We had the good fortune of connecting with Nathalie Yves Gaulthier and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nathalie Yves, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Well, lol, at 14 years old, I was already pretty set that I wanted to be The Greatest ShoWOman! So, as a big schooler in Montreal, Canada, I thought, why not start NOW!? I wanted to give young artists opportunities to explore, release, feel freedom and perform professionally while educating and helping others through their gifts.
I was just a kid myself. Hence, I went to see the mayor of my town in Kirkland, Quebec, and asked him to supply me with one of the city’s community centers , in order to run my new business: “Kids in Act-ion”.
Back then, there was no circus or specialty acts involved: just straight up boundary-pushing , thought-provoking authentic acting scenes with song and music. It was a hit and KIA performed all across Canada , Kids in act-ion became one of Canada’s top performance programs with branches in Montreal, Toronto and Comox, B.C.
Eventually, KIDS IN ACT-ion became one of the country’s top musical theatre programs producing elite-level professional musicals in performing arts centers. I was the first Canadian Director to launch FAME: the Canadian Premiere, as it ran for summer stick theatre with my students. Many renowned TV and film stars were in Kids in Act-ion: like Canadians Emily Hampshire, Rachel Blanchard, AJ Cook, Hayden Christensen etc.
Years later, once in Los Angeles,CA , my thought process morphed into creating original Cirque-musicals for family entertainment and add circus and specially acts with gifted youths and national /world champions in various fields.

Hence, Le PeTiT CiRqUe entertainment was created in 2012 and it became a highly successful elite youth training program and family entertainment production company having headlined The Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, the recent United Nations Year of the Quantum Summit, The Dalai Lama, the Olympic Committee, Qualcomm stadium, Dorothy Chandler pavilion, The historic Avalon Theatre, Bank of America Performing Arts center, Place des Arts Montreal, Quebec, and numerous film/TV appearances with Hollywood stars.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What sets Le PeTiT CiRqUe entertainment apart, is it is the only performing arts program which offers training in EIGHT different disciplines:
Musical theatre, Circus arts, flexibility/contortion ,hand balancing, singing, dance/choreography, mental health guidance/yoga,
and industry etiquette/guidance and talent representation. Le PeTiT CiRqUe entertainment is also one of the only companies in the world
which features young artists (ages 5-20) on major platforms such as Nobel, large Performing Arts centers, The United Nations, etc.. all which has helped in acquiring full-ride college scholarships at top Universities to 14 of our alumni.

As far as challenges and lessons, OH BOY!! THAT , is unfortunately, an icky part of running your own business. I am most proud of the letters and emails I receive from parents and kids or grown up kids. I am extremely proud of the WOW factor we have brought to some of the greatest stages in the world!
Of course, one of the highlights for Le PeTiT CiRqUe entertainment and myself, is headlining The Nobel Peace prize Concert in Oslo , Norway. Very few artists were selected: the others were John Legend, Sigrid, Zara Larson , and .. Le PeTioT CiRqUe. We were crowned with a rousing 10,000 person standing ovation.

Today, we have expended our Le PeTiT CiRqUe entertainment to las Vegas NV, and next summer, will be re-opening in Montreal’s West Island , Quebec, once again. It is an absolute thrill to re-open in Montreal, my home town!
Our Los Angeles branch suffered some set backs when we unexpectedly lost our Inglewood studio last December, and that was extremely challenging, as we also began to lose our alumni who had aged out during the pandemic, hence , it was truly a challenging time.
It was NOT easy, and these challenges led us to expand in Las Vegas and Montreal, and begin casting new fresh faces and talents for our Los Angeles branch, Las Vegas and soon, Montreal. We are very excited for the NEXT GEN of LPC performers!

Lessons learned from all this, is that people come and go and kids grow up-fast, and never put all your eggs in one basket.
One of the challenges we faced was that as our productions grew larger and on larger stages etc, some of our artists were a tad too green for such massive bookings – hence, we now only employ pro-level youths with experience in the industry or adult artists that are fully prepped for the demanding nature of the show business industry.
We are excited to announce moving into a new Cirque/theatre facility in October 2025 in Torrance, CA in collaboration with FLY ONE aerial arts circus school.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ok, let’s say Ida, my Canadian bestie is coming. The Ocean is the first stop. Then dinner in Culver City at Meet in Paris French bistro!
and then catch a show at The Music Center ! GREAT performances there!!!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My shout out goes to my amazing parents. Oddly enough, neither of them has ANYTHING to do with the entertainment industry whatsoever, and I am an only child. My parents consistently encouraged and supported me, but always insisted on College, even if I started my businesses at age 14.
My other mentors whom I have greatly admired and have always supported me (and inspired me!) are, Cher’s Director/Choreographer of 40 years, the unmatched Doriana Sanchez, Debra Lynn Brown Cirque du Soleil’s choreographer/act creator for 35 years, and , my best friend Ida! (might as well say “sister” !), Ida Silvestri in Montreal, Quebec.
Without Ida, I would never have been where or who I am today. So, I do have a sister, just not a bio one.

Website: https://lpcentertainment.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lepetitcirqueofficial/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathalie-yves-gaulthier-799049218/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lepetitcirquela

Image Credits
Thomas Rihys
Greg Papazian

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