Bullfighting for boys
Ten-year-old Nino might just be facing a young calf here, but someday he dreams of being a professional bullfighter, testing his skills against fully grown toros.
The youngster is an apprentice at the French Tauromachy Centre, an institution in the south of France that trains youths in the art of the toreador and allows them to take part in practice bullfights, during which they perform against calves but do not kill them.
Young apprentices at the French Tauromachy Centre practice a pass with a muleta, a stick with a cloth attached to it, used by a matador in the ring.
A young toreador apprentice passes his cape in front of an artificial bull.
Nino, nicknamed "El Nino", holds a sword as he strikes a practice bull during a course at the bullring in Garons, not far from Nimes.
The ten-year-old, who has been taking bullfighting courses for a year, prepares to lunge with his sword.
He sits in the arena in Garons.
Solal, nicknamed Solalito, reads a bullfighting magazine at his house in Nimes.
The youngster, who has been taking bullfighting courses for three years, dresses up for a beginner's bullfight, known as a becerrada.
Solal practises a muleta pass with a shirt in the middle of the street.
Solal looks down at calves arriving at the arena in Bouillargues, not far from Nimes, for a beginner’s bullfight.
Nino waits to perform in the arena during the event.
Muletas and swords lean against the wall.
Solal and Nino watch another youth take part in the becerrada.
Nino performs a muleta pass.
Solal shows off his skills against a calf.
He kneels down in front of the animal.
