Field Day highlights convention public events

A Pepsi/IJA Field Day on Wednesday of the 40th Anniversary Convention week will provide an opportunity for the public to meet jugglers, and for jugglers to meet some professional soccer players! The Pepsi Cola Bottlers of Akron are sponsoring the afternoon of joggling races, workshops, stage performances, juggling lessons and a softball game between IJA all-stars and the Cleveland Force indoor soccer team.

 

Following the game, members of the Force, which ranks at the top of the Major Indoor Soccer League, will present a workshop in foot juggling and body bounce. It's all part of a major effort to get the public involved with the convention, according to Kevin Delagrange, convention chairman. "We want to provide a forum where people can come watch juggling and learn to juggle themselves, " he said. "The Pepsi bottlers are generously providing a stage and plenty of their product, and the Cleveland Force is a guaranteed draw around here. We anticipate a highly successful outdoor event with a lot of fun and a lot of people. "

 

Pepsi will also sponsor a special 4-by-400 meter joggling Pepsi Relay race and give warm-up jackets to the winners.

 

The 40th Anniversary Convention will also feature a historical theme. The welcome party on Tuesday night, July 14, will be an IJA birthday party. The IJA private show Wednesday night will be "Old & New Vaudeville," featuring some of the long-time members who founder Eddie Johnson is recruiting to attend. On Friday afternoon, Johnson will moderate a workshop panel of early members who will reminisce about juggling days of yore. A special history lounge will provide a respite from the activity of the gym for those who want to talk juggling, get a cup of coffee and watch some of the historical videos provided by special guest Karl-Heinz Ziethen, one of the world's foremost juggling archivists.

 

Delagrange said the Rubber City Jugglers of Akron also hope to organize IJA Games that will feature a race with balanced oatmeal boxes.

 

There will be shows aplenty. Warm-ups for the Grand Finale Public Show Saturday night in the Akron Civic Theatre include the above-mentioned "Old & New Vaudeville" show, the midnight Club Renegade cabaret, a Benefit Show at Children's Hospital and exciting IJA championships events.

 

For those who want to escape the juggling scene altogether, Excalibur Excursions will be offering tours of historic Akron sites and gardens.

 

A convention registration form and more information will be mailed to IJA members on May 1. However, reserve the dates now - July 13-19 in Akron, Ohio. In the meantime, if you've got questions, call the following people responsible for these aspects of convention activity:

· General - Kevin Delagrange

. Workshops - Alexis Lee

· Championships - Barry Bakalor

· Shows - Craig Barnes

· Affiliates - Keith Watson

 

IJA offers extended convention workshops

Besides a full schedule of free one-hour workshops, this year's convention will feature three extended workshops. Allan Jacobs, 1983 US Nationals champion, will teach a 4-hour workshop in club swinging and another in intermediate club passing.