Menu
The Preparatory Program for Higher Education aims to prepare participants for the auditions of the Circus and High School Studies program or college-level programs in the circus arts, It also equips them with the necessary tools to audition for other circus schools in Quebec, elsewhere in Canada, and internationally.
Offered in French, this extracurricular program focuses on building a strong foundation in acrobatics, flexibility, physical conditioning, and balance. These core skills empower students to strengthen their potential and gradually explore a wide range of circus disciplines.
The program is open to individuals aged 10 to 22.
The main registration period runs from October to April. However, online applications can be submitted year-round. For more information, please write to the following address: recreatif@enc.qc.ca.
The Preparatory Program for Higher Education is now divided into three distinct tracks:
11 hours per week
The APP offers in-depth training for young people wishing to explore the possibility of pursuing a more serious path in circus arts.
It is designed for participants who want to deepen their practice, build their physical and technical foundations, and evaluate their interest and commitment toward potential higher education in circus arts.
APP students discover the various discipline families of the circus arts. They can explore each of them without any obligation to specialize, helping them build a versatile foundation and better identify their areas of interest.
Approximately two hours per week are dedicated to exploring different disciplines.
13 hours per week
The HSPP is designed for high school students. It offers structured and supervised training aimed at preparing them to enter the High School Circus-Studies program (Cirque-études secondaire).
The focus is on physical preparation, the development of fundamental movements, the exploration of various disciplines, and the acquisition of the attitudes and work habits required for demanding artistic training.
Students continue their exploration of disciplines. However, those preparing for the auditions of the High School Circus-Studies program—particularly in Secondary IV and V—gradually begin a specialization process.
Approximately three and a half hours per week are dedicated to discipline exploration and specialization.
16 hours per week
The DCPP is intended for young people wishing to prepare for the requirements of the DEC in Circus Arts.
It offers intensive training focused on physical and technical improvement, progressive discipline specialization, the development of autonomy, and the acquisition of the personal and artistic skills needed to successfully pass auditions and undertake professional college-level training.
DCPP students dedicate a larger portion of their schedule to their specialty discipline, with a view to preparing for the DEC in Circus Arts auditions.
Approximately five hours per week are dedicated to discipline specialization.
The Preparatory Program for Higher Education also allows students to:
Awaken their artistic sense and stimulate their creativity;
Learn with rigor while leaving room for innovation;
Develop their autonomy, self-confidence, and curiosity;
Strengthen their ability to collaborate and work as a team;
Adapt with ease to a supervised working environment led by various instructors / interveners (ou : coached by various instructors).
| Discipline | PPC | PPS | PPD |
| Acrobatics | 4 h/week | 4 h/week | 4 h/week |
| Trampoline | 1 h/week | 1 h/week | 2 h/week |
| Specialty | 1 h/week | 3 h/week | 5 h/week |
| Physical Conditioning & Flexibility | 2 h 30/week | 2 h 30/week | 3 h/week |
| Handstands (ATR) | 30 min/week | 30 min/week | 1 h/week |
| Dance | 30 min/week | 30 min/week | 1 h/week |
| Acting / Performance (Jeu) | 1 h/week | 1 h/week | 1 h/week |
| Discipline Exploration | 30 min/week | 30 min/week | — |
SCHOOL YEAR 2026–2027
The Fall 2026 semester will run from September 2 to December 12 (break from October 12 to 16). The Winter 2027 semester will take place from January 6 to June 12 (spring break from March 1 to 6).
| Programme | Lundi | Mardi | Mercredi | Vendredi | Samedi |
| PPC | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | — | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM |
| PPS | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | — | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM |
| PPD | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM |
To be eligible for the program, applicants must:
Be between 10 and 22 years of age;
Successfully pass the various stages of the audition process;
Have previous experience in an artistic, acrobatic, or athletic discipline.
A non-refundable application fee of $50 CAD must be paid upon submission.
Any document written in a language other than French or English must be accompanied by a certified translation.
The following documents must be submitted:
A copy of the birth certificate indicating sex assigned at birth and parents’ names, in PDF format;
A copy of a valid provincial health insurance card (for Canadian residents);
A passport-style ID photo in JPEG format.
Video auditions are offered only when authorized by the National Circus School (École nationale de cirque).
Applicants must follow these steps:
Watch the demonstration video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH6t8JKicjI
Perform all the movements shown in the video that they are able to execute. Movements that cannot be performed may simply be omitted.
Combine the sequences into a single video, upload it to YouTube, and submit the requested link.
PPC: $2,920 plus taxes
PPS: $3,160 plus taxes
PPD: $3,790 plus taxes
The Preparatory Program for Higher Education also allows students to:
Awaken their artistic sense and stimulate their creativity;
Learn with rigor while leaving room for innovation;
Develop their autonomy, self-confidence, and curiosity;
Strengthen their ability to collaborate and work as a team;
Adapt with ease to a supervised working environment led by various instructors / interveners (ou : coached by various instructors).
| Discipline | PPC | PPS | PPD |
| Acrobatics | 4 h/week | 4 h/week | 4 h/week |
| Trampoline | 1 h/week | 1 h/week | 2 h/week |
| Specialty | 1 h/week | 3 h/week | 5 h/week |
| Physical Conditioning & Flexibility | 2 h 30/week | 2 h 30/week | 3 h/week |
| Handstands (ATR) | 30 min/week | 30 min/week | 1 h/week |
| Dance | 30 min/week | 30 min/week | 1 h/week |
| Acting / Performance (Jeu) | 1 h/week | 1 h/week | 1 h/week |
| Discipline Exploration | 30 min/week | 30 min/week | — |
SCHOOL YEAR 2026–2027
The Fall 2026 semester will run from September 2 to December 12 (break from October 12 to 16). The Winter 2027 semester will take place from January 6 to June 12 (spring break from March 1 to 6).
| Programme | Lundi | Mardi | Mercredi | Vendredi | Samedi |
| PPC | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | — | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM |
| PPS | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | — | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM |
| PPD | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM |
To be eligible for the program, applicants must:
Be between 10 and 22 years of age;
Successfully pass the various stages of the audition process;
Have previous experience in an artistic, acrobatic, or athletic discipline.
A non-refundable application fee of $50 CAD must be paid upon submission.
Any document written in a language other than French or English must be accompanied by a certified translation.
The following documents must be submitted:
A copy of the birth certificate indicating sex assigned at birth and parents’ names, in PDF format;
A copy of a valid provincial health insurance card (for Canadian residents);
A passport-style ID photo in JPEG format.
Video auditions are offered only when authorized by the National Circus School (École nationale de cirque).
Applicants must follow these steps:
Watch the demonstration video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH6t8JKicjI
Perform all the movements shown in the video that they are able to execute. Movements that cannot be performed may simply be omitted.
Combine the sequences into a single video, upload it to YouTube, and submit the requested link.
PPC: $2,920 plus taxes
PPS: $3,160 plus taxes
PPD: $3,790 plus taxes
You can consult our FAQ or contact us by email at mbrobert@enc.qc.ca.