For 35 years, the Paris l'Été festival has been the major summer event for the performing arts in Paris. Theatre, dance, concerts, circus : original, top-class shows, often in the open air, take over monuments, squares, parks and streets. Here's our child-friendly selection :
Les Trampolinades : The performers from Hors Surface take to the Canopée des Halles with their multiple trampolines for an extraordinary show.
The following 3 shows are on offer in the Jardins des Tuileries.
Moon - Cabinet of Lunar Curiosities: Improbable acrobatics, poetic inventions, whimsical machines... Moon is a lively trail-exhibition, made up of short performances (10 minutes each) combining dance, circus and dreamlike worlds.
Séquenza: An unlikely encounter between French electro star Chloé and Bulgarian marimba virtuoso Vassilena Serafimova. A singular concert, at the crossroads of acoustic and electronic sounds.
Birds on a Wire : another duet, with Dom La Nena (a magnificent cellist) and Rosemary Standley, who combine their sublime voices to perform covers of everything from rock and baroque music to nursery rhymes, from Tom Waits to Barbara, Jacques Brel and The Cure.
At each performance, a catering point will be set up by the wonderful caterer Le Recho, which celebrates both the richness of the flavours and the human journey of the chefs behind each dish.
The 2024 César for best animated film is a jewel of tenderness and poetry. In Forbidden to Dogs and Italians, Alain Ughetto reconstructs the life of his paternal grandparents, modest farmers from Piedmont. Poverty, war and the hazards of life forced them to migrate wherever work called them : France, Switzerland, and even a failed attempt to leave for America.
Through their story, the Franco-Italian tensions of the 1st half of the 20th century unfold : the First World War, the rise of fascism, but also the happier events of the Front Populaire and the beginnings of the Tour de France.
It's all brought to life by stop-motion animation that's full of charm and inventiveness : broccoli for trees, sugar cubes for bricks, the director's hands intervening in the scenery... A poetic do-it-yourself film full of sweetness !
The Opéra Garnier is offering an immersive, dreamlike adventure. It follows the journey of a young singer through three great classics, including Carmen, during which participants are invited to take part. The scenario is fairly simple, but the experience, especially for a first approach to virtual reality, proves to be fun and surprising.
The ticket also includes a self-guided tour of the Opéra Garnier, before or after the session, with no (often long) queues, which is a real bonus.
A great way to introduce children to the world of opera in an original and interactive way. The experience is recommended for children aged 8-10 and over (below this age, the headphones may not fit properly).
The work of Marie-Laure de Decker, photographer and leading figure in photojournalism, is fascinating and beautiful. The Maison Européenne de la Photographie (MEP) is devoting its first major retrospective to her, paying tribute to a committed career.
A pioneer at a time when women were rare on the battlefield, Marie-Laure de Decker began her first photos outside an agency, going to Vietnam on her own. She later joined the Gamma agency, and went on to cover the major conflicts of the twentieth century : Yemen, Chad, Jordan, apartheid-era South Africa, Chile in revolt... almost living the life of a guerrilla.
While the MEP does not offer any specific activities for children, the images can be enjoyed by anyone over the age of 8 : often gentle, sometimes humorous, but always imbued with a profound humanity.
A woman of magnetic beauty, Marie-Laure de Decker has made it a point of honour not to show violence head-on. No blood, no violent scenes: she chose to reveal the dignity of individuals rather than seek out shocking images.
To extend the visit or prepare for it, episodes of the programme À voix nue(France Culture) offer an intimate immersion in her world, to the sound of her deep, calm, almost bewitching voice.
Until 28 September 5 rue de Fourcy - Paris 4
Le Bal des Pompiers
The Firefighters' Ball in Paris is a tradition that dates back to 1937, when the Montmartre fire station organized a dance to strengthen the bond between firefighters and citizens while raising funds for emergency services. Since then, this tradition has continued and become a joyful, festive, and popular annual event !
Many fire stations celebrate on the evening of July 13th. This year, in the 16th arrondissement, the Dauphine fire station on Rue de Mesnil will be hosting the festivities. Starting at 6 PM, a DJ will be setting the mood !
It will be also a great opportunity to admire the reinforced concrete structure designed by architect Rob Mallet-Stevens, his only public commission and final major work, built between 1935 and 1937.
A two-hour cruise on the Canal de l'Ourcq in the company of hip-hop specialists and the French Beatbox champion. The performances, soundtrack and commentary by the speakers will plunge you into the amazing history of urban culture.
For a bucolic, charming, elegant and easy family (or romantic) getaway, Domaine du Primard is an ideal address, less than an hour from Paris. The Fontenille group has converted Catherine Deneuve's former home into a charming hotel... very, very charming !
Children will love it here : farm animals, snacks served by the river, bicycles available (for young and old), rowing boats on the pond, a large swimming pool, tennis courts and paddle courts.
Catherine Deneuve left behind a treasure : Gérard, her long-time gardener. Gérard has always been loyal to the place, passionately tending a magnificent vegetable garden and sometimes agreeing, on request, to show younger visitors around, just long enough to pass on a little of his love of the land.
The two little extras that make all the difference :
Easy access : direct train from Saint-Lazare station, in less than an hour.
An unforgettable dinner: the beautifully decorated greenhouse nestling in the heart of the rose garden can be hired out for a candlelit dinner.
Henri, who is well known to our Academy Union School pupils, is leading a course aimed at children who are curious and/or passionate! Whether they're beginners or experienced players, the youngsters will be playing squash, an introduction to jeu de paume and a whole host of other fun and refreshing sporting activities !
Music Together center is offering family music classes in English for children 0-5 years through the end of July (on Wednesday’s and Saturday’s morning) at the American Church
Perfect for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers aged 0-5 years, and the grownups who love making music with them ! You'll sing, dance, and jam to favorites from the Teal Song collection that Union School children were learning this year. This sunny blend will keep your little ones moving, grooving and smiling all summer long.
Because this game fits easily into a suitcase, because it muscles the brain of the whole family, and because we love its colorful designer shapes, Papier Tigre's memory game is ideal for the summer vacations !
The modernised version of the traditional tale, adapted by Jul (the cartoonist behind Silex and the City), has been deemed too adult by the French Ministry of Education, which has cancelled the order for 800,000 copies initially intended for CM2 pupils as part of the ‘Un livre pour les vacances’ (A book for the holidays) operation. The book is criticised for dealing with themes that are unsuitable for this young audience, such as alcohol, social networks and certain complex social realities. In response, a score of celebrities (from Gaël Faye to Augustin Trapenard, via Edouard Philippe) took it in turns to read a few extracts from the 18th-century work on camera. The video, full of finesse and gentleness, invites debate !
As for the book, the best thing to do is to make up your own mind : leaf through it in bookshops before making up your mind!
Informed English book recommendations from the experts at English bookshop Smith & Son.
A little girl discovers her local bookshop, a place full of wishes, dreams, wonders and endless of possibilities. Books are a wonderful tool to get inspired, to dream and even to find a passion. With beautiful illustrations and gorgeous colours, this is a love letter to indie bookshops.
Mevan lives in a beautiful country with her loving family. But one day she is forced to flee. After a rough journey, she arrives in the Netherlands where everything is different. In her chaotic life, one specific act of kindness from a stranger is going to make a difference. A beautiful and moving story, based on the author's life.
Iggy and Cal love their new house and especially their new garden. From there, they can access Wildtop Wood. Some will say this place is dangerous, but that won't stop the two brothers from going on an adventure. What will they encounter there ? Find out by reading this witty and magical story.
In 2050, no human being can enter the Wildlands, a region that has been taken over by nature and wilderness. The only exception is a train that goes from London to Glasgow. When sisters Astrid and Indie are accidentally left behind, they are forced to use their ingenuity to survive. In this adventurous tale, the two girls will have to show some courage and every decision they'll take will strengthen their sibling bond.
For 9-10 years old
Nous restons à votre disposition pour tout complément d’information : UNION SCHOOL - Anne-Sophie de Monès
