HIGHER EDUCATION

Auditions

Interested in a career in the circus arts?

Make yourself known to our team!

Auditions are required for all candidates applying to the Higher education program in circus arts at the École de Cirque de Québec. Once registered, candidates must take part in an audition session to showcase their skills and demonstrate their circus arts abilities before our selection jury.

IMPORTANT DATES:

  • Registration deadline: February 1, 2026 (french applicants also)
  • Session 1: February 16 and 17* (applicants outside Quebec)
  • Session 2: March 5 and 6* (applicants from Quebec)
Auditions

How to apply to the ECQ

Start by visiting our registration platform, Qidigo.

Then follow these steps:

 Register on Qidigo
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Create your profile and fill in all the required information.

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Upload a high-resolution profile picture or headshot with your face clearly visible.

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Pay the 80$ CA audition fee (by credit card via Qidigo).

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Complete the registration form (previous training, chosen discipline, injuries, motivations, etc.).

Make sure to check your emails regularly and don’t forget to look in your spam folder.

For DEC applicants only

To be eligible for the DEC program, you must also register with the SRACQ.

Application deadline to SRACQ (Cégep Limoilou) : February 1st or March 1st, 2026 depending on where you are from (see details below).

*IMPORTANT: The February 1 deadline is for international as well as french applicants without a study permit who are not currently in Canada.

For questions regarding DEC admission, if you are a candidate from Quebec, please contact the academic advisor (API) Léa-Maude Pépin at Cégep Limoilou – Campus Québec:

418 647-660, ext. 6307

If you are a candidate from France, please contact the international office team at Cégep Limoilou for your SRACQ registration:

https://www.international.cegeplimoilou.com/nous-joindre/contactez-nous/

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Profile selection

You must select and audition under one of the two available profiles which are detailed below.

  • Regular profile: This profile focuses on a main discipline* that you wish to work on and perfect throughout your studies at the École de cirque de Québec. The discipline chosen for the technical evaluation and for your short performance presented during the audition must be this one.
  • Acrobat profile: The acrobat profile focuses on developing multidisciplinary acrobats in group acrobatic disciplines such as trampoline, floor acrobatics, trampoline wall, Chinese rings, Korean board, teeter board, Russian bar, banquine, etc.
    • For the technical evaluation during your audition, you will be assessed on trampoline and advanced acrobatics. The short routine you perform can be in the circus discipline of your choice.

Evaluation criteria for auditions

Whether in person or by video, all applicants will be assessed based on their knowledge, skills and physical abilities in their chosen discipline, as well as basic and artistic techniques in the following areas:

  1. Technical evaluation in the chosen discipline* for the regular profile, or evaluation of trampoline skills and advanced acrobatics for the acrobat profile*
  2. Fitness training
  3. Floor acrobatics
  4. Handstands
  5. Flexibility (active and passive)
  6. Dance
  7. Theatrical play
  8. Stage play
  9. Presentation of a short act

*Main disciplines taught at the ÉCQ:
Aerials and duo aerials (trapeze, dance trapeze, aerial hoop, aerial rope, silks, straps), hoop diving, Russian bar, cradle (aerial, Korean), soft rope, handstand, tightwire, hula-hoop, Icarian games, juggling (diabolo, clubs, balls, staff, etc.), hand-to-hand, Chinese pole, unicycle, teeterboard (Korean, Hungarian), German wheel, Cyr wheel, trampo-wall, acrobatic bicycle.

Mandatory disciplines taught in the acrobat profile at the ÉCQ:
Year 1: trampoline and acrobatics, trampo-wall exploration, Chinese rings, Korean board, vestibular board, Russian bar, banquine.

Year 2: choice of a group discipline to become the main focus.

Guidelines for in-person auditions

Download the in-person audition preparation guide
  • Please make sure that your performance, in your main discipline, respects the allotted time of 2 to 3 minutes maximum.
  • Duo/trio disciplines: Anyone wishing to present a duo or trio act must be accompanied by their partner(s) during the audition. All participants must apply individually to the École de cirque de Québec.
  • Be sure to bring your music in MP3 format on a USB flash drive to your in-person audition.

Guidelines for video auditions

Download the video audition preparation guide

Please note that even if you’re submitting a video audition, you must complete your registration online and pay the audition fee before the deadline of February 1, 2026.

After registering on Qidigo, you will receive a confirmation email with the detailed video instructions and technical evaluation requirements for your chosen discipline.

Your video must be uploaded to YouTube* and the link must be emailed to us by February 9, 2026. Your video must include all the required elements listed in the guide you will receive.

Send your YouTube link to:

 

For your video:

  • Wear form-fitting clothing.
  • Your video should begin with a short verbal introduction (about 30 seconds) including your name, discipline, etc.
  • If you experience copyright issues with the music used in your video, you may send it via Wetransfer instead of uploading to YouTube.

Audition evaluation: timeline and decision

Your audition will be reviewed in February and March. You will receive a decision from us by early April.

Make sure to check your email regularly and don’t forget to look in your spam folder.