FEDEC
en / fr

INAC

Instituto Nacional de Artes do Circo

Preparatory school

FEDEC member since 2017

INAC is an International Circus Centre dedicated exclusively to the promotion of Contemporary Circus Arts, based in the North of Portugal

The Institute's mission is to train artists, capable of a multidisciplinary approach that ensures the emergence and affirmation of new aesthetics and bring the circus to all audiences, as well as the diffusion and implementation of the contemporary circus in Portugal providing a new offer and enriching the current cultural panorama. The circus is traditionally known as a "big family", and INAC is no exception. Our projects are built with love for what we do, sharing and a lot of work.

The Space

INAC classes take place in a 3000m2 space, organized between: circus dedicated area, 2 acrobatic zones, trampolines and foam pit, dance and theater studio, theoretical room, artistic residence space with black box, workshop, canteen, changing rooms and offices.

INAC is open from Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The projects 

In addition to training programs, INAC develops other projects such as:

  • Cupula Circus Village Festival
  • Artistic Residencies
  • Circus For All (inclusive social project)
  • Umpor1 Circus Company - Creation Platform
  • Circo à Noite - Post-labor classes for amateurs and professionals
  • Tenda Circo de Papel - Programming Space in a Chapito
  • Risco - Circus Documentation and Research Center

Training Programs

  1. Professional Circus Program
  2. Preparatory Circus Program

Professional Circus Program

This is a program focused on the technical-artistic aspect of the contemporary circus. The first three months of the course focus on the fundamental bases of acrobatics and circus techniques. After this period, each student will choose an area of specialty. In addition to the specific training for the contemporary circus, acrobatics, movement, interpretation, laboratory and research, anatomy, aesthetics and history of the circus and dramaturgy are worked on. In the first year the student has the opportunity to work the collectivity in the work of creation and in the second year the student develops an authorial solo work.

  • 2-year course, with a total workload of 2,800 hours.
  • September to June, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  • €3,900 per year

Preparatory Circus Program

This is a course focused on the technical aspect of the Circus, providing students with the necessary tools for a regular and healthy circus practice. In addition to circus techniques, there are acrobatic and artistic disciplines such as movement, interpretation and artistic research laboratory. The pedagogical objective is that students are ready to audition for the professional circus program of INAC or any other professional circus school.

  • 1-year course, with a total workload of 1,400 hours.
  • September to June, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  • 3600€ per year
  • ©INAC - Instituto Nacional de Artes do Circo
  • ©INAC - Instituto Nacional de Artes do Circo
  • ©INAC - Instituto Nacional de Artes do Circo

Admission

for both Professional and preparatory program

Entry requirements:

  • Over 18 years of age
  • High school diploma or higher education diploma (not mandatory)
  • Provision of medical certificate for sports activities

Selection procedure:

  • Physical fitness test (strength and flexibility)
  • Acrobatic Tests
  • Interpretation Workshop
  • Movement Workshop
  • Presentation of an individual act with a maximum duration of 3 minutes,
  • Individual interview

Every year, INAC offers a full scholarship to a student for the 2-year professional circus program. This selection is made after the class has been closed.

More information: www.inac.com.pt

Disciplines taught

  • Double acro
  • Acrobatic bicycle
  • Acrodance
  • Aerial cradle
  • Aerial hoop
  • Aerial Rope
  • Aerial tissue
  • Aerial multi-rope
  • Antipodism
  • Bascula
  • Chinese Pole
  • Cloud Swing
  • Cyr Wheel
  • Dance trapeze
  • Flexibility
  • Free ladder
  • German Wheel
  • Hand to hand
  • Handbalance
  • Juggling
  • Physical preparation
  • Rola-bola
  • Russian Bar
  • Static trapeze
  • Straps
  • Swing trapeze
  • Slack Rope
  • Trampolines
  • Unicycle
  • Walking globe
  • ©INAC - Instituto Nacional de Artes do Circo
  • ©INAC - Instituto Nacional de Artes do Circo
  • ©INAC - Instituto Nacional de Artes do Circo

Learn more about this member

Founded in 2016

Management

  • André Borges (General Director and International Relations)
  • Bruno Machado (General Director and Artistic Direction)
  • Juliana Moura (General Director and Pedagogical Direction)

Academic year

September-June

Teaching languages

Portuguese

*Some teachers may speak English/Spanish and Italian

Location

INAC - Instituto Nacional Artes do Circo 
Zona Comercial Lago Discount
Rua Lugar do Xisto
PAV. B33, B34, A24
4760-727 Ribeirão
Vila Nova de Famalicão
Portugal 

Contacts

(+351)252218554
www.inac.com.pt
geral@inac.com.pt

  • ©INAC - Instituto Nacional de Artes do Circo
  • ©INAC - Instituto Nacional de Artes do Circo
  • ©INAC - Instituto Nacional de Artes do Circo
  • ©INAC - Instituto Nacional de Artes do Circo
  • ©INAC - Instituto Nacional de Artes do Circo
  • ©INAC - Instituto Nacional de Artes do Circo