional project, communication issues and English. 
• Develop an artistic approach through writing and dramaturgy workshops, study of artistic works, access to Cirque Jules Verne programming, masterclasses with Cirque Season artists, presentation of essays and participation in a collective creation directed by the Cirque Season acolyte artist. 
• We provide students with individual and group support, tailored to their needs. 
• A work placement is an integral part of the training program, enabling students to immerse themselves in the sector and better grasp the issues involved.A second internship takes place in one of the 3 national schools of higher education to prepare for the entrance exams. 

Admission

Auditions are made every even-numbered year, in alternation with CRAC de Lomme, as part of a collaboration between the two schools. A class of 8 to 12 students is coached for 2 years and selected in 2 stages: on the basis of a portfolio and then an audition.

The selection criteria are as follows: previous experience of artistic and sporting disciplines, desire for professional training in the performing arts, particularly circus arts.

Admission is via an application form, posted online at the end of March on ecole.cirquejulesverne.fr. The deadline for online applications is the beginning of May - check the website for exact dates. Auditions are made in June at the Ecole du Cirque Jules Verne.

Courses and disciplines taught

Fundamentals: 

• Common core 
• Specialties 
• Physical preparation 
• Dance movement 
• Theatrical play

Theoretical courses :

• History of the circus and performing arts environment 
• Technique and safety
• Notions of live performance production
• Environment and specificities of the street arts
• Communication issues
• Educational initiatives and local projects
• Health and anatomy
• English

Developing an artistic approach:

• Playwriting: writing workshops at the table and composition exercises on apparatus 
• Masterclasses with artists presenting in the Circus Season
• Premier Essai: 3 student presentations per year based on a theme
• Première Rue (first year) / Première Piste (second year): collective creation directed by the Season's acolyte, performed at the Tentaculaires festival in the first year and in the Cirque Jules Verne ring in the second year.
• Evening performances: 3 oral presentations per year based on a work from the resource center
• Access to shows programmed at Cirque Jules Verne

Individual and collective support, professional preparation:

• Internships at companies and colleges, with internship report
• School life: individual interviews, group discussions

Learn more about this member

Management

• Cirque Jules Verne General Manager: Yannick Javaudin
• School pedagogical manager: Audrey Louwet
• Communications Manager: Cécile Duval

School year 

From early September to early July

Teaching language

French

Location

École du Cirque Jules Verne
12 rue Albert Roze 
80000 Amiens 

Contact

+33 3 22 72 11 68 
ecole@cirquejulesverne.fr