Daily Inspiration: Meet Nathalie Yves Gaulthier

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathalie Yves Gaulthier.

Hi Nathalie Yves, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born in a small fishing village in Gaspe, Quebec as an only child. We moved to Nunavut, Northwest territory right below Greenland, when I was six days old.

I grew up amongst natives, with the Inuits and Inuktitut (Eskimo) became my second language after French. I wrote, directed and played a lead role in my first play “Blue Christmas” at age seven, and was interviewed on CBC radio about the show.

We moved to the Laurentians in Montreal when I was 10 years old, and I begun to learn English. I was appearing in numerous French television shows and was a regular on Fan fan Dede and L’école du Music Hall along with some soap operas as well as recording records with well-known Quebec children’s entertainment singers.

But I knew as a child actor that my passion was behind the scenes and in creation…

At age 14, I went to McGill University in the McGill Gifted Children’s program, but most importantly, I launched my first business; Kids in Action.

KIA took off and became the top youth musical theatre program in the West End of Montreal for numerous years.

It was then that the level of production and talents I presented began to catch the eye of Hollywood. I became a talent agent at 16 years old, booking young artists in numerous film and TV projects across Canada and Hollywood.

By age 26 I had talent agencies in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, BC and Beverly Hills and had studied Drama in Education at Concordia University.

Some of the talents I have nurtured and launched include Ryan Gosling, AJ Cook, Jay Baruchel, Sarah Gadon, Rachel Blanchard, Hayden Christensen, and Emily Hampshire as the new upcoming Mary Tyler Moore. Although I was successful with my 4 talent agencies, I knew in my heart I was meant to be a creator and working with youth more hands-on.

In 2000, after 2 of my talent agencies in Canada were literally stolen from me, it actually ended up being the best thing that ever happened to me as it propelled me into opening Los Angeles’s first circus school for youth… It did not take long before the school started turning out elite-level artists, and we became in large demand for professional productions, film, and television… “Le PeTiT CiRqUe” was born in 2002 as the world’s first humanitarian youth circus.

We pride ourselves and having helped raise 6.3 million for global charities, adding in acquiring full-ride college scholarships for our alums and presenting top-tier family entertainment.

I wrote two cirque musicals, with music and lyrics by award-winning Heather Holley/Christina Aguilera’s producer/songwriter). One of the musicals won 14 national youth awards after a one-month run in Santa Monica, CA and sold out every show.

Both of these scripts at musicals are currently in the hands of promoters in the UK and Florida, with the hopes of touring soon (the pandemic put a bit of a wrinkle in that for the moment), but we’re still waiting…

I’d say the pinnacle of my career, thus far, was being commissioned to create a piece for the 2016 Nobel peace prize concert and then creating another act headlining for the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize concert with Le PeTiT CiRqUe.

We headlined the Nobel peace prize concert in Oslo, Norway, along with John Legend, Sigrid and Zara Larson.

My career was on FIRE as Le PeTiT CiRqUe became widely respected and in demand globally.

We were busy with non-stop traveling and performing in some of the largest theaters in Canada and USA, as well as Norway, 21 shows in Dubai UAE, television appearances and appearing at prestigious events.

I am also the circus expert on CBS’s television show, “the worlds best”, with Drew, Barrymore, RuPaul, Faith, Hill, and James Corden…

Then the pandemic hit, and everything became radio silence.

We are one of the only remaining circus facilities left, standing in California, as there was no way I was gonna go down and lose my 10,000 square-foot facility at this point.

I had come so far! Coming from a small fishing village in Gaspe, Quebec, then Laurentian’s in Montreal, then made it all the way to Hollywood having had Ryan Gosling as a client, then no talent agencies, and now this beautiful Le PeTiT CiRqUe…. and no way was I going to lose it!!!!

We immediately masked up, obtained a permit and began shooting family entertainment videos for some of the top fortune 500 companies. During the pandemic, we sold/licensed over 18 corporate bespoke cirque-style videos, anywhere from 7 minutes to 75 minutes long.

It saved our facility and kept 18 youths masked up and still training and performing. It was such a breath of fresh air for us to keep the magic alive that we were featured on ABC News, the LA Times editorial, Los Angeles Times even shot a documentary on us, Telemundo TV Al ROJO VIVO, Los Angeles Magazine and much press and television featured us as survivors.

Today, we have become a Junior version of Cirque du Soleil, specializing in family entertainment with a focus on global humanitarian aid. We have caught the attention of the White House and are now a certifying company for the presidential volunteer service awards, having awarded over nine gold medals to our youths that have contributed volunteer service hours within Le PeTiT CiRqUe and on their own time.

We are a family-style company with pretty much zero drama within the company. It’s a 0% tolerance for stage parents, difficult parents, difficult kids, etc. they do not last more than a day. I’d rather have harmony and community and no stress… and I believe we have achieved that. Happy coaches, happy kids, happy parents happy Nathalie!!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t believe there is a smooth road to any success. There were many bumps and potholes in the road!!

To begin with, being 14 years old and operating a business when you look like you’re 11 years old was extremely difficult. I don’t top of that being a female.

At age 30, once I had opened in Los Angeles, my Montreal and Toronto offices decided they could run it without me, and literally walked with both my companies… probably the biggest hurt and disappointment in my life.

Once again, at age 48, again two moms decided to open a competitive business down the street, and I lost 65% of my business. Again, another massive pain. The worst was 70% of them were all in my wedding party…. It crushed me.

These were major, major struggles and extremely painful. But it taught me one of the most important lessons in business: clients are never ever your friend.

They are clients. Period.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I think what sets me and Le PeTiT CiRqUe apart from others is the elite level of young talent I bring to the table. I scour social media and talent agents to find the most gifted kids in the world. I see what light they have and what they bring, and adjust a Le PeTiT CiRqUe costume to them, and weave them into our storylines…

I specialize in creating thought-provoking, touching and universal themes for family entertainment audiences.

I am most proud of how much inspiration Le PeTiT CiRqUe has brought to the world.

I think what sets us apart from others is we are the only child prodigy/gifted youths production company in the world, which offers inspiration, healing, awareness, and financial aid to global charities, dealing with anything from animals to children to the elderly, to environmental issues, etc.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Oufff… so many lessons. I guess the first one is never ever ever ever “be friends” with your clients. If they are writing you a check, or you are writing them a check, these people are not friends. It is BUSINESS.

Do not trust everyone. Trust is a very very long-term affair…

Contact Info:

• Website: LPCLA.com
• Instagram: Lepetitcirqueofficial
• Facebook: Le PeTiT Cirque
• Youtube: Le petit cirque Chanel

Image Credits
Photo by Thomas Rihys