C'est le Cirque à Courcelles

C'est le Cirque à Courcelles: Circus in the heart of the Haute-Marne countryside

Since 2014, the C'est le Cirque à Courcelles festival has been making the hamlet of Courcelles-sur-Aujon vibrate to the rhythm of circus arts. Organized by the Maison de Courcelles, a popular education association based on the pedagogy of freedom, this event was born from a simple and generous idea: how to reopen the House to the inhabitants of the territory and infuse it with cultural energy? The volunteers' response was unanimous: create a circus festival.

From artisanal origins to a recognized event

The festival was born from the meeting of two companies hosted in residence at the Maison de Courcelles, with the desire to present the different stages of show creation to the public. Over the years, the event has grown step by step: first local artists, then companies recruited from all over France; first the rooms of the House, then circus big tops erected in the surrounding meadows. In 2024, the festival celebrated its 10th anniversary with a memorable edition.

A circus and multidisciplinary program

Each edition offers a selection of shows blending disciplines of contemporary circus: acrobatics, balancing, juggling, trapeze, tightrope walking, clowning, and physical performances. The festival hosts both intimate solos under the big top and collective outdoor performances. Clowns play an increasingly important role in the programming, alongside acrobatic acts and musical creations.

Among the companies that have marked recent editions:

• Compagnie La Parataxe: circus solos for all audiences
• Les Branques Associés with their show “Percollons-nous”
• Les Humains Gauches: “Les raisins de la connerie”
• Le Cirque du Corbak: residency shows and creations
• Compagnie L'Encordée: “Baudrières”
• Le Courcirkoui: “Boys Band Baroque”

A village festival spirit

What distinguishes C'est le Cirque à Courcelles from other festivals is its deeply convivial and popular spirit. Here, there are no barriers between ages, styles, or disciplines. The festival is a true moment of village life where neighbors, friends, families, and curious passers-by come together.

Shows are offered on a pay-what-you-can basis, allowing everyone to access them according to their means. Meals are prepared on-site by volunteers, using local and seasonal products, accompanied by local drinks. Circus practice workshops are offered to children and families, turning every visitor into an apprentice acrobat for an afternoon.

La Maison de Courcelles: a place for popular education

The festival is part of the overall project of the Maison de Courcelles, a popular education association that organizes holiday camps, discovery classes (including circus arts stays), artistic residencies, and cultural events throughout the year. Since 2015, the Maison has hosted numerous companies in residence, fostering a close link between artistic creation and rural territory.

The Maison de Courcelles also hosts the family festival HOP la!, aimed at very young children, and develops partnerships with cultural players in the Grand Est region, notably the Grand CIEL network (Circus and itinerancy in Lorraine and Grand Est).