Cirque_Psych:
I provide language, frameworks, and opportunities to discuss our mental and emotional wellbeing safely and courageously. In addition to the instagram, on which I provide circus-focused psychoeducational materials, I also offer workshops and professional development for coaches in Mental Health First Aid, Boundaries and Good Practice, and Thriving, Diverse Studio Culture. The most granular way in which I work, is by providing individual psychotherapy for circus artists, dancers, athletes and other performers. I see my role as being the interpreter of this research into actionable tools for individual circus humans and programs.
Coach:
Janelle is a professional contortionist and aerialist from the San Francisco bay area. Janelle coaches her aerial and flexibility students with a style informed by her background in dance and education theory. She empowers her students to identify and pursue their own goals, while emphasizing the importance of safety and technique. Described as humorous, encouraging, exploratory, and warm, Janelle creates a personal connection with students that persists outside of the classroom. She works with all ages and skill levels, and excels with students who are exploring their artistic identities. Janelle coaches act development with a unique perspective produced by her training as a therapist and in physical theater method; exploratory, unflinching, and holistic.
Janelle completed an apprenticeship with the Paperdoll Militia in 2013 and has been teaching since then. Janelle was the Aerial Program Lead Instructor at Ascend Aerial Arts before moving to Colorado in 2017. Janelle is now the Education Director at MOTH Contemporary Circus Center, and enjoys traveling to teach at studios around the United States.
Janelle is also @cirque_psych on instagram, where she provides psychoeducational materials directed at exploring and understanding our beautiful, complex, circus minds.
Performer:
Janelle is a contortionist and aerialist with an extensive dance background and strong stage presence. She grew up as a dancer in Silicon Valley, performing and competing with Dance Effects and Shine Youth Dance Troupes. She continued to study dance at Goucher College, and upon her return to the San Francisco Bay Area, dove headfirst into the region’s vibrant circus scene. Janelle has relocated to Denver Colorado as of November, 2017, and is available for bookings nationwide.
Janelle’s performances are captivating and magnetic, featuring balletic lines and unexpected shapes. She has been described as “unnervingly flexible,” and thrills audiences with both contemporary and classical circus acts.
Janelle is an artistic chameleon, and adapts to a wide variety of roles, genres and theatrical tones. She has choreographed and performed in solo and ensemble acts, collaborating across the United States as well as internationally.
Janelle completed an apprenticeship with the Paperdoll Militia in 2013. She performs regularly, and has produced showcases and professional "scratch" (experimental) shows in he San Francisco Bay Area. She is a featured performer with Oakland’s Vespertine Circus, and has embodied roles as disparate as Fair Hermia (Midsummer Night’s Circus, 2016), Brad Majors (Rocky Horror Circus Show, 2016, 2017), and a Shoe- Eating Zombie (No Graves, No Masters, 2019). Janelle regularly performs with MOTH Poetic Circus (Circus Nutcracker and Alice in Wonderland), and is the Education Director at MOTH Contemporary Circus Center in Denver, CO.
