The tricks of artistic training: Learning from bartabas's academy of equestrian arts

This article describes a case study of training riders at the Versailles Academy of Equestrian Arts, an equestrian choreographic school founded by the artist Bartabas. Although it follows in the footsteps of the great riding schools, the Academy is free from the constraints of the equestrian tradition. The originality of Bartabas's approach is that it brings riders in contact with various artistic and sports disciplines in order to develop their own artistic sensibility. The author examines the transmission of knowledge through the connection between the artist and his/her material, which involves the development of techniques and the rider's "feel." Also discussed are the lessons to be drawn from the analysis, contact with other disciplines and creators, long-Term transmission, and apprenticeship with an uncertain outlook.