Pedagogical Actions

Mediation is a founding principle of La Frontera. Since the company’s creation, it has included artistic workshops, meetings with the local populations of certain regions, handwritten exchanges, and training for professional artists as part of its work. This reflects its commitment to questioning the accessibility of art and fostering true societal development through personal empowerment. Since 2018, Stefan Kinsman has worked with young people under judicial protection, victims of domestic violence, immigrants, asylum seekers, men and women in detention centers, as well as high school, middle school, and university students.

Artistic Mediation

"Artistic and cultural mediation is not a task to be left solely to institutions. Artistic companies and the artists themselves have a true responsibility to invent and create actions connected to their art, their philosophy, and their expertise. Artists are the ones who best know their own work. If these actions are only led by institutions, we risk stifling any creativity and inventiveness linked to the works. This would deeply undermine the goal of artistic mediation: to make art accessible."

- Stefan Kinsman

Photo Credits Pauline Gouablin

For each of the company’s artistic projects, an artistic mediation form is created, designed to relate to the performance and adapt to the planned moments of encounter.

Adventures of John
The Field

Photo Credits Ximena Lemaire Castro

Pedagogy

Stefan Kinsman is deeply interested in circus pedagogy. He has worked in most of the leading circus schools in Europe (CNAC, ESACTO LIDO, FRATELLINI, ENACR, ESAC, CODARTS, ENCC, FLIC, and VERTIGO) across multiple areas, always as an instructor. Roles he has undertaken include mentoring outgoing personal projects, conducting research within the discipline, directing final-year student productions, and teaching cultural mediation to students.

In 2023, he created a pedagogical program to teach creation of cultural mediation linked to the students’ artistic projects at the Centre National des Arts du Cirque in Châlons-en-Champagne (CNAC). In 2020, thanks to a partnership with the École nationale de cirque de Rosny-Sous-Bois (ENACR), La Frontera staged a performance at the Lycée Langevin Wallon in Rosny-Sous-Bois. In 2023, Stefan Kinsman directed the end-of-year production at ENCC Châtellerault circus school, Habitons le Trouble. He has also worked in other circus schools end of year creations, namely in CODARTS. In 2024, he was invited to collaborate with Martin Palisse and David Gauchard on the creation of Brûler d’EnvieS, CNAC’s 36th graduating class performance.

"The value of passing on one’s craft has been a defining feature of circus for generations. This value has been generously shown to me, and I aim to honor it and share it."

- Stefan Kinsman

Photo Credits Pauline Gouablin

Photo Credits Ximena Lemaire Castro

Wheel

Since 2013, Stefan Kinsman has been developing a unique Wheel technique alongside Juan Ignacio Tula. Together, they began sharing and teaching their approach through workshops across Europe, South America, and Central America. Stefan has worked in numerous circus schools as a researcher in the Wheel discipline. Today, he dedicates his teaching at CNAC (Centre National des Arts du Cirque) and to professional artists through workshops at Le Sirque, Pôle National Cirque de Nexon.

In addition, Stefan organizes the annual, international Wheel gathering at La Central del Circ in Barcelona, alongside artists Felipe Nardiello, Marine Degrandmaison, and Lorena Madurga.

“We’ve become accustomed to wanting to understand every inch of a movement or a figure (thanks to slow-motion videos), and in doing so, we forget what it means to create our own versions. Personal versions are what color the world, what make us unique, and above all, what pushes the boundaries of the wheel. To this day, the search for a unique identity through the Wheel remains my greatest motivation as a performer and teacher.”

- Stefan Kinsman

Photo Credits Jean Penninck

Next Wheel Research and Creation Workshop: Dates: Mai 2nd – 8th, 2027 (Registration open)

The workshops are designed to develop unique and personal approaches to the Wheel, using a creative, research-driven technique. The sessions will be guided by a somatic methodology, focusing on the individual identities of practitioners rather than solely on the apparatus. The essence of each artist will be the starting point for the work.

Information & Registration for the annual Wheel Workshop

For our Wheel Research and Creation workshops, please find the necessary information below:

  • Levels: Intermediate and advanced only (registration by dossier + video)

  • Dates: Arrival day: one day before, Departure: one day after (mandatory)

  • Location: Le Sirque, Pôle National Cirque – Nexon, France

  • Duration: 7 hours per day / five days

  • Cost: 650€ (includes accommodation with facilities, lunch, and dinner)

  • Limited to 5 participants

Participants are selected based on technical and creative levels, as well as the group dynamic. If you're interested, please send an email to kinsman@lafrontera.fr with: a short biography/CV and a brief video of your practice with the Wheel.

Information & Registration for the Gathering in Barcelona

Wheel Gathering at La Central del Circ, Barcelona: Dates: March 26th – 28th, 2027 (Registration open shortly)

The gathering is centered around a specific artistic mission: to offer the Wheel new artistic horizons by developing and evolving the personal approaches of each artist. We wish to create a space where each participant can share, evolve, reflect, and deepen their own research around the Wheel.

During these gatherings, we propose guided research sessions, discussions and reflections around specific themes, collective improvisation sessions, shared jams, duo and group work and exchanges on Wheel pedagogy.

Thus, we invite Wheel artists, educators, and enthusiasts from around the globe who wish to share and develop their vision of the Wheel.

Photo Credits Jean Penninck