History

The APCA (Association Promoting Culture and the Arts)-James Carlès’ dance company was created in 1992 –eclectic, free-spirited and intercultural. It reflected the image and ideals of Carlès philosophy of living dance.

In 1998, James Carlès created the Dance Centre to further develop creativity, transmit and assure the perpetuation of the artistic and cultural work engaged.

In a context where dance schools normally favor compartmentalisation and specialisation of its students, the James Carlès Centre opened a revolutionary way, where technique was inseparable from culture. 

At the same time, APCA - James Carlès Company created a festival « Dance à Toulouse » which served as a window into the atypical process of validating popular dance. But it was still too early for institutional recognition.

2000 saw the creation of the Professional Training: interdisciplinary and intercultural. Bridges are created between disciplines; cultures mingle and rub shoulders, bringing about unexpected encounters; a collective awareness that both Art and Dance must be a reflection of the current pluralistic society.

The school is successful and develops internationally by developing partnerships with schools located in Russia, Guadeloupe, Senegal, Italy, USA…

Each year the James Carlès Centre organizes exceptional international trainings and workshops which, beyond bringing disciplines together, showcases the professors who are also concerned with transmitting their heritage as well as the techniques they are teaching.