|
Competitors
in the U.S. Nationals championship showed a great
variety of styles and tricks, but Albert Lucas emerged
head-and-shoulders above the rest in the final scoring.
Lucas
appeared next to last in the field, which was for the first
time limited to 10 people through a private qualifying round.
Championships director Greg Moss reported that the final 10
were selected from a field of 15.
Lucas
began his routine with a seven ring pull down over his head.
Wearing a glittery white body suit streaked with red flames
running up the legs and arms, he next juggled five clubs. He
followed with four and five tennis rackets, painted silver to
shine and match his outfit.
Moving
with grace and style to the music, and always smiling, he
strapped a pocket belt around his waist to do pirouette
catches in the pockets from manipulations of seven, six and
five balls. He finished the act with some smooth three club
work,
including his famous "Albert throws" alternate
club tosses under each leg from front to back and back to
front with both
feet planted on the floor.
From
the calm beginning to his proud bow at the end, Lucas didn't
suffer a single drop. That perfection helped him win the $600
first prize by more than 16 points over second-placed Mark
Nizer. (For more on Lucas, see feature
story on page 16.)
Following
Lucas at the end of the program was a tough position for
Nizer. He hoped to add the U. S. Nationals championship to his
April win of the American Collegiate Talent Showcase, but
Lucas' performance was too strong. Nizer demonstrated a three
ball in one hand pirouette and a three in two hand double
pirouette.
He
danced well across the stage, enhancing even simple tricks
with his motion, but was penalized heavily for numerous drops.
His act also included a three club flash with one hand, four
clubs and a pirouette with two ping-pong balls. His final
placement was worth $300.
A
22-year-old graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Nizer
has been juggling for 10 years. His recent career includes
appearances on a USO tour of the Pacific and at the
"Catch a Rising Star" nightclub in New York City.
Dan
Holzman, who along with partner Barry Friedman won the Team
Championship, finished just a point behind Nizer with a dapper
salon act that earned him $100 for third. The curtain opened
on him reading a newspaper. Seeing the audience, he put the
paper down and began manipulating his hat. A cane and ball
followed, and he performed tricks using the three. The music
changed for a jazzy trick-laden three ball routine. He juggled
four balls overhead, and finished with a four and five ball
shower off the floor.
Highlights
of other performances included:
-Arsene
- Comedy mime work and Chaplinesque movement around the stage
made this act highly entertaining. The IJA's quintessential
comedian, Arsene juggled only three and five balls, but won
the audience's heart with his vacant expression and tendency
to become embroiled in farcical situations.
-Scott
Burton - Burton literally clocked in for his routine to
present a seven minute working man's act. He manipulated three
balls upright and lying on his back, performing some novel
acrobatic moves. He was the only competitor to perform a five
ball cascade while lying on the floor. He manipulated cigar
boxes somewhat shakily, but finished stronger with three and
four clubs.
-Bryan
Wendling - He led off the evening in unique style with some
lariat moves. Next came cigar box manipulation, including some
tricks while holding them behind his back. He did five
ping-pong balls using his hands to feed them into his mouth,
and tossed two balls through two rings while manipulating
those four objects. He balanced one devil stick on his chin
while manipulating a second one, then dropped the one off his
chin down into a two stick manipulation. He finished with four
clubs and five clubs.
-Barnaby
- He loosened up the crowd with some comedy three ball
manipulation, then floor-bounced five up into a five ball
cascade. Next he picked up a guitar and played a tune with one
hand while juggling two balls in the other and singing. In a
rarely-seen demonstration, he tossed a cigarette behind his
back to catch it in his mouth, then followed by tossing a lit
match to a similar catch and lighting the cigarette. He
admonished the crowd, "Don't smoke, and if you do, make
sure you light your cigarette that way every time!"
Balancing
a ball on a stick on his nose, he tilted it to transfer the
ball to a stick on his forehead.
-Dan
Bennett - This Ogden, Utah, resident appeared in soccer garb,
bouncing a soccer ball on his head while trotting around the
stage. He followed with six ball manipulation in patterns
never before seen, concluding with a six ball shower. He made
an eight ball flash on the third try, then worked with five,
four and three clubs. He kept two soccer balls aloft bouncing
them off his head, and finished
with a seven ball cascade and neck catch.
-Dan
Menendez - He opened with a fast three ball routine, moving
into head rolls between his forehead and back of the neck.
Next came five clubs, then four clubs with low singles. As the
music changed to the "2001" theme, he spun first one
ball, then a second one atop the first. As the judges tallied
their score, the unofficial Renegade Jugglers scoring section
posted "2000 & 1" for him.
-Randy
Pryor - This Anaheim, California, magician showed how
juggling and magic can be blended into a classy show. Dressed
in a white tuxedo, he opened with some "aerial
chapeauography" using his top hat. There were numerous
hat puns, then a demonstration of three and four balls, using
highly effective glittery orbs. In a final flash of magic, one
of the balls turned into a lapel sticker and another into a
yo-yo.
|
