From February 11 to 21, students of the Kyiv Municipal Academy of Circus and Performing Arts (KMACPA) took part in an international circus residency in Toulouse, France, hosted by the renowned circus school Lido (Ésacto’Lido).
As part of the programme, the students engaged in an intensive training process that included workshops, daily practice, and exchange with French colleagues. Special focus was placed on stage movement, acting expression, and contemporary circus practices.
The residency concluded with a final performance presented by the participants in the space of the contemporary art museum Les Abattoirs (Musée – Frac Occitanie Toulouse), where the students showcased the creative work developed during their stay.
A round table was also held as part of the programme, bringing together representatives of the academy, French partners, and international experts to discuss key issues in circus education, international collaboration, and support for emerging artists. The participants of the round table included: Pascal Jacob, artistic director of Cirque Phénix and circus historian; Roman Khafizov (Cirque Inshi); Nina Araya, assistant to the rector at KMACPA; Isabel Joly, director of the European Federation of Circus Schools; and Rebecca Duclos, professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts at Concordia University (Montreal), member of ELIA, and director of the Steering Committee of the UAx Platform.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our partners who made this project possible: the Ukrainian Instituteand the Charitable Foundation for the Development of Ukrainian Art, for their support, collaboration, and contribution to the development of international educational initiatives.
