Other highlights of the afternoon included Greg Kennedy ball bouncing eight balls, and also club passing while lying on his back and Bob Cates jumping and whip-catching a diabolo between his legs; the shooting of the "Big Toss Up" picture. Of course, no Juggle-In would be complete without checking out 66­year-old Bill Dietrich (juggling 50 years now) doing six rings and five clubs!

 

On Saturday night, the Gizmo Guys put on a show that gave new meaning to the word "entertainment." Their performance included polished and beautifully choreographed routines with balls, hats, devil sticks, diabolo, ping pong balls and wooden blocks. The act also included a hypnotizing glow-in-the-dark club swinging routine and a humorous club passing routine with audience participation. They concluded the show with an incredible five ball bouncing routine with take outs, put ins and steals. No one summed up their performance better than our deaf theater performance arts director who described their act as "stupendous."

 

Another RIT Spring Juggle-In has come and gone. Hopefully everyone learned at least one new trick and had a fun because that is what the Juggle-In is all about! Make plans to attend next year at our special 20th anniversary RIT Spring Juggle- In.

 

Flatlanders Treat Guests Extemely Artfully

by Jon Poppele                              

 

On June 7-9, "I Think It Rolled Under the Couch: A Nebraska Juggling Club" put another successful annual Flatland Juggling Festival in its semi-annual home of Omaha. Rhonda from Chicago summed things up best, saying, "It's a lot like other festivals except that the people are so nice."

 

And nice they were! In three days we saw midwestern hospitality at its best in three parties (that's right, one every day), that were well supplied with excellent food and tasty microbrewed adult beverages. The festival also featured the most unusual gym space ever encountered. Open juggling took place on Friday and Saturday in the University of Nebraska - Omaha art gallery. Part of the space was devoted to juggling artwork, but few people lingered over it for long. Beautiful weather led most jugglers - and even the club's famous couch - to spend the weekend outside in the grass soaking up rays!

 

Friday featured open juggling and a welcome party hosted by Steve Cramer with lots of food, a keg of pale ale, and a bit of backyard juggling. Saturday's was highlighted by games and the public show, held in a naturally lit outdoor amphitheater. The show came off beautifully thanks to the professional acts of perennial Nebraska performer Jek Kelly and devil-stick master Bryan Wendling. After the show, everyone drifted over to Colleen Ciciulla's residence for more sustenance and a midnight Renegade show outdoors (which, no doubt, the neighbors loved!). Renegade closed with the famous John Gates performing his "you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it" flaming yo­yo. Sunday we were all treated to brunch with yet more great food and open juggling in Jek Kelly's yard.

 

No doubt all this hospitality comes at a hefty price, but you wouldn't know it as a guest. The whole festival- registration, show, the three parties - was completely free. This nice regional festival is still fairly small, which allows you to meet everyone. I offer a hearty "Bravo!" and "Thank you!" to our hosts along with this warning - when word gets out, this festival isn't going to be so small anymore!

 

Zentkos Celebrate World Juggling Day '96

The Zentko family of Peoria, Ill., celebrated World Juggling Day at the Steamboat Days Festival. Matt was doing roving performances at the festival for four days, and Sam, Jay and Vera gave juggling lessons using bean bags and plastic grocery bags. They mailed out invitations to area jugglers found in the IJA Roster to join them for a juggle by the river, and met three jugglers they hadn't previously known. Three other performers at the fest also joined them - mime and storyteller Chris Fascione, comedian and stiltwalker Obediah Thomas, and stiltwalker and juggler Frank Birdsall.