(Editor’s note: This is an excerpt of an article written by Jonathan Amira that ran in the NJSBA Young Lawyers Division’s Winter 2023 issue of Dictum. The full version of the article and the issue can be found here.)
Young Lawyers Division member Janice Arellano is counsel with Cleary, Giacobbe, Alfieri, Jacobs LLC, where she concentrates her practice in the areas of labor & employment, education/school law representing school districts, and civil litigation. She also serves as a court-appointed attorney for guardianship matters in Somerset and Hunterdon counties and is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association Diversity Committee. Janice was selected for inclusion in the New Jersey Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” list and is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
Outside of practice, Janice is experienced in the aerial arts, specifically in the form of silks and static trapeze. Janice’s answers have been lightly edited for clarity.
Who or what inspired or motivated you to get into aerial arts?
Prior to law school, I was a teacher at a Philadelphia charter school. As I was walking downtown, I stumbled upon a Philadelphia School of Circus Arts commercial flyer for The Green Fairy Cabaret performance displaying aerial acts, hand balance, and juggling from one of Philadelphia’s street festivals. Seeing a woman hang upside down so effortlessly on a trapeze caught my attention. I was a competitive gymnast throughout my childhood and adolescence so trying circus arts, especially aerials, seemed to be the right segue into something that still allowed for creative movement and athleticism, but through a culture of inclusivity. I took a trapeze class the following month and have been hooked ever since. What I love about circus arts, in general, is that it is accessible to every body type, gender, ability, and age.
How does one train to become adept at aerial arts? Tell us what the process is like.
All of my aerial instructors say building the foundational skills is the most important, and that may take years. So, you have to enjoy that process and have a lot of patience with yourself. What that means is learning the variety of climbs or inversions on a silk or trapeze, knowing how to switch your grip when you are in the air, and gaining body awareness, all while trying out sequences.
Of all your prior extracurricular activities, why do you still enjoy this one?
As clichéd as it may sound, to me the aerial arts world is truly magical. Ironically, I am afraid of heights. However, climbing to the top of the silk and doing what is called a “drop” gets my adrenaline going. It is not only challenging, physically, but being in the air really provides you with a sense of freedom, a little bit of thrill, and creativity. Most of all, the people who I meet in the contemporary circus world are welcoming and inclusive.
You are now a practicing attorney with substantial involvement in many Bar Associations, in addition to being a mother. How do you manage balancing the demands of your job, extracurriculars, and personal life, with aerial arts?
I start every day taking a moment to reflect on what I am grateful for in my personal and professional life. It allows me to maximize each day and set a time for everything and everyone that is important to me. It takes discipline and a lot of planning ahead, but I have learned that having a good routine makes all the difference. My weekends are dedicated to family, leisure, and overall housekeeping. However, some weeknights or early mornings, I will do some work while my son is asleep. I used to train multiple days a week and now I just take one class because I know my limitations. I also have a good family support system and I’m at a firm that is family-friendly. They all know my son’s name and I’m encouraged to bring him into the office sometimes!
What skills or lessons from aerial arts that you believe crossed over in your practice surprised you the most?
Aerials arts taught me to love learning, be prepared (always with a strong foundation), put in the time, perform well under pressure, and be flexible. These are all skills that I believe cross over into practice. For example, with aerials, if you are stuck in the air after so many wraps and become “entangled” with the silk or the trapeze – which does happen – you have to go back to the foundation of a basic climb, foot lock, or switch your grip, and there are no shortcuts. Otherwise, you will get injured as aerial arts is inherently risky. Similarly, I believe that being a good lawyer means you are playing the long game. You have to adapt to changes – the ups and downs, the setbacks, surprises at the deposition, client issues, and at certain times you have to work late nights and weekends to make things go as smoothly as possible for your case. All of that requires preparation and a good foundation of high quality writing, research, knowing all aspects of your case, and time.
Please share with us something that you have recently done in aerial arts that you are particularly proud of, and/or a significant challenge within this activity you overcame.
I am particularly proud of the fact that I still practiced aerials (modified, of course) while I was six months pregnant. I will show my son one day and tell him that we danced in the air when he was in the womb.
What advice can you give someone who is looking at starting out in aerial arts?
If you have any interest in aerials, definitely try it out. There is a skill for every body type. You will start off low to the ground but you will be amazed at what your body is capable of if you keep at it. Every circus school has a trial class or beginner class where you explore what apparatus works for you – lyra (hoop), rope/corde lisse, silk, sling, or trapeze.