Les Impromptus — Académie Fratellini
Contemporary circus festival at Académie Fratellini, La Plaine Saint-Denis
About Les Impromptus
Les Impromptus: Two Days of Free Circus in La Plaine Saint-Denis
Les Impromptus is the major public event of the Académie Fratellini, the international higher education school for circus arts located in La Plaine Saint-Denis. Every June, for two days, the Academy transforms into a space for celebration and sharing: end-of-year student performances, workshops open to all, demonstrations, and performances by guest artists take place in the Grand Chapiteau, the Petit Chapiteau, the studios, and the outdoor areas of the site.
The great originality of this event is its completely free admission. During these two days, residents of La Plaine Saint-Denis and the entire Seine-Saint-Denis region can discover circus arts in all their diversity, attend performances by the next generation of French and international circus artists, and even try circus practice themselves in workshops offered by the Academy's students and teachers.
Académie Fratellini: An International Institution
Founded in 2003 by Annie Fratellini, granddaughter of the legendary clown Paul Fratellini, Académie Fratellini quickly established itself as one of the most reputable circus schools in the world. Each year, it welcomes around a hundred students—dancers, acrobats, jugglers, tightrope walkers, aerialists—of all nationalities for a high-level professional training program.
The Academy has been located in La Plaine Saint-Denis since 2003, at 1-9 rue des Cheminots, in a remarkable architectural complex that combines big tops, rehearsal rooms, and creation spaces. In October 2025, after three years of renovation and expansion, the Academy inaugurated its newly renovated and enlarged building, offering even better training and creation conditions.
Pedagogy Combining Tradition and Innovation
The pedagogy at Académie Fratellini is based on a dual heritage: that of the great family circus tradition, carried by the Fratellini name, and that of contemporary creation, which renews the forms and languages of the circus. Students learn fundamental technical disciplines—acrobatics, balance, aerial arts, juggling, clowning—but are also encouraged to develop a personal artistic approach, in dialogue with other performing arts, dance, music, and visual arts.
This approach, which combines technical mastery and artistic creation, is reflected in the end-of-year performances presented during Les Impromptus, which showcase both the students' technical achievements and their ability to invent new forms.
A Festival Rooted in the Territory
Les Impromptus is also a local event, a moment of connection between the Academy and the residents of La Plaine Saint-Denis and Seine-Saint-Denis. Académie Fratellini plays an important role in the cultural and social life of the area: it offers amateur circus classes for all ages and levels, develops partnerships with local schools and social structures, and contributes to the promotion of La Plaine Saint-Denis as a center of artistic and educational excellence.
The festival also features a concert in partnership with the Festival de Saint-Denis, highlighting the close ties between the two Dionysian institutions and the richness of the city's cultural ecosystem.
Sunday 100% Circus: The Regular Format
Outside of the festival, Académie Fratellini offers Sunday 100% Circus events throughout the year, open days with workshops and performances for families. These regular events complement the Impromptus program and allow the general public to discover the Academy and circus arts outside the exceptional annual festival.
Les Impromptus — edition 2026
The Impromptus 2026 take place on June 20 and 21, 2026 at the Académie Fratellini, La Plaine Saint-Denis. Two days, from 11 am to 7 pm, to discover all facets of the Academy: six contemporary circus shows (artists trained at the school, students from the leisure school, and guest companies), circus workshops open to all, demonstrations, and two exceptional concerts under the Grand Chapiteau in partnership with the Festival de Saint-Denis and the vocal ensemble Sequenza 9.3. Paid edition (from 7 to 20 € per day).
2026 Edition — June 20 and 21
The Impromptus 2026 will take over the Académie Fratellini on June 20 and 21, 2026, from 11 am to 7 pm. This is the first major public edition to be held in the entirely renovated and expanded Academy, inaugurated in October 2025, whose new facilities offer more ambitious creation and performance spaces.
For two days, the public is invited to explore all areas of the Academy: Grand Chapiteau, big tops, rehearsal studios, and outdoor spaces host shows, workshops, and demonstrations centered around contemporary circus creation.
Six Contemporary Circus Shows
Artists trained at the higher education school, students from the leisure school, and several guest companies come together to celebrate the vitality of contemporary circus. Six shows are on the program: Comme et pareil by Jean-Baptiste André, Mon Royaume pour un cheval by Cie La Bossue, Inertie by Cie Underclouds, Mue by Mélodie Morin, Les Terres Hautes by Cie SenCirk, and Mauvais Joueurs by Mehdi Kerkouche.
Two Concerts with the Festival de Saint-Denis
Two exceptional concerts will be given under the Grand Chapiteau in partnership with the Festival de Saint-Denis: Formes instables de gravité on Saturday, June 20 at 5:30 pm, and Three Colors on Sunday, June 21 at 5:30 pm with the vocal ensemble Sequenza 9.3 and the Ensemble Links, combining music and circus arts in a spirit of celebration and sharing.
A Now Paid Edition
Unlike previous years, the Impromptus 2026 weekend is paid: expect to pay from 7 to 20 € for the full day (and from 13.50 to 22.50 € depending on the shows and concerts). Online ticketing on the Academy's official platform.
Programme Les Impromptus 2026
Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21, 2026 — 11 am to 7 pm
The six shows
- Comme et pareil — Jean-Baptiste André (from 3 years old)
- Mon Royaume pour un cheval — Cie La Bossue (from 6 years old)
- Inertie — Cie Underclouds (all audiences)
- Mue — Mélodie Morin (from 5 years old)
- Les Terres Hautes — Cie SenCirk (all audiences)
- Mauvais Joueurs — Mehdi Kerkouche (all audiences)
The two concerts (Grand Chapiteau · in partnership with Festival de Saint-Denis)
- Saturday, June 20 · 5:30 pm — Formes instables de gravité (Ensemble Saxback and Academy apprentices)
- Sunday, June 21 · 5:30 pm — Three Colors (vocal ensemble Sequenza 9.3, Ensemble Links and Academy apprentices)
Continuous over both days
- Circus practice workshops open to all (from 5 years old)
- Demonstrations and project presentations in the studios and outdoor spaces
- Discovery of the Academy's new renovated facilities
Highlights Les Impromptus 2026
- Six contemporary circus shows (Jean-Baptiste André, Cie La Bossue, Cie Underclouds, Mélodie Morin, Cie SenCirk, Mehdi Kerkouche)
- Two concerts under the Grand Chapiteau with the Festival de Saint-Denis and the vocal ensemble Sequenza 9.3
- First major public edition in the renovated and expanded Academy (inaugurated in October 2025)
- Circus workshops open to all, from 5 years old
Prices Les Impromptus 2026
Practical information — Les Impromptus
Location
Académie Fratellini
1-9 rue des Cheminots, 93210 La Plaine Saint-Denis (Saint-Denis)
Access
- RER B: stop « La Plaine — Stade de France »
- RER D: stop « Stade de France — Saint-Denis »
- Metro line 14: stop « Saint-Denis — Pleyel »
- Bus 139 and 173: stop « Landy-Cheminots »
Impromptus Prices
Unlike previous years, the 2026 edition of the Impromptus weekend is ticketed: from 7 to 20 € for the full day, and from 13.50 to 22.50 € depending on the shows and concerts. Workshops and some activities remain free of charge.
Program and Reservations
Program and ticketing on academie-fratellini.com (online ticketing via academie-fratellini.mapado.com). Limited places, reservation recommended.
Academy Opening Hours
Open Monday to Friday from 10 AM to 1 PM and from 2 PM to 6 PM.
Contact
Académie Fratellini
1-9 rue des Cheminots, 93210 La Plaine Saint-Denis
Tel.: 01 49 46 00 00
Official website: academie-fratellini.com
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Where does it take place — Les Impromptus
Académie Fratellini
1-9 rue des Cheminots, 93210 Saint-Denis