Denver Juggling Picnic

By Donna Hunt

 

The temperature was comfortable even though the sun was bright.  There was a slight breeze through the trees. September 18 was a perfect day for the First Annual Denver-area Juggler's Picnic.

 

The jugglers came to the six-hour affair with their own food and props. They came from all over the state - Boulder, Canon City, Colorado Springs, Steamboat Springs, Littleton and Denver. They came with family, friends, and other jugglers. When a count was taken there were at least 50 jugglers throwing up under the trees of Cheeseman Park. Quite a sight to behold!

 

Other sights included Jon Beckner of Colorado Springs and Tony Bend of Denver doing five ball steals and other five ball, two juggler tricks. Russ Smith and Scott Howard, also from Denver, were seen passing eight clubs.

 

Kezia Tenenbaum of Boulder joined Ed Bray and Mark Merry of Canon City, Renee Brachfeld of Boulder, and Donna Hunt and Abbie Lawrence of Denver to do a variety of three-, four-, and six-person patterns. Peter Davison of Boulder juggled five clubs with back crosses.

 

A good time was had by everyone. There were quite a few beginners and it is hoped they were inspired to come to the regular Sunday afternoon Denver meetings. Besides some fine juggling, there was a suggestion to form a "Jugglers for Peace" group to attend an October gathering of the Colorado Freeze campaign.

 

 

O.J.'s Play Six Flags

By Karen Phariss

 

Early this summer the Oklahoma Jugglers were invited to perform for one weekend at the County Fair Exhibit at Six Flags Over Texas. It was a wonderful experience...

 

The first wonder occurred when we all arrived at one location at 6 a.m. in a pouring rain. After discussing the horrors of alarm clocks and thunderstorms, we packed up and headed south for the "Big D" - Dallas, Texas.

 

The second wonder was that it did stop raining and we all got there at the same time, and early! After official procedures, we took a few dips on the log ride and loops on the shock wave, then began to juggle.

 

The third wonder was that everyone was so "up." I mean, here we are, 200 miles from home, at Six Flags, juggling, for money!   Jan and Alicia did their dance-like ball and club passing patterns to the Dixieland sounds of the strolling musicians. Mark and James amazed the audience as they did their six, seven and then eight ball passing routines. Bill (a.k.a. Balancing Cowboy Bill) entertained the crowd with his three club balancing routine. He says,  "I can't juggle the darn things, but I can balance them." And that he does, in every way imaginable, making everyone wonder, "How?"

 

Marv, our resident clown who studied with Ringling Brothers, walked on his hands a lot, and everything else he could get his feet on. Even though he wasn't in costume, the clown was there as he delighted the crowd with his comedy juggling.

 

Karen and Paul entertained the audience by using their mime techniques as they chased, stole and argued over who should get to juggle the three balls. Their three club stealing routine really pleased the crowd also.

 

Kevin really knocked himself out as he held the audience's attention with three, four, and five ball juggling, beautiful devil stick work and box manipulation. He amazed everyone even more as he juggled four clubs, then ended with three torches.

 

We all worked together doing passing patterns and balls.  We finished juggling at 6 p.m. The park closed at midnight, so we were off again to ride rides, eat, look around and walk, walk, walk!

 

We then went to the motel, which was the fourth wonder - the very plush Am­Fac, which Six Flags provided. So this is how the other half lives! By 2 a.m. a few of the sane ones were in bed, while the other half went dancing on the rooftop.

 

The final wonder was that the juggling was as good Sunday as it had been Saturday. We finished the day at 5 p.m., then decided "no more rides," and started home.