Although jugglers may be invading Cole Field House this weekend, don’t go looking for a circus — the three-day Congress of Jugglers convention offers attendees an opportunity to learn, improve and observe juggling skills.
Today through Sunday, anyone is welcome to come to Cole Field House, pick up a couple balls or clubs and practice in the open juggling section of the indoor field. This informal practice time provides jugglers of any skill level the opportunity to interact with one another and trade techniques.
For a more structured juggling lesson, tomorrow attendees can partake in nine different workshops, which offer a more structured juggling lesson. During the day, a section of the open juggling area will be sectioned off for anyone who wants to participate in the workshop. Beginners’ workshops offered every other hour will provide an opportunity for people to learn basic juggling patterns taught by either a member of this university’s Juggling Club or a skilled volunteer.
“Jugglers are the best people I know,” said junior Japanese major Heidi Thalman, a member of the Juggling Club. “You can walk up to anyone and be like, ‘Hey, what trick is that? Can you teach me?’ and I’ve never had anyone say no.”
During the lessons, beginners start practicing with three juggling balls. Clubs are difficult to learn with because a juggler must worry about their rotation, Thalman said. The beginners are instructed in juggling simple patterns including cascade, when balls make a figure-eight pattern, and shower, when the balls make one big circular movement.
“The basic idea isn’t too difficult; learning how to do it instinctively just takes practice,” said sophomore theater major Daniel Riker, co-president of the Juggling Club.
Intermediate and advanced jugglers can attend specialized workshops that teach techniques such as three-ball tricks and the specialized Juggler’s Dojo, a combination of juggling, dance and meditation.
While the event may be held near the heart of the campus, it is not only geared toward students. Rather, members of other juggling communities who travel from convention to convention will also attend.
“There’s definitely a core group of people who, no matter what they’re doing, if they’re students, if they have careers, if they travel, they go to all the conventions,” said Juggling Club co-president Sophie Jablansky, a sophomore psychology major.
The events tomorrow continue at 5 p.m. with a free two-and-a-half-hour show featuring at least five acts. Anyone is allowed to perform, even those who have no experience and simply wish to try juggling in front of an audience. Those who wish to perform may sign up during the convention.
But spectators will also see experienced performers. Michael Rosman, a juggler and comedian who has performed at more than 125 colleges and 1,000 festivals, will open the show. The closer will be stunt comic Matt Baker.
The evening will conclude with fire juggling in Hornbake Plaza. Jugglers will light clubs, long sticks and Poi — balls on chains that they spin in circles.
Sunday also includes open juggling, but attendees can also partake in juggling games such as three-person club juggling races and obstacle courses. These multi-person juggling activities provide another opportunity for jugglers lo learn from one another.
“I just go in there and I see the other people,” Jablansky said. “I’m just in awe because they can do these amazing tricks, and you get a chance to juggle with them.”
The 2011 Congress of Jugglers will begin at 6:30 tonight, and events will go through 2 p.m. Sunday.
kbulav@umdbk.com
