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A School for the Arts

The Ecole nationale de cirque (National Circus School) is an institution for higher education located in Montreal with a primary mission to prepare circus artists. Internationally renowned for highest-quality training, the School opens its doors to more than 150 students from all over the country and around the world.

The School provides a complete spectrum of professional programs in circus arts: Preparatory program, Circus and High School Studies and Diploma of Collegial Studies in Circus Arts. It also prepares professional circus arts educators.

A dedicated team of more than 80 teachers, lecturers and guests artists ensures that each student receives personalized attention and encouragement throughout his training. The comprehensive student services provided at the School are specifically designed to respond to the needs of future circus artists. With spacious training areas adapted to accommodate
all disciplines, the School provides a safety-conscious learning environment that is unique in the world.
 

Dedicated to circus arts

With more than 30 years of experience in pedagogy and creation, the School has become a world reference in the teaching of circus disciplines. It is also renowned as an international research centre for circus arts. More than ever, the School today serves as an incubator of inspiration, where performers-creators and designers find their voices, stimulating greater diversity in circus art forms and aesthetics.


MISSION

International in scope, the National Circus School is a higher-education institution for the arts providing programs at the high school and post-secondary levels. It is dedicated to the education and training of professional circus artists, as well as to research and innovation in the circus arts and their pedagogy.

Internationally renowned for highest-quality training, the School opens its doors to more than 150 students from around the world. Since its founding in 1981, the National Circus School has played a crucial role in the development of circus arts in Canada and abroad. As a pioneer of the circus renaissance in Canada, the School has also contributed to the emergence of such circus companies as Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Éloize and The 7 Fingers. The School has become a world reference in the teaching of circus disciplines. It is also renowned as an international research centre for circus arts. More than ever, the National Circus School today serves as an incubator of inspiration, where performers-creators and designers find their voices, stimulating greater diversity in circus art forms and aesthetics.
  • FacilitiesOpen or Close

    In the fall of 2003 the School moved to an entirely new 7,200 square metre building especially designed to provide state-of-the art professional training in the circus arts. With facilities catering to all disciplines while promoting safety, the School provides a unique learning environment in the Cité des arts du cirque.

    These new facilities had an undeniable impact on the School's acceptance rate as well as on the training it offers to young people wanting to become circus performers. The School accepts more full-time students and offers new training and proficiency programs for professional circus performers. In addition to the secondary and the college-level academic education, the École nationale de cirque (National Circus School) now undertakes the professional development of instructors and trainers of circus arts involved in recreational, social action or preparatory training programs.

    The premises are adapted and equipped for the practice of all circus disciplines. They also contain dance, acting, music and body-building studios as well as classrooms for teaching academic subjects, a reference library specializing in the circus arts, and spaces dedicated to training services and the School's administrative offices. In addition, specific facilities will be available for professional circus artists and companies for training, creative, production and performance purposes.

    The new building was designed by the Montreal architectural firm Lapointe, Magne et Associés, which won the Architectural Competition held by the École nationale de cirque (National Circus School) in 2001.

  • HousingOpen or Close

    Attached to the main building, the residences offer complete (including meals), convenient and secure housing 7 days a week to minor students. Each room is equipped with a private bathroom and can accommodate up to three students.

       

2021 Auditions

Registrations are closed.

Next school year begins: 
August 2021

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“The National Circus School is one of the best circus-arts training facilities in the world and
attracts the best students from here and abroad, plus a staff of top-notch instructors. "
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  • The Gazette, Montreal


“Circus has a very different look in Canada and beyond, a phenomenon that can
be credited in good part to the National Circus School… "

  • The Globe and Mail, Toronto
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