Le Cirque
Le Cirque
A circus scene precisely 13.5 metres in diameter, surrounded by platforms: this is the definition of circus, classical and formal, inherited from antique circus but also from the circus barnum and the Anglo-Saxon tradition of this very special performance. Nevertheless, under this big top, you find much more than a particular form of scene. Beyond its history and heritage, the circus is at the heart of the action: through its professions, but also the innovations and contemporary developments of circus companies. If many traditional arts of classical circus are always represented, like acrobats, clown shows, juggling or magic tricks, others have mutated over the years: from the character of Monsieur Loyal, a landmark in the history of the circus and famous presenter to the issue of animal welfare. Like all art, and in particular from the performing arts, the circus is transformed by the circus schools, the great names of the French Circassian tradition, national centres dedicated to creation and support, and circus festivals.
Under the circus tent, arts in constant evolution
Throughout France, the troops of circus They criss-cross the roads to meet an audience always fond of acrobatic performances, magic and dance. A nomadic tradition that has been a fairground for hundreds of years and has also evolved and changed its practices.
History of the circus, equestrian origins and arrival in France
When he returned from America, he opened the doors of his school of equestrian numbers and games of address, did Philip Astley know that he was laying the foundation stones of a centuries-old artistic tradition? It is indeed close to London, in 1768, that one sees a circular track appear within his school. This shape made it possible to rotate horses from the center of the track using a long room. A dimension remained since the official diameter of a circus track.
On the strength of his success and an invitation from King Louis XV, Philip Astley moved to Paris in 1782 where he opened the first circus in France, without his name yet. While mainly oriented towards the equestrian world, the show of the time nevertheless already includes demonstrations of acrobatics and acrobatics as well as the tutelary figure of Mr Loyal.
History of the circus, from the track to the stars
The name “cirque” was finally given to the practice by English competitor Richard Hugues, founder of the Royal Circus in 1782. circus acts have since continued to develop so much in the wealth of circus arts that in the fineness of its codes, both in the multiplicity of circus characters that the entry of new types of shows.
The circus-menagerie thus succeeded the equestrian circus when in the 19th century, during the waves of colonization, the first wild animals were introduced in Europe. The dressage acts inspired by the fairground tradition, led by Henri Martin, one of the first wild animal tamers, pleased both the aristocracy and the people and became a central element of the old-fashioned circus.
The “star track”, as the French television program of the same name called it in the 1950s and 1970s, still helped popularize these art forms by integrating the practice of humour around a central figure: the clown. More than a “new clown”, new performances appeared in this “new circus” also known as the “creative circus” at the end of the century. Inspired by various artistic performances, including contemporary dance and sensational American-style 'shows', the circus evolves with the times until the 2000s.
Today in 2022, the French territory counts around 500 companies and nearly 2000 circus artists.
The diversity of circus arts, from the trapeze circus to the end of circus animals
The strength of the circus is the diversity of its proposals, both in the form it can take and in the plurality of circus acts. City circus or travelling circus, traditional circus or contemporary circus, the circus scene is a place where thecircus artist can explore without limits.
Being circassian often means being able to be clown, trapeze artist, juggler, tightrope walker, trainer, magician or contortionist, but also balance on a ladder, a bicycle or acrobat on the ground, in the air or equestrian, hung on a fabric or attached to a Chinese mast. The circus show has no limit but the imagination of circassians around the world. Disciplines interact with each other within the troops and feed to create new numbers.
Since 2020, however, and with a view to protecting circus animals, Minister of Ecological Transition Barbara Pompili announced the gradual end of the presence of wildlife such as tigers, elephants or bears, in travelling circuses. The ban is progressive in order to find solutions for each animal already present in the French circuses which cannot be released. A measure in favour of animal rights already applied for some european circuses since some 20 countries in Europe have already taken measures to ban the presence of these wild animals.
In over a quarter of a century, the definition of the circus has been transformed and broadened to create a number of emulations, both among spectators and among the artistic scene, which has taken hold of its codes to develop schools, festivals and new projects.
A territory conducive to the development of all types of circus
If the beginnings of the history of the circus took place in England, France and very quickly across Europe, the discipline continued to flourish. Access to circus arts is facilitated by the existence of numerous festivals, schools and training centres as well as national support for creation.
Of cir schoolsthat everywhere in France to train in circus arts
One of the first circus schools still exists. This is theFratellini National Schoolfounded in 1974 by Annie Fratellini and Pierre Etaix. Renamed in 2003 Fratellini Academy, with its Centre de Formation d'Apprentis (C.F.A) in Saint-Denis, it trains many young Circassians from all over the world. Two other courses offer a diploma training in France:
- The National Centre for Circus Arts (CNAC) in Chalons-en-Champagne
- L'Ecole Nationale des Arts du Cirque de Rosny-sous-bois'
These three circus schools are the only ones recognized by the national education; however, there are schools all over France for professional or amateur training in circus arts. These are listed by the French Federation of Circus Schools. Based in Montreuil in Seine-Saint-Denis, the FFEC is a network of 150 circus schools spread over the territory and teach all the disciplines of contemporary circus.
Supporting creation for an increasingly rich and innovative circus show
In order to support the artistic creation present on the circus scenes, the Ministry of Culture, the Regional Directorates of Cultural Affairs (DRAC) and the municipalities offer multiple aids in support of the different actors of the circus professions.
- National creative support for circus arts
- Aid for dramatic production on decentralized appropriations
- Support for the roaming of creative circuses
- Assistance for the homeless of family circuses
- Creation open to street and circus arts
- Decentralized aid for live entertainment
The details of these various aids and subsidies can be found in this article: "What is the state aid for circus arts".
However, support for Circassian creation is not only through these various financial aids. It is also organized through the presence of organizations, hubs and devices that work for its influence. Born in 2016 of the alliance of Hors les murs and National Theatre Centre, ARTCENA, Centre National des Arts du Cirque, "helps professionals implement their projects and build the future of circus, street and theatre arts". Its support takes the form of support for the dissemination of works, the creation of reliable archives, the support of professionals in the sector and the international development of street circus and theatre arts.
Since 2010, the Ministry of Culture has also launched the creation of National Poles of Circuses Arts
A network of 14 institutions throughout the country, they aim to support the creation and dissemination of circus arts.
Find the pole closest to you thanks to the map of NDMP below:
Finally, another device created at the initiative of the Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques (SACD) in partnership with the Académie Fratellini: "Circus Process". Born in 2015, the project 'aims to accompany the process of research and creation of works carried out by circus authors". The goal of this process is to offer artists a time of research during which they can innovate, connect with authors from other disciplines and thus think about the renewal of the circus. This time is funded by a grant of €8,000. Seven projects are selected each year to benefit from it.
France, land of international circassian festivals
France is a circus country but also a land of festivals. There are therefore many circus festivals in our territory and at all times of the year:
- Circa Festival in Auch
- Circus night, in France but also internationally
- Festival International du Cirque de Lyon
- Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris
- Massy International Circus Festival
- Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival
A list is far from exhaustive, highlighting the interest of French citizens in this artistic discipline. Everywhere in France, in Bayeux, Saint-Paul, Domont, Marseille, Cherbourg, Basse-Terre, there are circus festivals every year or according to the passage of the troops from one city or village to another. France is indeed the European country where the greatest number of festivals and circus events are organized.
These festivals also have a significant international reach. The Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival, for example, takes place on the Monegasque rock every year since 1974 in the form of an awards ceremony for the various circus professions.
The Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris allows young artists to present their art before an international jury and a curious public.
Very widely represented and thanks to its many families, France shines all over the world by the inventiveness of its circus, its circuses. If the discipline evolves in contact with its time and its public, numerous circuses and artists of circuses, Both sedentary and nomadic, they are international references, just like Cirque du Soleil in Quebec and its global reach.
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