The Fiery Extremes of Juggling

 

Cascading torches represents a rite of passage for most jugglers. Ray Wold of San Diego, Calif., has earned his black belt and more in this particular area of danger juggling.

 

He was attracted to fire soon after he began juggling ten years ago, and worked to create an all-fire show that finally came together a year ago. From start to finish 30 minutes later, every prop that touches his leather-gloved hands is flaming.

That includes the standard torches and devil sticks, of course. But Wold has developed some new props of his own. How about flaming balls, cigar boxes, rings, jumprope on a unicycle, torches on a flaming free-standing ladder, and upside down straight-jacket escape while hanging on a burning rope? You might think it's taking the medium to extremes, but Wold says audiences love it.

 

Though many employers prohibit fire juggling, Wold performs the act regularly at Sea World and for private parties. For other engagements, he juggles without fire

and uses his other considerable skills ­ ventriloquism, magic and large balloon sculpture.

 

Wold was raised in Chula Vista, Calif., as an all-American boy. He received a "Young American Award" in high school, starred in basketball, football and track, and was one of the youngest Eagle Scouts ever in Southern California .

 

He began juggling while a student at the University of San Diego , and then attended Ringling Brothers Clown College. He graduated near the top of his class and traveled with the red unit for a year. Since then he has performed on stage, in several motion pictures, on television and at Sea World and Disneyland.

The fire show begins with a few minutes of fire eating and spitting, followed by an introduction and a safety announcement. His assistant, Sala Chapman, stands at the ready with wet towels to extinguish the props after Wold finishes with them and a fire extinguisher for emergencies. She also soaks the props in fuel off stage to prepare them for Wold's use. Wold makes sure the audience stays a respectable distance away and never calls volunteers to the stage.