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Burning rings, balls of fire Texas jugglers teach and perform By Melanie Gasmen Peek into a world where people hurl plastic balls, canes, silver hoops and colorful clubs around every which way, for hours on end. It’s the kind of place where guys on unicycles circle around onlookers so nonchalantly. This weekend, the Texas Juggling Society brings that world the public eye with the 17th annual Jugglefest at UT. During the three-day event, fanatics of the art will showcase a wide variety of talents. Festival attendees can expect to not only see jugglers, unicyclists and local acts, but also circus talent from all over the country. Jugglefest, which is currently the only juggling festival in Texas, will start Friday with open juggling and unicycling in Belmont Hall. Workshops throughout the weekend will instruct all skill levels on different techniques, such as a beginner’s guide to juggling three balls, a how-to on ball spinning and certain advanced tricks using three to five clubs. “If you don’t know how to juggle, someone will come and teach you,” said Shaun Photos by Jeff Heismath Doyle, senior St. Edwards stuAbove, Kelsey Strauch practices a routine she will perform during Jugglefdent and member of the Texas est. Below, During a Texas Juggling Society practice, Scott Kurland works on juggling three clubs in preparation for Jugglefest this weekend.
Juggling Society. “Everyone is pretty open and friendly.” Friday evening will also feature a performance in front of the UT Tower, called “Twilight Torches,” where TJS members will juggle flaming torches. And as the night winds down, gutsy performers will strut their stuff in the free, impromptu “Renegade” show. Acts will grace the Jester Auditorium stage with new material that may not be suitable for children. “The Renegade show is what they call a bit R-rated,” said Scott Kurland, a computer programmer and longtime TJS juggler. Kurland explained how during last year’s show, a performer juggled canes with one purposely landing between his legs, triggering some dirty minds. He also said how one of the guest jugglers, Mark Faje, stuck knives in the holes of a bowling ball, threw the ball in the air and caught it by the neck. Saturday is packed with workshops and a free, familyfun performance at the Texas School for the Deaf auditorium. Aside from juggling, the show will include acrobalancing performances by Kelsey Strauch and boyfriend Jules McEvoy, who have a vaudeville act called “Flourish and Fool.” The show’s guest list also features the renowned juggler, Jenn Slaw, the comedian juggler, Michael Rosman, the juggling duo, Smirk, as well as Jim MacKenzie, who does all of the above as well as slack rope walking and sword swallowing. On Sunday, the last day of the event, attendees can partake in competitions such as “coin juggling,” where participants juggle three or more coins that
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what: JUGGLEFEST where: BELMONT HALL, ROOMS 528 AND 302 when: FRIDAY, 5 P.M.- 10 P.M. tickets: $10 COVERS ALL DAYS, FREE TO UT STUDENTS what: JUGGLEFEST FREE SHOWS where: JESTER AUDITORIUM when: FRIDAY, 10:15 P.M. tickets: FREE
amount to 75 cents. If they drop a coin they must drop all of them and the last one standing gets to keep the change. Another competition is “numbers juggling,” where participants count how many objects a person can juggle at a given time. According to its Web site, the society was founded on the mission “to furthering the practice, study and appreciation of juggling and related manipulative arts and equilibristic disciplines.” Group members come from all types of backgrounds, including University students, world-record holders and computer geeks. The club meets every Thursday night, year-round, at the All Saint’s Episcopal Church. Since this event is one of the high-points of their juggling year, TJS encourages people of all ages to drop by the festivities. David Nayer, a mentor within TJS, said he’s taught students ranging from 3-year-olds to 70-year-olds. He also said that during his 34 years of juggling, he’s learned that novice jugglers should have two key ingredients when starting out: a want to study the skills and an ego that can handle failure. “A good juggler spends half of his time perfecting his craft and half his time screwing up,” Nayer said.
The Renegade show is what they call a bit ‘R-rated.’” — SCOTT KURLAND Texas Juggling Society