Preparatory Program, ages 9 to 13.
18th Century
| 1768 |
Birth of the modern circus In London the initiative of a demobilized soldier, Philip Astley, sees the first spectacle linking trick horseback riders and acrobatic prowess. Nevertheless, its creator was not to baptize it as such: it was not until 1782 and Charles Hughes that the term "circus" would come to identify an equestrian and acrobatic show. |
| 1779 | The ring is born For the first time the ring inside a building expands to a diameter of 13 metres. From this time forward, this dimension will be universal. |
| 1782 | Baptism of the term Circus Charles Hughes, a rival of Philip Astley, opens the Royal Circus. Equestrian and acrobatic acts find an identity. |
| 1793 | The modern circus arrives in America British equestrian Bill Ricketts settles in Philadelphia with his troupe. He builds a resident circus there and establishes this new form of spectacle in America. |
| 1797 | Establishment of the circus arts in Quebec British equestrian John Bill Ricketts visits Montreal for 6 months and introduces circus arts to Quebec. |
19th Century
| 1806 | The modern circus arrives in France For the first time, the word "cirque" adorns a building pediment: the Cirque Olympique des Franconi inaugurates the circus era in France. |
| 1825 | Birth of the big top In America, Joshua Purdy Brown adapts a tent to accommodate his trick riding show: the 'big top', or circus tent, is born. |
| 1825 | Swedish equestrian Philip Lailson introduces his troupe to Quebec audiences. |
| 1852 | Founding in Paris of the Cirque Napoléon, today the Cirque d'Hiver. |
| 1859 | Invention of the flying trapeze Created in Paris, under the cupola of the Cirque Napoléon by Toulousian Jules Léotard, the Course aux trapèzes is the predecessor of the flying trapeze. |
| 1881 | The golden age of American circus Barnum and his colleagues make standard the juxtaposed three-ring concept: the American circus enters a phase of growth. |
20th Century
| 1900 | Juggler L.A. Street invents the bounce ball |
| 1920 | The golden age of British circus On a wager, English businessman Bertram Mills founds his circus at London's Olympia. He initiates a new golden age for the British circus. |
| 1927 | Founding of the Moscow Circus School |
| 1950 | After more than two centuries in eclipse, Chinese theatrical acrobatics regain strength and vitality. |
| 1956 | Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, "the biggest show on earth", definitively abandons the circus tent for arenas. |
| 1971 | Inauguration of the New Moscow Circus, an exceptional facility featuring an extraordinary range of equipment. |
| 1974 | Opening of two first Western circus schools in Paris Upon the initiative of master equestrian Alexis Grüss, actor Silvia Monfort, and actor and illusionist Annie Fratellini with her husband, filmmaker and playwright Pierre Etaix, two schools are born. Creation of the first International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo |
| 1974 | Founding of Cirque Gatini in Quebec |
| 1977 | Founding of the first Bourses Louis Merlin, the future Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain |
| 1978 | The circus in France changes overseeing ministry; it goes from the Ministry of Agriculture to that of culture. |
| 1981 | The National Circus School opens its doors in Montreal |
| 1983 | Founding of Cirque Plume |
| 1984 | Founding of Cirque du Soleil |
| 1985 | Opening of the Centre national des Arts du Cirque (CNAC) in Chalons-en-Champagne |
| 1986 | Founding in Bordeaux, France of Circo Zingaro |
| 1990 | Founding of Cirque du Tonnerre in Québec |
| 1993 | Founding of Cirque Eloize |
| 1995 | Creation of a show for the 7th CNAC presentation, "The Chameleon's Cry", choreographed and staged by Josef Nadj |
| 1995 | Mystère is the first Cirque du Soleil production to become a permanent installation in Las Vegas. |
| 1998 | Founding of Cirque Eos in Quebec |
| 1999 | Founding of the Ecole supérieure des arts du cirque in Brussels |
21th Century
| 2000 | Founding of the National Institute for Circus Arts in Melbourne |
| 2001 | Launch of the Year of the Circus Arts in France |
| 2002 | Founding in Montreal of the company Les 7 doigts de la main |
| 2003 | Opening of a new dedicated building for the National Circus School in Montreal Inauguration of Académie Fratellini in Saint-Denis, France Founding of the Académie équestre in Versailles |
| 2004 | Inauguration of TOHU, la Cité des arts du cirque in Montréal The Cirque du Soleil celebrates 20 years of existence Founding of the equestrian show Cavalia in Quebec |
| 2006 | The National Circus School in Montréal celebrates its 25th anniversary
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