| National Circus School | |
|---|---|
| École nationale de cirque | |
| Established | 1986 |
| Type | circus arts training, academic subjects at the secondary and college |
| Religious affiliation | Cité des Arts du Cirque; Cirque du Soleil and En Piste |
| Location | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Athletics | dance, acrobatics |
| Website | |
The National Circus School (French: École nationale de cirque) is a professional circus school located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is a school for higher education in arts; after the great schools of music, dance and theatre, the NCS also offers academic subjects at the secondary and college levels. It is the only circus school in the Western world to offer the complete spectrum of professional education, from preparatory programs for young people ages 9 and older to professional placement for graduate artists, as well as training for circus instructors and trainers.
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At the Immaculate Conception Centre, a circus school begins to attract young artists interested in theatrical acrobatics. A real passion for all circus arts develops, training expands. Programming evolves as students of various backgrounds come together, united by a firm intention to become true circus artists. Very soon the Immaculate Conception Centre can no longer contain the rapid growth of the National Circus School (NCS). In 1989 the School moved to the Dalhousie station facilities in Old Montreal. The only institution to offer professional circus teaching in North America, the NCS has become one of the world's major circus schools.
Meanwhile, contemporary circus arts experience exponential growth throughout the world. The need to train a greater number of versatile and highly skilled artists, by now the hallmark of the Quebec circus, is apparent. The NCS launches into a new phase of growth that sees it relocating to the Cité des Arts du Cirque as a founding member, along with Cirque du Soleil and En Piste, the national network for circus arts. In 2003 the NCS completes the move to a new building custom built to its specifications in the heart of Tohu, as this new complex is known.
In addition to circus arts training, the NCS also offers academic subjects at the secondary and college levels.
Through its efforts to ensure that circus arts training leads to a diploma recognized by the Quebec ministry for Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport, the School has contributed towards enhancing the social standing of circus artists.
After 25 years, the circus world of today includes hundreds of artists who have undertaken professional training at NCS. The placement rate for graduates averages 95 percent. On the strength of their great versatility and mastery of their chosen discipline, these artists continue to develop their crafts as they perform in the most prestigious venues on all continents.
In every country where the contemporary circus has taken root, the NCS has come to be considered a resource in matters pertaining to the training of highest-caliber circus artists. Its international standing also translates into an ability to attract students from around the globe.
The first level of professional training, this extracurricular program is aimed at students 9 years of age or older. It is a preparatory program for advanced training in the circus arts that allows students to continue their primary or secondary education in another school.
Disciplines taught during the program are dance, acting, physical training, manipulation, balancing, acrobatics and aerials.
The program begins with a mandatory two-week training camp during the month of August. Regular instruction spans a 10-month period, with 13 to 16 hours of instruction per week divided into 4 or 5 sessions held Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, and Saturday mornings.
The candidate must demonstrates proficiency in the circus arts, dance, a martial art or acrobatic sport with an artistic component, such as artistic or rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline, diving, figure skating, etc., has developed physical and psychomotor skills such as coordination, spatial orientation, flexibility and body awareness and is in excellent health, is enrolled in another local primary or secondary school, is available evenings during the week and on Saturdays, is able to manage spare and travel time effectively and demonstrates determination, discipline and creativity.
This arts/academic program is offered to students in Grades 7 through 11. It combines required academic subjects as outlined by the Quebec secondary school curriculum with professional training in the circus arts. After obtaining their high school diploma, students pursue higher education through the Diploma of Collegial Studies in Circus Arts (DEC) program.
Disciplines taught during the program are dance, acting, physical training, manipulation, balancing, acrobatics and aerials.
The candidate has completed primary school and may have already begun secondary studies, is in good academic standing, has developed physical and psychomotor skills such as coordination, spatial orientation, flexibility and body awareness, is in excellent health, demonstrates proficiency in the circus arts, dance, a martial art or an acrobatic sport with artistic character, such as artistic or rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline, diving, figure skating, etc., and exhibits autonomy, determination, discipline and creativity.
The candidate's knowledge of the French language meets the requirements of the level in which she or he enters the program. A candidate who lacks proficiency in French but demonstrates an above-average ability to learn and has an excellent student record may be admitted conditional to a commitment to acquire the necessary level of French prior to entry into the School.
French is the language of instruction for both academic subjects and circus art training. However, the School's French immersion program favours Canadian students who have not previously attended a French-language School. In order to facilitate academic progress, the school may accept a candidate who has a minimal knowledge of French prior to enrollment.
This 3-year program marks the pinnacle of higher education in the circus arts and leads directly to a professional career. Graduates receive a college diploma, Diploma of Collegial Studies in Circus Arts or DEC, from the Quebec Ministry of Education. Intended for Canadian students who have completed their high school studies, the program combines specialized training in the circus and theatre arts with a general college education.
This higher education program aims to produce professional circus artists, creators and performers. Upon completion, graduates are capable of creating and interpreting short circus works or numbers at a professional level. Graduates are able to dance, act and sing, actively participate in every step of a single or collective work, as well as interpret existing works. Graduates will have learned how to maintain good health as well as manage both creative projects and their careers.
Specialized training in circus arts
Technical courses: physical conditioning, dance, acting, voice and music, performance and creation as well as basic and advanced techniques of aerials, acrobatics, balancing and manipulation.
Theory courses: circus history, applied anatomy, methodology, health and safety, staging techniques and career management.
Detailed program contents are presented in the course schedule and the specialized and complementary techniques outlines.
Training is given in French. The candidate must have an excellent knowledge of the English language, as well as a working knowledge of the French language. The candidate whose first language is English may take the 4 English literature courses (instead of French literature) and the 2 courses of French as a second language. A student who has not sufficiently mastered the French language may be required to take additional language courses at the school.
Intended exclusively for foreign students who have completed their high school studies, this 3-year program constitutes the final phase of higher education in the circus arts. Graduates receive a diploma from the School or DEE, as they prepare for a professional career.
Courses in theoretical and applied anatomy, nutrition, staging techniques and career management complement practical subjects.
Students continue their training in the circus arts through courses in their chosen minor and/or major from among 5 disciplines: aerials, balancing, acrobatics, manipulation and clowning arts.
Detailed program contents are presented in the course schedule and minor or major course outlines.
The ideal candidate has completed secondary studies, possesses both talent and potential, and is ready to pursue higher education and to complete it within 3 years. She or he has developed a high level of physical and psychomotor skills such as coordination, spatial orientation, flexibility and body awareness, and has demonstrated musicality.
The candidate has undertaken preparatory training in circus arts or dance, or practiced an advanced level of martial art or sport discipline such as artistic or rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline, diving, or figure skating.
The candidate demonstrates obvious artistic inclination and great creativity, is autonomous, determined and disciplined, seeks new challenges, is curious, open to the world and to other artistic forms.
The candidate has a functional knowledge of either the French* or English languages.
This summer program in the form of a two-week intensive summer camp allows young people ages 13 to 17 to experience professional training in circus arts.
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