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Dignity
Before Dollars
I
was fascinated by Jacques Marais'
letter on jugglers in South Africa. In one sense it is
inspiring that people still yearn to see the magic of circus
arts in a country tom apart by war.
On
the other hand, I need to ask who gets to see these shows?
Marais sounds like he is one who gets to travel freely in his
country, a luxury I understand is not granted to most South
Africans. I hope that the circuses he speaks of are also
accessible to the blacks and whites in South Africa dedicated
to dismantling the apartheid system.
It
is discouraging to hear the famous jugglers who have performed
in Sun City. There is a U.N . decreed cultural boycott against
South Africa, but even so, many celebrities have been seduced
by the top prices paid there. International performers who go
to Sun City are directly supporting the genocide of the black
people of South Africa.
It's
a funny business us professional jugglers are in. We want the
gigs, need the money, love to perform, but there is a
bottom-line morality that we have to answer to sooner or
later. Let's join Steven Van Zandt, Bruce Springstein, Bonnie
Rait, the Ramones and Miles Davis and sing, "We Won't
Play Sun City!"
Sara
Felder, Pickle Family Circus,San Francisco, California
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Insensitive
Reporting
What
can I say? Current events being what they are, your choice of
the title "South African Report" was insensitive to
say the least. Marais' references to Sun City is equally wild. A
year ago, I wrote on a Juggler's World survey that I
thought there could be some articles in JW that might bring in
some minority jugglers (most issues are entirely white).
Can
you imagine a black prospective IJA member looking at his or her
first copy of the magazine and reading "South African
Report? "
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Roy
A. Dorman Madison, Wisconsin
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Juggle
for Peace
Judging
by the demand for the "Juggler for peace" buttons in
San Jose and the support for the Renegade Jugglers antinuclear
presentation, jugglers generally know what kind of world they
want to live in. But what are they doing to help achieve peace
or communicate their views?
Many
actors, musicians and writers express their feelings clearly
through their work, and the public is willing to listen to
well-presented political material. Jugglers also have the
opportunity to use their public platform to make statements
about serious issues.
Yet
I have met very few politically active jugglers. Political
theatre is common in Europe and South America, so why not here?
There
are three separate tours planned to Nicaragua for 1987: a womens
circus, a TV film crew led by Ray Jason and a vaudeville tour
that I'm organizing for April. Please write and let us know if
you or others are working for peace or if you'd like to join us
in Nicaragua. We'll also be glad to send you a "Juggler for
peace" button. Wearing that is a start at least!
Graham Ellis, Honokaa, HI |
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Blood
Program Flowing
The
IJA blood giving program received reports at the convention of
85 members who gave 97 pints last year. The object is to give
blood up to four times a year and tell the blood bank you're
part of an IJA program.
If
you live nearby, offer your talent to help their promotions. You
don't have to be an Anthony Gatto to wow people. Simple things
are enough. I know because I do it! Next year in Akron we'll
take another poll of blood donations during the year. I hope
you'll be part of the report!
Myron Wilcox, Porterville, CA |
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Convention
Observations
Congratulations
on a great convention! I'll probably never achieve the fluid
movement of Anthony Gatto, but I was privileged to see him win
his events. As a technical juggler myself, the sight of such
perfection in movement was practically a religious experience.
I
also got a chance to ask the Chinese guest artist, Dai Shucheng,
if he practices martial arts. He said he practiced Wushu (an art
with emphasis on flexibility and physical grace) for about 20
years, but hasn't done it seriously for the past 15 years.
I
have practiced Chen-style Tai-Chi Chuan for two years, and find
it helps juggling. It is interesting that having mastered one
physical discipline assists pursuit of another. Through the
precision movements of Tai-Chi I achieved a stable five ball
cascade, and am working on seven.
Barry
Tipping, Dallas, Texas
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Wizards
Of Our Time
My
legs were sore, my eyes ablur, my head in a fog, and all by the
third day of the IJA convention! My determination to juggle five
balls, however, was stronger than ever, Five balls: the myth,
the mystery, the magic. I can see it. I can feel it. I can do
it. The question is, When?
To
be the Anthony Gatto of juggling; to be the Butterfly Street
King of Comedy; to be the Marlin of Wit; to be the Summers of
Inspiration; to be the Raspynis of Class Acts; to be the Arsene
of Zen.
To
be or not to be, I came anyway. In reality I came to debut my
five ball routine, and when I left it was still "a work in
progress. "
While
this year's convention has come
and gone, one thing truly remains: these jugglers, these
manipulators, these modem prestidigitators are surely the
wizards of our time. The magic exchanged is but new for a day,
but like gold it is old for all time.
Mario
Lorenz
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