'Les Fetes Del'air'... 'holidays aerial' might be a very loose translation of this truly outstanding trapeze show written, produced and directed by the tireless Nathalie Gaulthier from Le Studio in Santa Monica Pictures: Millie Stedman (top), Nathaie Gaulthier & Shana Lord (bottom)

Warning: Holiday Season upon us...  expect low quality family entertainment for the next 60 miles, err, for the next 60 days.

Doesn't it seem like while Santa is busy delivering joy and toy you and I are left to toil with sub-par entertainment in this, the world's capital of entertainment? Being part of the press and receiving tons of invites for events a-b-c, this is the most dreaded time of the year for us wrightsmiths.

Thank God for the few alternatives available during this vanilla time of the year such as Nathalie Gaulthier's mesmerizing and gutsy aerial show: "Les Fetes de l'air".

The show, written, produced and directed by Nathalie Gaulthier was put together with students from Le Studio, Gaulthier's own highly sought-after training facility in Santa Monica as well as trapeze artists from Trapeze School New York.

Gaulthier's Le Studio shows however, transcend by light years the typical childrens' performance where most of the audience is comprised of parents and relatives. Her audacity and energy, her sheer passion for the aerial and circus arts injects her students with all the self-esteem they need to come out and perform like the pro's they'll be in a few short years instead of performing like timid children waiting for mom and dad to roar in approval from within the crowd. These kids are ready for the big time now and their incredible aerial coach is constantly whispering behind them: "Yes, you can do it..."

Top: one of the few children trapeze duos in the state, Rebecca Mellinkoff & Cleo Schoeplein perform at Santa Monica Pier. Bottom: Alana Champion during her elaborate routine

And this is another distinguishing characteristic of Le Studio: aerial arts aren't taught there as an end into themselves but rather, as a step up in the ladder of self-esteem and life. At this last moving performance in the Santa Monica Pier, Ray Asuncion, the official spokeperson for the United Breast Cancer Foundation -and a Le Studio pupil- spoke about her own ordeal surviving cancer and chemotherapy and how the aerial arts under the direction of Gaulthier have empowered her to use trapeze work as a form of rehabilitation and physical therapy.

Proof that Mrs. Gaulthier and her pupils have fans beyond family bonds is the fact that Les Fetes de l'air is a sold out show even during a windy and cold winter night at the Santa Monica Pier. A sold-out 2 and half hour show mind you. With the grace of the aerialist acts cheerfully highlighted by the twinkling lights of the ferris wheel behind the main stage, it all seems at some point during the show, the perfect picture of an old times Americana postcard: an ancient wooden pier, an old-fashion amusement park with mechanical rides and lots of children laughter sprinkling the night. After my cup of hot chocolate and two butter cookies I myself went home with a children's smile.

Of course, not before sneaking backstage to exchange a word or two with the amazing troupe, with Mrs. Asuncion about her inspirational speech at the beginning of the night and to briefly interview Nathalie Gaulthier, the true star. I tell Nathalie how meaningful her shows tend to turn out instead of mere visual spectacles. Shy and humble, she says it's just what she does. It reminds me of her speech at the end of the show where the main message is: 'dont let anyone tell you that you can't and never, never let go of your dreams whatever they may be'.

Pretty straightforward for someone who deals with many children of the well to do in town. And you notice the famous parents amongst the crowd, sitting unassumingly and suddenly jumping to their feet when their child's turn is up. The famous director Rob Reiner is in attendance, so are the ever approachable Dan Ackroyd and Stuart Copeland (The Police' former drummer) as well as living circus legend Bob Yerkes. Some of their children are part of the night's program and famous or not, their hearts are touched when their children's time in the spotlight comes up... another great perk of living in LA, to be able to mingle with those stars we privately tend to fantasize about. To see them up close and personal and to realize that our humanity is truly what we all have in common with both the plain folk and the Hollywood star.

Before the show ends, the advanced students from Jonathon Conant's Trapeze School New York take over. Their physical stunts are nothing less than stunning... one can notice the precise timing it requires to have two bodies swinging in trapezes going in opposite directions to perfectly match at the point where one let's go of his trapeze and reaches out for the other aerialist's arms. As the perfect bodies swirl in the air, the crowd gasps. And the dangers of this ancient art form are obvious when a trapeze artist misses by mere inches his drop point and falls all the way down... the crowd lets out a scream... the net hugs his body making him bounce back up... No wonder these aerialist companies carry millions in liability insurance for public spectacles right?

By the demeanor of the artist who missed, this ain't nothing to sweat about. Just another day, just another spectacle for those in the circus arts. The show must go on... and it does. The rest of it goes flawless, each consecutive act a bit more daring than the last.

The show unwinds and ends. Nathalie Gaulthier personally thanks the crowd. The artists themselves quickly take over the stage and begin undoing the rigging. Behind them, the Santa Monica Pier lights twinkle against the cold of the night. The promised rain for the evening is
nowhere. Even the elements give way to grace... and they standby... Not long after the show ends, rain starts pouring down. Nothing summarizes it better than Gaulthier's words to me as we discuss the dangers of producing live shows outside: 'Faith is my contingency plan'.

In a town full of quick fame recipes, it's very healthy to see a small aerial arts studio showing the kids the true ropes of life. In this sense, the circus life and the life of the trapeze artist are the most poetic metaphors for life, for its dangers and peripecies... but also most importantly, for its rewards.