Entrepreneure, creator and producer, Julie Hamelin was born to Montreal, Quebec in 1972. At the age of 21, following her university’s studies in psychology and communications, Julie Hamelin pursued her career in cinema before entering the world of circus. Co-founder of Cirque Éloize, Julie Hamelin contributes significatively to the success of the company that she co-directs since 1998. She works on different areas within the company, including marketing, where she helps to define the image of the young company, both nationally and internationally; market development, where she oversees the international outreach of productions; and creatively in the area of artistic direction, in collaboration with Jeannot Painchaud.

In 1999, Julie propelled the company onto the international market by producing a four-week series of Excentricus at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland, hosting 150 international producers and presenters in the process. In 2001, she signed a partnership agreement with the largest talent agency in the United States, and has forged major partnerships in several European markets. Thanks to Julie’s international development, the company has presented more than 3,000 performances in more than 30 countries, and has participated in many prestigious international festivals.

In 2001, Julie and Jeannot initiated and cultivated a relationship with Daniele Finzi Pasca and his company, Teatro Sunil. This partnership led to the creation of Nomade – At night, the sky is endless in 2002, followed by Rain in 2004. In 2003, she brought together partners for the production of the show Rain for which, as Creative Producer, she plays a determining role in the show’s artistic direction. During that same period, Julie Hamelin and Jeannot Painchaud founded Theatre T. & Cie, which produced and supervised the international promotion of a show by Jamie Adkins entitled Typo. Adkins is an artist whose evolution in Excentricus was observed with great interest.

In 2004, Julie developed a strategy that resulted in Rain being presented on Broadway for a six-week run, where it piqued the interest of the press and major producers. She subsequently developed the strategy for the presentation of a four-week run in a key theatre on the San Francisco Broadway circuit. Once again, the show garnered rave reviews from the press, and from producers on the American West Coast. The result: In 2006, Julie signed a partnership with two of the most important producers on Broadway.

In the summer of 2005, Julie was invited by Daniele Finzi Pasca and Teatro Sunil to join the creative team that assisted Finzi Pasca in the creation and production of the closing ceremonies for the 20th Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy. As “First Assistant Stage Director”, Julie helped Finzi Pasca with the writing of the closing ceremonies, and was responsible for monitoring the progress of the project up to the point where the finishing touches were put on the final script. She also worked with the production department on the production process, and was responsible for overseeing the design of all group choreographies for the production team. Today, Julie Hamelin and Jeannot Painchaud are Co-Directors of Cirque Éloize.

Nebbia has emerged in December, 2007, specifically the third component of a trilogy initiated by Nomade and followed by Rain. Written by Daniele Finzi Pasca, this creation is a co-production by Cirque Éloize and Teatro Sunil. Julie Hamelin served as the Creative Producer and oversaw the international release of the new production.

In the spring 2008, she combines the necessary partners to conclude the partnership that will allow Daniele Finzi Pasca to direct his first opera, Love by far, at the National English Opera of London for the summer 2009. With Daniele Finzi Pasca, she works equally to the development of projects of film written by the latter.

A native of Îles de la Madeleine, Quebec, Jeannot Painchaud has worked in the circus arts sector for over 25 years. Fuelled by a passion for different cultures and a dream of travelling the world, he set his heart on the circus at age 16.

A graduate of Montréal's National Circus School. Jeannot won a bronze medal at Paris’ prestigious Festival Mondial du Cirque de demain in 1992 for his artistic cycling act.

After touring internationally with a number of circus troupes and groups of multidisciplinary artists, Jeannot co-founded Cirque Éloize in Montréal in 1993. He performed in the company’s different shows for five years.

In 1998, he left the stage to devote himself entirely to Cirque Éloize’s development. Having been an acrobat, juggler and performer, he took on a new role as entrepreneur.

Under his guidance and with the help of his partners, Cirque Éloize became one of the leaders of contemporary circus arts thanks to shows like Cirque Éloize, Excentricus, Cirque Orchestra, Nomade, Rain, Nebbia and iD.

As the Artistic and Creative Director for the company’s shows, Jeannot prides himself on melding artistic disciplines and talented individuals from the four corners of the globe. His artistic vision involves incorporating living arts (music, theatre, dance) into the acrobatic acts.

In 2009, he directed iD, Cirque Éloize’s seventh original creation. A stunning combination of urban dance and circus arts, the show won the Conseil des Arts de Montréal’s 26th Grand Prix award in 2010.

In October 2011, Jeannot Painchaud became the 14th Quebec citizen to be awarded the prestigious Prix Samuel-de-Champlain. Founded by the Institut France-Canada in 1997, the award is presented to two people each year, a Canadian who has best showcased French history or culture and a French citizen who has best showcased Canadian history or culture, in order to promote the values that unite both countries.

In November 2011, Jeannot Painchaud was one of several public figures selected to reinvent a work of art from the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts’ permanent collection. The Museum gave the participants carte blanche to create an art installation presented as part of its Big Bang exhibit.

Jeannot Painchaud has also been chairman of the board of the Circus Arts National Network in Quebec, En Piste, since 2009. This position allows him to be directly involved in the future of circus arts and the Canadian circus community.