The Values Of Le PeTiT CiRqUe
JEFFREY SCOTT ROVNER Foreword by Gilles Ste-Croix & Debra Lynne Brown
The Values Of Le PeTiT CiRqUe JEFFREY SCOTT ROVNER
Foreword by Gilles Ste-Croix & Debra Lynne Brown Afterword by Nathalie Yves Gaulthier
For my wife, Marrie, and my daughter, Haley Elizabeth (aka Hooping with Haley)
CONTENTS Foreword
i
Preface iii Acknowledgements
v
Portraits
1
Circus Values 17 Teamwork 18 Perseverance 32 Self-Reliance 48 Introspection 56 Compassion 68 Enchantment 82 Trust 100 Circus Arts 107 Afterword by Nathalie Yves Gaulthier
135
Performer Index 139 Plates 140
FOREWORD I
discovered circus very late. I first played on the streets on stilts. But as we were developing a new type of circus without animals, my thoughts went to my own youth. How I wished I would have learned these acrobatic techniques as a child. While doing casting for Cirque du Soleil, I visited many circus schools around the world and I saw so many children engaged in learning circus arts. It is an individual challenge for any child to learn to juggle, to climb a trapeze, to do somersault, to walk on stilts. What a reward to see the smile on the face of a child who has mastered a new trick. Through their engagement, their persistence and concentration, these children learn to address their fears, discipline and commitment. They might not become circus artists as they grow older, but through those non-competitive exercises, they will become stronger individuals and better adults. Long live Le PeTiT CiRqUe. Gilles Ste-Croix Montreal, Canada Mr. Ste-Croix co-founded Cirque du Soleil in 1984. He is also the co-founder of Circo de Los Niños. ***
I
have had the pleasure of working with Le PeTiT CiRqUe on several different occasions and their creative environment really stands out. It is a protected and kind atmosphere that allows the young artists and creative process to fully blossom—I have even heard it repeated as a mantra and guiding principle that “kindness is the law.” Nathalie has nurtured a safe place to explore and stretch the boundaries of each artist, consciously evolving them as people as well as performers. In this empowered environment, they are exposed to many innovative and talented professional artists and coaches with world-class experience and expertise. Le PeTiT CiRqUe brings this beautiful spirit and energy through every artist to every performance. It is a true joy to watch when Le PeTiT CiRqUe takes the stage. Debra Lynne Brown Toronto, Canada Ms. Brown is an Emmy Award-winning choreographer whose credits include more than 11 Cirque du Soleil productions.
i
PREFACE
N
athalie Yves Gaulthier is a force of nature. She brims with beautiful dreams, and she moves heaven and earth to bring those dreams to life. To meet her is to be swept up in her enthusiasms. And she reserves her greatest enthusiasm for her all-kids humanitarian cirque troupe, Le PeTiT CiRqUe. A mutual friend introduced me to Nathalie in late 2014. A few months later, Nathalie welcomed my hula hoop-dancing daughter into the troupe. In the year that followed, Nathalie created life-changing experiences for the kids in LPC. They traveled to Montreal, Dubai, and throughout the United States. They performed at the invitation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to celebrate his 80th birthday. They helped raise tens of thousands of dollars for charities that combat child heart disease, domestic abuse, and animal cruelty. They performed in theaters and stadiums before thousands of spectators, and also at private clubs and schools. Their work introduced them to a legendary family of trapeze artists and some of the top stars of the circus world. But more important than these experiences are the values Nathalie cultivated in her young performers: teamwork, perseverance, self-reliance, introspection, compassion, enchantment, and trust. Through their work with the troupe, all of the performers—from age two to eighteen—have grown to embody those values. I feel privileged to have captured some of that growth in my photographs. Welcome to the magic of Le PeTiT CiRqUe. Jeffrey Scott Rovner Laguna Beach, California
ii
iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
S
pecial thanks to Peter Morrison & Elaine Rubenstein for their generous encouragement of this book and of my photography generally. To Don Bonsey and Kelly Serfoss for their expert advice on the book and for coaching me on the proper use of lighting equipment, without which the Circus Arts section of this book would not have been possible. To Brooke & Steve Smith-Lubensky, for generously rescuing me on more than one occasion, and for their incisive aesthetic suggestions. And to my brilliant photographic mentors who have led me this far: Craig Semetko; Cotton Coulson (may he rest in peace) and Sisse Brimberg of National Geographic; and Constantine Manos of Magnum Photos. One day I hope to be worthy of your lessons. I would also like to thank the parents of Le PeTiT CiRqUe’s A Team for welcoming me, my wife, and my daughter into the LPC family, and for the myriad kindnesses and warmth you have shown to all of us. Finally, I acknowledge Nathalie Yves Gaulthier, without whom none of this would have been possible. As I hope this book makes clear, you have given all of us a unique and enduring gift. Thank you. JSR
iv
v
PORTRAITS
1
Plate 1 2
Plate 2 3
Plate 3 4
Plate 4 5
Plate 5 6
Plate 6 7
Plate 7 8
Plate 8 9
Plate 9 10
Plate 10 11
Plate 11 12
Plate 12 13
Plate 13 14
Plate 14 15
CIRCUS VALUES
17
TEAMWORK When you’re in the circus, you have a circus family.... They always have your back and you always have theirs. Fanny (age 13)
Plate 15
18
19
Plate 16
20
Plate 17
21
Plate 19
Plate 18
22
23
Plate 20
24
Plate 21
25
Plate 22 26
Plate 23 27
Plate 24
28
Plate 25
29
Plate 26
30
Plate 27
31
PERSEVERANCE Perseverance is more than just not giving up. It means long-term, consistent motivation and determination focused on producing the best show. You know you’re doing it right when the audience responds. Kaelyn (age 13)
I really try my best when I practice for shows. Sometimes it’s hard, but it’s only fun when I give my best effort. I like to make it fun, so I always give my best. Declan (age 6)
Plate 28 32
33
Plate 29
34
Plate 30
35
Plate 31
36
Plate 32
37
Plate 33
38
Plate 34
39
Plate 35
40
Plate 36
41
Plate 38 Plate 37
42
43
Plate 39 44
Plate 40 45
Plate 41
46
Plate 42
47
SELF-RELIANCE Throughout my time performing with Le PeTiT CiRqUe, I have learned my success depends on my own determination and my performance is a reflection of my preparation. Cora (age 14)
Plate 43 48
49
Plate 44
50
Plate 45
51
Plate 46
52
Plate 47
53
Plate 48
Plate 49 54
55
INTROSPECTION (reection + humility)
I joined Le Studio when I was nine. Now that I am older, I have started to appreciate circus as an art form. The shapes and motions we are able to do in the air and on the ground are beautiful, but it is also beautiful that a group of girls from all different backgrounds and of all different ages are able to come together and work hard and support each other to come up with those beautiful shapes and motions. Cleo (age 18)
Plate 50 56
57
Plate 51
58
Plate 52
59
Plate 53
60
Plate 54
61
Plate 55
62
Plate 56
63
Plate 58
Plate 57
64
65
Plate 60 Plate 59
66
67
COMPASSION (loving kindness + humanitarianism)
Compassion is taught, experienced, and practiced by Le PeTiT CiRqUe. I felt this compassion from the members of LPC when they welcomed me into their world. They showed me how things worked and helped me when in need. The most beautiful part of LPC is that it is a humanitarian troupe that makes it a priority to help others around the world. I am honored to be part of such an amazing team. Corrinne (age 14)
Plate 61
68
69
Plate 63
Plate 62 70
71
Plate 64
72
Plate 65
73
Plate 67
Plate 66 74
75
Plate 68
76
Plate 69
77
Plate 71
Plate 70
78
79
Plate 72
Plate 73 80
81
ENCHANTMENT (wonder + playfulness)
Performing has shown me that everyone is ready to witness wonder. And when you put on a costume and makeup, they will look at you expectantly. Aspen (age 18)
There’s nothing better than traveling with a circus troupe. In elevators, airports, and everywhere else, we spontaneously break into our acts. Contortion, acrobatics, you name it. We get the funniest looks from strangers. Haley (age 14)
Plate 74 82
83
Plate 75
Plate 76 84
85
Plate 77
Plate 78 86
87
Plate 80
Plate 79 88
89
Plate 82
Plate 81 90
91
Plate 83 92
Plate 84 93
Plate 85
94
Plate 86
95
Plate 87
96
Plate 88
97
Plate 89
Plate 90
98
99
TRUST When my student puts all their trust in my hands, I have already succeeded as a coach. Uuve Jansson (LPC coach and Cirque du Soleil trapeze star)
Entrusting your safety to someone else is difďŹ cult. But once you ďŹ nally let go, the relief of completing that new trick is extraordinary, and the connection between coach and student only grows. Teagan (age 17)
Plate 91
100
101
Plate 92 102
Plate 93 103
Plate 94 104
Plate 95 105
CIRCUS ARTS
107
Plate 96
Plate 97 108
109
Plate 98
Plate 99
110
111
Plate 100 112
Plate 101 113
Plate 102 114
Plate 103 115
Plate 104 116
Plate 105 117
Plate 107
Plate 106 118
119
Plate 108 Plate 109
120
121
Plate 110 122
Plate 111 123
Plate 113 Plate 112
124
125
Plate 114
Plate 115 126
127
Plate 117 Plate 116
128
129
Plate 118 130
Plate 119 131
Plate 120
Plate 121 132
133
AFTERWORD
W
hen I created Le PeTiT CiRqUe in 2012, I brought together two important themes from my life.
The first is my love of the circus arts. I trained as a gymnast for several years, and found a gift for trapeze in my 20’s with Main Space Circus in Toronto. I went on to become a professional trapeze artist and to perform with my esteemed colleague, Dreya Weber, in one of the first duo trapeze acts in Los Angeles. Though I gave up performing to work behind the scenes, my love of the circus and its culture continues undiminished. The second is my belief that youth need not be a barrier to high achievement. At age seven, I wrote and directed a play at my grade school. You see, no one had told me children weren’t supposed to be playwrights and directors. Through that and other experiences, I learned that with the right training, motivation, and opportunity, a kid can accomplish extraordinary things. A chance event in 2001 brought these themes together. I was a children’s talent agent in Los Angeles, with a trapeze bar hanging in my office. A parent visited my office one day, pointed to the trapeze, and asked me to teach her child on “that thing hanging there.” That offhand request led me to create Le Studio, which has become one of the premiere youth cirque training facilities in the world. As Le Studio grew, so did the accomplishments of its students. I began receiving a steady stream of requests to have the kids perform at prestigious events. To meet this demand, I created a performance troupe attached to Le Studio. Thus was born Le PeTiT CiRqUe (LPC).
134
135
My vision for LPC has been to educate our students to become skilled, creative artists and community-minded team members. We provide unmatched professional training and experience while emphasizing an appreciation of the joyous and imaginative world of circus and acrobatics. LPC promotes strong self-confidence, self-respect, integrity, and discipline, and we use this unique art form to give back through humanitarian action. LPC’s performers include not only students from Le Studio, but also child prodigies from other elite programs throughout the United States. LPC has performed for world leaders, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Sultan of Brunei. The troupe has performed in the United Arab Emirates, Montreal’s Place Des Arts, Qualcomm Stadium, and soon Central America. Over the past three years, LPC has proudly raised money for international charities and organizations devoted to children, the elderly, disease prevention, LGBTQ, and animal rights. The kids of Le PeTiT CiRqUe inspire me every day to be a better human. After 35 years of working with children, I still get choked up at every new trick they master, every look of pride in their eyes, every moment of growth, and every show. I believe we can change the world with our artistry—one heart, one show, one child at a time. Thanks to my wife Shelly Fitzpatrick, who is one of LPC’s biggest supporters. We couldn’t do it without you! *** When I met Jeff Rovner, I knew our journey was going to be about creating enchanting things together. He gifted us with a magical hula-hooping daughter. And out of his profound passion for photography, his remarkable eye, and his generous heart, he captured moments from Le PeTiT CiRqUe that communicated many significant tales. His photographs convey the multi-faceted magic behind Le PeTiT CiRqUe. Nathalie Yves Gaulthier Los Angeles, California
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137
PERFORMER INDEX Plates Amelia
acro, aerialist, hand balancer
12, 15, 18, 53, 57, 62, 69, 71, 89, 97, 106
Angelina
rhythmic gymnast
2, 35, 36, 37, 38, 44, 52, 55, 57, 69, 71, 72
Anne
aerialist, contortionist, tumbler
15, 24, 30, 35, 36, 37, 52, 58, 59, 69, 89, 101, 104, 111, 117
Ashlen dancer, vocalist 55, 57 Aspen
aerialist, tightwire walker
Preface, 6, 37, 39, 42, 48, 57, 70, 71, 78, 86
Bixby*
aerialist, stiltwalker
43, 119
Brinkley* aerialist, unicyclist
119
Brooklyn* aerialist, unicyclist
119
Chiara
acro, aerialist, stiltwalker, tumbler
Preface, 15, 21, 25, 29, 35, 36, 55, 57, 58, 69, 71, 86, 108
Cleo
aerialist, unicyclist
Cora
acro, aerialist, tumbler
Corrinne
hand balancer
8, 36, 52, 57, 58, 63, 69, 71
Preface, 10, 15, 19, 24, 33, 35, 36, 37, 50, 52, 55, 57, 58, 59, 67, 69, 71, 77, 86, 89, 107, 108, 121 102, 103
David hand balancer, juggler, tumbler 56, 71 Declan
martial artist
Preface, 14, 24, 35, 39, 42, 55, 57, 58, 63, 69, 71, 73, 76, 87
Diego
dancer
Eliana
acro, aerialist, stiltwalker, tumbler
Ellowyn
aerialist, tumbler
Fanny
acro, aerialist, tightwire walker
Georgia
aerialist, contortionist
Haley
hoop dancer
Hannah
aerialist, tightwire walker, tumbler
7, 35, 40, 41, 55, 57, 58, 69, 71
Preface, 4, 15, 21, 25, 29, 32, 35, 36, 42, 45, 55, 57, 58, 76, 86, 108, 112
118, 120
Cover, 11, 15, 22, 23, 27, 36, 42, 55, 57, 69, 76, 85, 86, 110, 120 Preface, 15, 21, 37
3, 15, 16, 34, 35, 46, 52, 54, 55, 57, 59, 63, 67, 69, 71, 79, 88, 89, 99 28, 91, 96, 118
Harry clown
15
Heather
acro, aerialist, contortionist, tumbler
93
Julia
aerialist, contortionist
94
Kaelyn
martial artist
13, 40, 42, 55, 57, 58, 63, 69, 71, 73, 76
Kailia aerialist, contortionist 24, 76 Kaylie aerialist 34, 47, 83, 84, 89, 90 Lila
aerialist, cellist, contortionist, dancer
Lilou
aerialist
27, 31, 49, 76, 89, 92, 98, 105, 114
95
Lucy aerialist Mary Jo
stiltwalker
15, 33, 35, 37, 39, 52, 55, 58, 60, 69, 71
Murphey* aerialist
15
Olivia
acro, aerialist, contortionist
Scarlett
aerialist, globewalker, stiltwalker
Shira
acro, aerialist, contortionist
Sidonie
aerialist, globewalker
Teagan
acro, aerialist, juggler
70
11, 15, 17, 22, 23, 27, 37, 51, 66, 74, 75, 76, 85, 89, 108, 110, 113, 120
100, 115
Preface, 9, 15, 37, 44, 68, 71, 89, 116 Preface, 5, 15, 20, 34, 37, 42, 55, 63, 69, 81, 87
1, 15, 19, 33, 35, 36, 37, 42, 52, 55, 57, 58, 59, 63, 67, 69, 71, 86, 107, 108, 117
Zoe acro, aerialist, contortionist, hand balancer, tumbler 15, 37 _________________________ 138
*Performer-in-training
139
PLATES
Perseverance 28 Hannah 29 Eliana & Chiara
COVER PREFACE
Fanny Nathalie & Le PeTiT CiRqUe (LPC)
Portraits 1 Teagan 2 Angelina 3 Haley 4 Eliana 5 Sidonie 6 Aspen 7 Diego 8 Cleo 9 Shira
30 Anne 31 Lila 32 Eliana 33 Mary Jo, Cora & Teagan 34 Kaylie, Haley & Sidonie 35 LPC 36 LPC 37 LPC 38 Angelina 39 Mary Jo, Declan & Aspen 40 Kaelyn & Diego 41 Diego 42 LPC
10 Cora
Self-Reliance
11 Fanny & Olivia
43 Bixby
12 Amelia
44 Angelina & Shira
13 Kaelyn
45 Eliana saving the day backstage
14 Declan
46 Haley at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego
Teamwork 15 LPC at Cirque Du Sukkot Festival 16 Haley
47 Kaylie 48 Aspen 49 Lila
17 Olivia
Introspection
18 Amelia
50 Cora
19 Teagan & Cora
51 Olivia
20 Sidonie
52 LPC
21 Eliana, Georgia & Chiara
53 Amelia at Egyptian Theater, Hollywood
22 Fanny & Olivia at Disneyland Hotel
54 Haley
23 Fanny & Olivia
55 LPC
24 Anne, Declan, Cora & Kailia
56 David
25 Eliana & Chiara
57 LPC
26 Wig repair day at Le Studio
58 LPC learning about The Dalai Lama
27 Lila, Olivia & Fanny
59 LPC 60 LPC
140
Compassion
Circus Arts
61 LPC box of love
96 Hannah
62 Amelia with bomb-sniffing dog at UC Irvine
97 Amelia
63 Teagan, Sidonie, Cleo, Kaelyn, Declan & Haley
98 Lila
at UC Irvine
99 Haley
64 Global Compassion Summit at UC Irvine
100 Scarlett
65 Monk at Global Compassion Summit
101 Anne
66 Nathalie & Olivia
102 Corrinne
67 Cora, Haley & Teagan
103 Corrinne
68 Shira, Shannon & Baby Lucy
104 Anne
69 LPC
105 Lila
70 Nathalie, Murphey & Aspen
106 Amelia
71 LPC
107 Teagan & Cora
72 Angelina with offering for The Dalai Lama
108 Teagan, Cora, Olivia, Eliana & Chiara
73 Kaelyn & Declan
109 LPC
Enchantment 74 Olivia 75 Olivia 76 LPC
77 Cora 78 Aspen 79 Haley 80 Audience at Cirque Du Sukkot Festival 81 Sidonie at Dolby Theater, Hollywood 82 LPC 83 Kaylie & LPC 84 Kaylie 85 Fanny & Olivia 86 LPC 87 Declan & Sidonie 88 Haley & Tom Arnold at Dolby Theater 89 Kaylie & LPC 90 Kaylie
110 Olivia & Fanny 111 Anne 112 Eliana 113 Olivia 114 Lila 115 Scarlett 116 Shira 117 Anne & Teagan 118 Hannah & Ellowyn 119 Brinkley, Brooklyn & Bixby 120 Fanny, Olivia & Ellowyn 121 Cora
AFTERWORD Nathalie
Trust 91 Hannah with coach Ernie Thrash 92 Lila with coach Uuve Jansson 93 Heather with Nathalie and coach Ernie Thrash 94 Julia with coaches Olivia Brown and Gabe Hilden-Reid 95 Lilou with coach Olivia Brown
141
Copyright Š 2016 by Jeffrey Scott Rovner Le PeTiT CiRqUeŽ is a registered trademark of Nathalie Yves Gaulthier All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages or reproduce images in a review. Photographs are available for exhibition, purchase, and licensing from the author.