Meet Jena Carpenter | Entrepreneur, Aerialist & Cirque Performer, Rigger, Writer, Life Coach, Mom

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jena Carpenter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jena, why did you pursue a creative career?
I grew up in Vermont in a creatively and artistically rich community filled with different types of artists and artisans who were creating work that they were passionate about, and I had the opportunity to try many different creative pursuits from a young age including music, theater, ballet, gymnastics, gardening, carpentry, languages, & so many more.

It feels natural to be inspired by the creativity of others, and find my own unique way of sharing ideas and experiences with the world, as well as to work with a team of other creators to create larger-scale projects than any of us could create working solo.

I love that my job is always asking me to try out new things, to grow, to evolve, and expand. I find it much more fun to be in new situations, figuring out the best way to solve a problem, or align my ideas with a client’s vision than I would if I had a job that required doing the same thing every day.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have been lucky enough to create my own boutique Cirque Entertainment company, Dream World Cirque, along with also having worked in Stunts, Stunt Rigging, Production Rigging & Carpentry, and many other varied, related creative industries.

My own dreams of wanting to be a Circus Performer stemmed from watching Circus Smirkus (the famed youth touring Circus from Vermont) as a young child and being inspired by all the magic that was created in the circus ring. A few years later, I watched my first Cirque du Soleil show and fell in love with the Aerialists and Contortionists I saw doing a different level of tricks and skills than I had ever seen before.

After graduating from Oberlin College with a degree in Dance/Choreography with a concentration in Circus Arts, I moved out to Los Angeles with the dream of being a performer. I immediately began meeting other artists and getting involved in performing in the local Circus scene. I learned a lot from each gig, and each company I worked with, and eventually I started to realize that my favorite jobs were the ones where I was working with a team of other talented performers, using the skills and talents of each individual to create a story or experience that was more expansive than we could create as soloists.

That was when I began teaching and started taking a few very talented students and partners under my wing professionally, and that was the beginning of Dream World Cirque.

One of the biggest challenges in our industry is that we have to be continually coming up with new ideas for acts, concepts, costumes, and props to keep our performances fresh for our clients. There’s always a balance of being able to keep all our current acts in good shape, create new acts and ideas, and stay caught up with all the different aspects of running a Cirque company, from making pitches & proposals, to directing shows, to making costumes, to inventing and manufacturing new props, to finding new music and putting together shows.

One of the things that I learned very early on is that documentation is such an important part of the performance process. You can create the most amazing show and experience for your client, but if you aren’t able to capture it in photos and videos, then it just disappears into the void and is almost impossible to share with the world.

These days, I still struggle with the process of editing and releasing content after our shows, but if it’s a show I’m really proud of, I’ll always plan to have a photographer, videographer, and someone helping to capture content behind the scenes to make sure that we can show future clients the work that we’re most excited about.

I’ve also learned that you never know what you’re going to be asked for, and keeping a wide network of performers, dancers, musicians, riggers & production tech staff, fabricators, and of course, photographers, videographers, and editors is crucial. Many times other performers, friends and fellow entrepreneurs come to me asking if I know someone good to fill a spot because I work hard on meeting and staying connected with as many talented artists as possible.

I think being willing to work tirelessly to bring concepts into reality and staying flexible and curious about how many different ways there are to accomplish things has been one of the things that sets our company apart from many others out there. We are fully committed to our client’s vision for their entertainment, and we want to exceed any expectations that they might have. Because of that, we have lots of repeat clients and planners who come back to us year after year because they know that we care as much about their results as they do and they trust our ability to bring their vision to life.

There are always going to be ebbs and flows in the cycle of work as well, and I think that being creative and flexible has helped me to be able to stay busy even when things slow down. I know that they will get busy again, so during those slow times I focus on getting caught up with clean up & re-organizing from the last batch of gigs, editing and producing content to keep sharing, and brainstorming and creating new concepts for the next batch of shows.

I appreciate my down time as much as my busy creation time these days, and I have a much better work/life balance than I used to when I thought that to be successful you had to be busy all the time.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love getting out into nature. One of my favorite things about LA is how many great parks, hikes, beaches, and outdoor experiences you can have right here in the city.

I would definitely take my friend out to Topanga Canyon for a hike, shopping at Hidden Treasures, an amazing vintage shop right in the middle of the canyon, and browse through some of the other cute shops there.

We might go out to Escondido Beach out in Malibu for one of the days, which is a mostly private beach that’s less populated than many of the ones closer to the city. We’d bring a picnic, go for a long walk, enjoy the sun and the water, and get into a deep philosophical conversation about the state of our lives and the world.

Closer to home, I’d take them to see a show at my local theater, El Portal in North Hollywood and before the show we’d have drinks and appetizers at the new-ish Noho Granville with it’s beautiful murals out front and an awesome selection of craft cocktails and delicious food.

We’d probably walk my dogs at Runyan Canyon at least one of the days, and if it was fall we’d definitely enjoy a bonfire in the backyard and watch the moon and what few stars we can appreciate even from here in the city.

And I”d take them out to the green in Santa Monica on Sunday morning to do acrobatics, juggle, and socialize with the many other circus performers and artists who like to gather and train together there.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have had so many amazing mentors and teachers over the years, as well as other artists who inspired me in my own growth. Thanks to Larry Gordon, my amazing music mentor growing up who taught me so much about music, travel, and logistics for a group, and always led the way in accepting people in all their unique glory.

Thanks to my kids and my family for all their support during the times when I get really busy and need help to juggle all the everyday tasks along with the many creative projects.

Thanks to my ritual mentor Camille for all the wisdom you’ve imparted over the years about astrology, cycles, and how to implement rituals to support our growth and progress, and to my Breathwork Mentor Marlize for the supportive community that she has created giving everyone who meets her a beautiful supportive space to be their full authentic self and experience exactly what comes up in the moment.

And thanks to all the incredible performers that I have the chance to work with on a regular basis. You all inspire me, and I absolutely love creating magical & unforgettable experiences for all our guests and clients.

Website: https://www.DreamWorldCirque.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreamworldcirque/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenaLCarpenter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jena.carpenter.5

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dream-world-cirque-san-fernando-valley?osq=dream+world+cirque

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JenaCarpenter-DreamWorldCirque

Other: https://jenacarpenter.substack.com/

Image Credits
Photos by Thomas Rihs