Chêne-Bourg, a small commune on the outskirts of Geneva, is where in 1989 a brand-new big top twenty meters in diameter was erected. The idea of creating a circus schoolwas born. Initially, summer courses were organized. Success was immediate. The press and authorities applauded the initiative. At the end of August, the big top was christened by Louis Knie junior, in the presence of the Chinese authorities and a very large audience.

Until 1993 our structures were erected in the surrounding communes (Chêne-Bougeries and Thônex). A tent for fixed trapeze and petit ballant, then another for dance, a gantry for grand ballant trapeze, trailers, a canteen and extensive teaching equipment completed the installation, which was already welcoming 240 trainees by August.

The Geneva Circus School, so named since 1993, is a private achievement.Yvette and Gérard Challande invested substantial sums in acquiring the equipment and devoted much of their time to setting up their ambitious project. Circus and theater have almost always been part of their backgrounds, which has contributed to the current success - over 500 participants a year - and the school's reputation for inventiveness and avant-gardism.

Year-round courses
Trial classes are available!
Registrations can be made on site at the time of the first class!

Depending on your interests/motivations, there are different weekly course formulas:

• For 3-5 year olds (accompanied by a parent) = the Baby Circus
• For 5-7 year olds = the Preparation

For "from 8 years old":

• Once a week = the Leisure Training
.
• Twice a week (including a dance and drama class taught on Wednesday afternoons) = the Performance Training
.
• Similar to Performance Training + Saturday afternoons for work focused on artistic creativity = the Artistic Training

But also:

• Adult courses
• The Professional Training
• For all our year-round courses we use the Geneva school calendar to apply our vacation periods!

Formation Loisirs
As the name suggests, Formation Loisirs is aimed at children who come to Théâtre-Cirqule mainly for entertainment. So, with these students, we try to help them progress by awakening them to the various disciplines in a playful way. After the Easter vacations, the children choose a discipline to work on more intensively in preparation for the end-of-year show, which usually takes place at the end of May. This offers them the chance to showcase their talents in show conditions under a big top and in front of a packed audience.

Based on their ages, the children are divided into three categories:

• The Baby Circus for "3-5 year olds"(accompanied by a parent)
• The Preparation for "5-7 year olds"
• La Formation Loisirs for"from 8 years old"

La Formation Spectacle La Formation Spectacle is aimed at children who must be motivated by the idea of doing circus. Indeed, to be part of this training they take five hours of classes a week including one hour of dance and one hour of acting (taught at our school). As well as helping them to progress in the various circus disciplines, the objectives of the Formation Spectacle are to bring children to a certain level of creative autonomy. Dance, theater and acrobatics are considered basic disciplines.

Students enrolled in this training are expected to come on Wednesdays from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm (when theater and dance classes are given) as well as on another day to choose fromMondays, Tuesdays or Fridays from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

The Formation Spectacle is aimed at young people "from 8 years old" and costs 160 Francs per month (for 5 hours per week)

The Artistic Formation
The Artistic Formation works like the Formation Spectacle except that, in addition to classes during the week, these students must come on Saturdays from 2:00 to 5:00 pm where they are required to do purely creative work.

Students enrolled in this training are expected to come on Wednesdays from 14:00 to 17:00 (when drama and dance classes are given) as well as another day to choose fromMondays, Tuesdays and/or Fridays from 17:30 to 19:30.

La Formation Artistique is intended for young people "from 10 years of age"and costs 200 Francs per month (for a minimum of 8 hours per week)
To enter Formation Artistique the student must have done, at least, one year in Formation Spectacle

Adult classes
For "young" adults, we recommend joining one of the Formation Loisirs classes. In these groups, there are already several such people, and you won't be the only one of your age!
For "not so young" adults, there's a course onWednesday mornings from 10:15 to 12:00 (for 80 Francs a month). This is suitable for people wanting to dabble in various circus disciplines more "gently".

A new class has also started on Thursdays from 7pm to 8:30pm! This multidisciplinary class will enable everyone to work on the discipline(s) they choose accompanied by a teacher! It will cost 100 Francs per month!
If you're not sure where to place yourself, please don't hesitate to contact us so we can advise you.

Animations... Shows...
Tent rental

Under its big top or elsewhere, the Théâtre-Cirqule can also organize various activities:

• shows for all types of venues... performed by children, teenagers and/or adults!
• animations for birthdays, company outings, etc.
• You can alsorent out the big top to hold an event there!

If you are interested in cala and would like further information, please contact Yvette Challande:

floune@iprolink.ch
or 079 305 28 41