IJA eNewsletter, May 2017

Editors: Don Lewis and Martin Frost
(ijanews@juggle.org)

 Was this issue forwarded to you?  Click here to join the IJA to get your own copy each month, and get full access to eJuggle too!


CONTENTS

  • Chair’s message
  • Advance registration for the IJA Festival closes soon, on June 10
  • The IJA needs you: Sign up now to volunteer at this year’s festival
  • Entire JUGGLE magazine collection digitized, discounted to IJA members
  • Special bundle price for IJA DVDs for 2014, 2015, 2016 – Price ends May 31
  • Call for letters of interest: 2018 IJA Festival Director – Deadline is June 15
  • World Juggling Day 2017 – 70th anniversary of the IJA’s founding – June 17 – T-shirts available
  • Participate in the Youth Showcase
  • Call for workshop leaders for the IJA fest
  • Festival Director’s report, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, July 10-16
  • IJA Joggling World Championships, including 5K road race
  • Latest articles in eJuggle
  • Finalists for the IJA festival Stage Championships
  • 2017 IJA Festival lodging
  • Dining and drinking in Cedar Rapids
  • Special IJA Festival features
  • Aerial workshops
  • Cascade of Stars
  • Coaching lounge
  • David Cain’s The Museum of Juggling History
  • Erik Aberg’s “Definition of Juggling” lecture
  • Flow Zone
  • Flow, Glow and Diabolo Show
  • Free brunch
  • Glow out to dinner
  • Jobs for jugglers
  • King of snacks table
  • Object Episodes – Experiments in Entertainment with Jay Gilligan and Erik Aberg
  • Peter Davison’s solo show “Movings”
  • Pinball tournament
  • Special workshops – all are free!
  • The Games of the IJA!
  • The Juggling History Show
  • Water skuggling
  • Welcome Show starring The Danger Zone (Passing Zone & The Danger Committee)
  • “Women in Juggling” video premiere & performance by Cindy Marvell
  • XJuggling
  • Numbers Championships
  • Stage Championships hosts
  • Special Guests of the 2017 IJA Festival
  • Advance registration closes on June 10 for the historic 70th Annual IJA Festival
  • Vendor registration
  • Getting to the 2017 IJA Festival
  • Upcoming juggling festivals




Chair’s message,
by Nathan Wakefield

One of the most asked questions I’ve received over the last few years from IJA members has been “Is JUGGLE magazine ever going to be available digitally?”

Well, at long last I am pleased to say that the entire collection of JUGGLE magazine issues is now officially available digitally! The IJA has partnered up with Lybrary.com to bring you professionally digitized and organized JUGGLE content in a single consolidated package. We knew that Lybrary.com was a good fit since they recently started offering the entire digital catalog of MAGIC magazine and already had a section on their website with a number of historical juggling books. IJA members receive a 25% discount on the JUGGLE magazine package by using the coupon code found on our Vendor Discount Program page.

Speaking of the Vendor Discount Program, we recently updated our vendor list with a few new deals. In addition to Lybrary, we have also added fire prop maker Fyregear to the program (IJA members save 15% off all orders).

Hop on over to our Vendor Discount Program page and login with your membership information to take advantage of these great member-only deals, including the new JUGGLE magazine digital package!

Next month, on June 17th, is World Juggling Day. This year’s World Juggling Day is especially noteworthy, because it marks the exact 70th anniversary of the founding of the IJA on June 17th, 1947. Stop on over to our newly re-designed WJD page, check out the design on this year’s T-shirt (now available for purchase), and see what events are happening near you. If you are hosting a WJD party, don’t forget to register your event so that others can find it.

Looking forward to reading magazines on a digital screen and partying like it’s 1947,

Nathan Wakefield
IJA Chairman



Advance registration for the IJA Festival closes soon, on June 10

This is your last chance to get the advance registration discount.  Full info on this year’s Cedar Rapids festival is on the web at www.juggle.org/festival. See also below for some recent updates and other details.



The IJA needs you: Sign up now to volunteer at this year’s festival,
by Mike Sullivan

Our festival week isn’t possible without the volunteer efforts of many of the IJA members attending the festival.

We need you to pitch in! Just a few hours of volunteer work out of your festival week will make a big difference in helping our festival run smoothly for the enjoyment of everyone. None of the jobs involve any heavy lifting, manual labor or advanced technical skills — but they do need to be filled by friendly people who are willing to “render assistance to fellow jugglers” — as we say in the IJA’s mission statement.

You can sign up for one or more volunteer time slots quickly and easily this year, using an online tool or mobile app. We really need a lot of folks to help out throughout the week, for an hour here or there, whatever you can fit into your week.

Take a moment to look over the volunteer slots we need filled and see which ones you can sign up for.

Click here to review the volunteer spots open and to sign up for some hours when you can help!

For questions on volunteering, email IJA Volunteer Coordinator Dina Scharnhorst at festvolunteers@juggle.org.

THANKS!!
                          



Entire JUGGLE magazine collection digitized, discounted to IJA members, by Martin Frost

JUGGLE magazine cover
The complete collection of all of the IJA’s JUGGLE magazine issues (1998-2011) is now available digitized in one package for purchase and download, with a 25% discount for IJA members.

Each page of each issue appears in full quality just like it did in the printed magazine, and the resulting PDFs can be quickly searched for included text (try that with your printed magazines :).

There is one PDF file to download per volume (year), with separate issues shown within each volume. The complete JUGGLE package includes 13 volumes plus The Insider (an IJA member insert in the magazines). Because the PDFs include full quality page images, they are roughly 400MB each. You can download as many or as few volumes as you want once you’ve purchased the package. (Individual volumes are not offered for sale.)

IJA Chairman Nathan Wakefield says of the JUGGLE package, “The quality is amazing. Full color and perfect digitization. I am easily able to search the issues.”

The complete digitized JUGGLE package is available to IJA members for $45 (non-member price: $60). To get the IJA member price, go to the IJA Vendor Discount Program page, and if you’re not already logged in, click on SIGN IN at the very top. Once logged in, you should see the “Prop Discounts” list, with the Lybrary JUGGLE offer at the top. Make your purchase by following the directions under “HOW TO USE”.



Special bundle price for IJA DVDs for 2014, 2015, 2016,
by Martin Frost

At long last we have released the DVD 2-packs for the 2014, 2015 and 2016 IJA festivals.  And to celebrate2014-1016 DVD covers that release, for a limited time we’re offering all three years together (six DVDs) in a bundle to members for a super price of only $50 (normally $90 for members).  Each year’s DVD 2-pack is also available separately.

*2016 festival in El Paso, Texas, is captured in this two-DVD set.  Among other things, you’ll see Hiroki Kamei win Individuals, Jonah Botvinick-Greenhouse win Juniors, and Jonglissimo win Teams.

*2015 festival in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, is captured in this two-DVD set.  Among other things, you’ll see Yusaku Mochizuki win Individuals, Delaney Bayles win Juniors, and Kentokaito win Teams.

*2014 festival in West Lafayette, IN, is captured in this two-DVD set.  Among other things, you’ll see Kota Hayashi win Individuals, Jack Denger win Juniors, and Institute of Juggology win Teams.

To order the 3-year bundle, go to the IJA Store and be sure to sign in to get the super member price.  

Order soon — this special price ends May 31st.



Call for letters of interest: 2018 IJA Festival Director – Deadline June 15

The IJA is looking for a Festival Director for the 2018 IJA Festival in Springfield, Massachusetts, July 16 – 22.

The IJA Festival Director is responsible for organizing and overseeing all aspects of the IJA Annual Festival. This includes but is not limited to making a site visit, being the main liaison between the facility and the IJA, creating and maintaining a festival budget, finding volunteers for key festival positions including Show and Championships Directors, Workshops Director, and registration personnel among others and working with the Show and Championships Directors to provide the highest quality performances/competitions while remaining in budget.

Responsibilities:

  • Assemble and lead a team to produce the IJA festival, including Registrar, Volunteers Coordinator, Security Coordinator, Vendors Coordinator, Championships Director, Shows Producer, Stage Manager, Games Director, Numbers Director, and many others
  • Negotiate for facilities and services on behalf of the Board
  • Prepare and maintain a festival budget
  • Report progress to the Board on a monthly basis

The festival director works with the venue to set up a schedule of events, coordinates volunteers, promotes the festival, and assists the show directors with booking acts.  Registration is managed for you using our administrative web tools.  Experienced previous festival directors provide a lot of mentoring to make sure you know what needs to be done, and when.

Interested parties should submit a letter of interest by email to ija.chair@juggle.org by June 15th.  Please include pertinent experience and qualifications.  

A lot of the festival elements are similar from year so you aren’t starting from scratch.  There is also room to take advantage of local assets and add your own personal flair.



World Juggling Day 2017 – 70th anniversary of the IJA’s founding – June 17,
by Erin Stephens

On June 17, we will not only be celebrating WJD with jugglers around the world, but we will also be celebrating the exact day of the 70th Anniversary of the IJA’s founding!! The IJA was founded on June 17, 1947, and now we celebrate all that it has contributed to the world of juggling throughout the past 70 years!

Register Your Event: www.juggle.org/calendar/worldjugglingday/add

This year we have a fun new WJD registration process on our new website. When you register, it will create an event page with its own unique URL. You can use this page to promote your event on social media. It can include a photo, directions, price, contact information, and even a map of the location.

IJA members should SIGN IN first (at the top of the page) to make sure your WJD event is listed under your name, which is necessary if you want to be able to edit it later, which you can do at www.juggle.org/calendar/worldjugglingday/list.
2017 World Juggling Day logo
Non-members can add a WJD event but won’t be able to edit it once it’s submitted.

This is a new feature, so please email us at wjd2017@juggle.org if you have any problems registering or updating your event.

You can see all registered WJD events at www.juggle.org/calendar/, including an interactive world map that pins the locations of each of the events.

The main World Juggling Day page www.juggle.org/wjd can be found on the IJA website under the Programs menu.

2017 WJD T-shirts are now available in a variety of styles and a few different colors.  Order yours now to have it before World Juggling Day. This year’s T-shirt design, at left, is by an excellent Mexican juggling artist, Mogura Ink.

Join the IJA World Juggling Day Event Page to see what everyone else is up to around the world on this epic day: https://www.facebook.com/events/335776963420689/

Official 2017 WJD Hashtag: Make sure to tag all your photos and videos from the day on social media with #WJD2017 and/or #WorldJugglingDay2017




Participate in the YOUTH SHOWCASE,
by Art Thomas

The Youth Showcase at the IJA Festival is a special opportunity for young jugglers up through age 18 or so to present their talents to a supportive audience in a non-competitive environment. If you have a routine that demonstrates your skills but you are not quite ready to compete in the Juniors, this is the show for you. The Youth Showcase is professionally produced with a technical rehearsal. It is presented just before the Juniors Championships. Interested performers, or their parents, should contact Youth Showcase show producer Art Thomas at youthshowcase2017@juggle.org.

WEDNESDAY 7:30PM, PARAMOUNT THEATRE



Call for workshop leaders for the IJA fest, by Matt Hall

This year, we are changing things up a bit. Given the large number of free workshops being taught by our VIP guests (that’s right, FREE — anyone can attend), Dan and I would like to make sure that those workshops have few (or no other) workshops scheduled at the same time so that everyone can benefit from the teachings of Jay Gilligan, Erik Åberg, David Cain, Peter Davison, Alex Levillon, Ameron Rosvall, Paul Ponce, Gena Cristiani, and more.

Our second goal is to make sure that each scheduled workshop is of high quality, with defined learning targets and clear sequence of instruction. So we’d like potential workshop leaders to fill out the form linked below.

Please answer the form’s questions–some of them are centered on logistics, so that we can choose the best space and time for your workshop, if it is selected. Some of the questions are more about your content, your plan, and your experience teaching said workshop, as another goal we have is to provide a wide-variety of workshops, taught by acknowledged experts in that particular prop or technique.

We also plan on having an Impromptu Workshop board available for anyone who is not initially selected for a designated workshop space or time. You can still teach what you want to teach, to anyone who wants to learn it. Jugglers helping other jugglers–that is still the name of the game.

We know this is a new approach, so we’re going to try it out and see how it goes. If you have questions or concerns, you can always call/text me at 650-279-5334 or write me at workshops@juggle.org.

To apply to teach a workshop at the IJA fest, please fill out this web form.




Festival Director’s report, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, July 10-16, by Dan Holzman

Gravity Beware! The time grows close and our numbers mass to do battle against you. On the land, or on the sea (okay it’s not the sea, but 12 jugglers will be skuggling on the river), we will take no prisoners as we vow to defeat you, our most relentless foe.
2017 IJA fest logo
Whether you’re still on the fence about joining us in Cedar Rapids, or balancing on a tight rope and can’t make up your mind, let me update you on 10 new developments that are so cutting edge! So out of the box! So far out! That even MacGyver, a man who can make a working computer out of a paper clip and a ball of twine is shrugging his shoulders and saying “How’d they pull that off?”

1) Free community shows

During our festival week in Cedar Rapids, the jugglers below will be performing free for the public (that includes you) at the indicated times and places around town.

Tony Steinbach and Sam Malcolm, Cedar Rapids Library
WEDNESDAY, 4PM-4:45PM

SMIRK (Warren Hammond and Reid Belstock), Municipal Band concert in Greene Square
WEDNESDAY, 7:30PM

Jonah Botvinick-Greenhouse, Water Skiing show (pre-show)
THURSDAY, 6:30PM

2) Two more special workshops (no fee required)

Shoulder rolls and neck pads with Josh Horton.

Audience connection for performers with Phillip Earl Johnson (aka Moonie the Magnificent).

3) Renegade shows and Renegade juggling too!

In addition to two Renegade shows (Friday and Saturday nights at 11pm) Renegade Juggling Equipment will be in the house as well. They will be vending in the gym with tables of new RDL products for jugglers to try. Meet Mr. Renegade himself, Tom Kidwell, and prepare for Renegade to rock this year.

4) Diabolo is going to be off the chain!

The diabolo scene this year at the IJA is really going to be popping with Alexis Levillon, Ryo Yabe, and members of the Sundai Diabolo Team all set to represent 2017 style.

5) Live DJ

Thanks to the Awesomeness Fund, the festival will have a professional DJ Monday and Saturday night and a sound system to use all week to add music to this year’s festival.

6) VR juggling and more

I don’t want to give away all the surprises, but the Awesomeness Fund provides so much more than just sweet tunes to jam to. What more you ask? How about upside down goggles, beanbag chairs, massages, and virtual reality juggling for a start? The rest you will have to come and see for yourself, and find out if you can handle the awesome fun.

7) Individual Prop Competition

You can sign up at the festival to take part in the Individual Prop Competition. There will be 3 events: 3 Balls, 3 Rings, 3 Clubs. Each event will have a 90-second time limit for the juggler to perform choreographed routines to music of their own choice (IJA Music Policy applies). A panel of three judges will score the routines based on technique, presentation, originality, and choreography. This competition is to encourage new competitors and creativity and is not open to competitors using that same prop in the Stage Championships (Juniors, Individuals or Teams). In addition to a cash award, sponsors have provided the following top prizes:
  
   3 Balls:   7 Flying Clipper juggling balls
   3 Rings:  5 LED juggling rings donated by Renegade Juggling Equipment
   3 Clubs:  3 Magnet clubs from the creator himself, Ameron Rosvall

There will be a $15 entry fee.

8) New Joggling world record attempt

In addition to performing in the Cascade of Stars with his lovely and talented wife Trish, Bob Evans will attempt to break the world record for the fastest backwards one mile joggle during the Joggling Championships. I just hope he doesn’t try to do it after one of our free brunches, because he will be too full.

9) Call for Buskers

So far only one busker is confirmed for the Saturday morning IJA busker invitational. Who will join Jeremiah Johnston as one of our busking ambassadors? The IJA is looking for three more acts who would like to street perform at the farmer’s market 9am-11:30am (10,000 people are expected to attend). Each act will start the day with a $150 tip in the hat from the IJA and free lunch tickets. Contact festival2017@juggle.org for more details.

10) Amazing one-time only Welcome Show

The International Jugglers’ Association presents “Comedy in the Air”, a family-friendly variety show to kick off the 70th annual jugglers’ festival. The show takes place at the Cedar Rapids Paramount Theatre, 123 3rd Ave SE, July 11th at 7:30pm. Two of today’s top variety acts, The Passing Zone (finalists on America’s Got Talent) and The Danger Committee, will team up as “The Danger Zone to perform a one-time only combined show of thrills and laughter.  Featuring circus artist Chloe Walier, “Comedy in the Air” is a lighthearted attack on gravity that will amaze and amuse all ages.




IJA Joggling World Championships, including 5K road race
, by Emily Moore


This year’s IJA World Joggling Championships will consist of two styles of competitions, in two locations, both on Saturday morning, July 15th.

SATURDAY 7:30AM Starting bright and early is a 5K road race in Lisbon, IA, directed by William Bayles, a local juggler and organizer of the annual Junction Jugglefest. The following special features make the early wakeup time for this event worthwhile:

A flat USATF certified out-and-back course with $1600 in prize money! CHIP TIMED.  The 5K is open to non-juggling runners too.

Half the prize money — $800 — is split among the first three male and first three female jogglers to finish: $250 each plus trophy for 1st male & 1st female joggler; $100 each for 2nd M & F joggler; and $50 each for 3rd M & F joggler.

The other $800 is split similarly among the first three male and first three female runners to finish, whether joggling or not: $250 each plus trophy for 1st overall male & female; $100 each for 2nd M & F overall, and $50 each for 3rd M & F overall.  Jogglers may double-up on prize money by finishing in the top three male or female overall.

Medals awarded to top three age group finishers (12 and under, 13-17, 18-40, 40 and above).

Overall winners receive a plaque and prize money, but are not eligible for age group awards.

Below is a map of the race with the start/finish point on Jackson St. between Casey’s and Junction Auto, 214 E. Hwy. 30, Lisbon, IA.

5K map


SATURDAY 9AM-1PM At Coe College’s Clark Outdoor Track, the IJA’s signature track meet will ensue. If you have competed in the IJA’s track meets in the last 5-10 years, you know what to expect. If you are new to joggling, this is how it works: a single entry fee allows you to enter as many events as you desire (including the above 5K). 1st – 3rd place winners in each division are awarded medals and ribbons. The order of the track events this year is:

100 meters – 3 balls
100 meters – 5 balls
400 meters – 3 balls
100 meters – 7 balls
400 meters – 5 balls
800 meters – 3 balls
4 x 100 meters – 3 balls

Refreshments will be made available to all participants.

T-shirts are available on a first come, first served basis, when you register online. Register online for joggling by June 10th to get a $5 discount, as well as a free joggling T-shirt included in your joggling registration package.  Here’s the draft T-shirt design:

joggling shirt draft

To compete, jogglers must continuously juggle at least 3 objects, and any drops must be retrieved and the pattern resumed from where the object was dropped.

We also need volunteers, including drivers to help with transportation to and from venues (3 shuttle vans provided) and time-keeping at the track. Please send an email to the following address to volunteer.

IJA Joggling Coordinator, Emily Moore, joggling2017@juggle.org

Website: https://juggle.org/joggling17.php



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Finalists for the IJA festival Stage Championships


Here are the finalists who will be competing on stage at the fest in Cedar Rapids.

JUNIORS

Ethan Brain is a juggling artist and instructor currently based out of North Carolina. He has been juggling for ten years and his work focuses on bringing elements from theater into the juggling world. Ethan has taught classes of young jugglers and worked in both private and festival settings. In addition to juggling, Ethan is an accomplished cellist and visual artist. You can contact Ethan through his website: https://ethanjbrain.wixsite.com/ethanbrain

Christopher Haaser is 16 years old. He began juggling in 2009. He has amazed audiences with his juggling skills in Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Texas, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, and Quebec. At the age of 10, Christopher juggled seven balls and performed for Spooky Woods, a TV commercial filmed in North Carolina. He was an eight-time podium finisher at the 2014 IJA joggling competition. He currently juggles balls, rings, clubs, fire torches, knives, and much more. Other interests include chess, kendama, dominoes, kinetic contraptions, trampoline, skiing, and kayaking.

Houston Odum has been juggling ever since he was nine. He attended the IJA festival once in Winston-Salem. The speed clubs act he has been working on has been in development for over a year. He brings the highest level of energy and showmanship to each performance.

Bennett Santora was created by a group of mad scientists who were intent on taking over the world by installing jugglers in key leadership positions. He was designed to be witty, intelligent, charming, and to have super-natural juggling ability. He is being groomed to take over the world military-industrial complex and convert all weapons production to production of juggling props. At present he is an entertainer and eighth grader. He lives in New York City.

Daniel Van Hoomissen Gadies and lentlemen! In the north corner, weighing in with copious amounts of swag, we have Daniel Van Hoomissen! Daniel spends most of his time Ballin at Circus Juventas, a youth circus in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he learned how to be Humble. He used to hate The Spotlight, but now he loves it so much that some people call him Man of the Year or a real Young Sinatra III. He gets up at 5AM to spit 44 Bars on his Backseat Freestyle, but sometimes he can be Buried Alive in failures. For example, Daniel embodies the phrase, “Sometimes a juggler drops on purpose to make the trick look harder than it actually is” -Duck and Cover. On a final note, “Kanye’s best prodigy. He ain’t sign me, but he still proud of me.” -Chance the Rapper.

TEAMS

CAPT-New Style Crew This show is performed by the five members of the CAPT team, Thean Leong Hng, Pei-Chen Jung, Wei-Hsuan Chang, Meng-Ti Hsieh, and Yu-Ping Chiang. Each has their own diabolo special style, but this performance is not to show their own style, but to give up their old self-style and re-create to belong to their diabolo style. This show has a lot of new skills and unique props and diabolo skills because they want to express the arrival of a new style: “new” meaning a breakthrough and beyond; “style” is a mixture of life experience forming. The show name is “For D World Style.” They won gold medals at the 2016 and 2015 Formosa International Diabolo Competition and silver at the 2014 Eleventh China Wuhan Acrobatic Art Festival and have performed at EJC and Huashan station Art Carnival Show.

CAPT-Yu Cheng & Chin Yao is a duo diabolo act performed by Yu Cheng Lu and Chin Yao Yang. Gradually showing different tricks and gymnastic skills with one to six diabolo, they tell a humorous story with interesting content throughout the whole performance. The show’s name is “Humorous Duo.” They have won many awards, including the 2016 Formosa International Diabolo Competition (gold), the 2015 Tokyo International Diabolo Contest (gold), and the 2014 Eleventh China Wuhan Acrobatic Art Festival (silver). They have performed at the IJC, the EJC, Red Bull PAO Diabolo Battle, and the Festival Internacional del Circ Ciutat de Figueres.

Double McJuggle is a hoop juggling duo comprised of Cassie McKenney and McKenzey Simper of Portland, Oregon. These girls have been working with hoops for a combined 13 years and combine manipulation, juggling, and balance into their practice and hope to inspire their students to do the same. Double McJuggle teaches and performs across the country and have brought their unique and creative styles to stages in Mexico and Canada.

Duo Octo What has eight arms, two heads, and more balls than most? This newly formed duo has a combined 45 years juggling experience. They hail from two different lands–the former industrial mecca of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and the mountainous plains of Boulder, Colorado, USA. Duo Octo, juggling’s newest creature, is born!

The Jugheads Youth Juggling Co., LLC is based in Edina, Minnesota, and led by Director and Producer Paul and Wendy Arneberg. The Jugheads have been mainstays of the IJA Stage Championships since 2000. In addition to appearances by smaller groups of Jugheads, including medalists in Juniors, Individuals, and Teams, their main juggling group earned IJA Teams medals in 2003, 2004, 2009, 2011, and 2015. This year’s twelve-member team is led by 2011 IJA Teams Bronze Medalist, Coach Tom Gaasedelen and 2015 IJA Teams Silver Medalists, Co-Captains Cole Dunbar and Steven Karschnia. Their 2017 routine of intricate and large group club passing is entitled “The Heist.”

Smirk When a former scientist and a Ringling-trained clown put together a show, you get Smirk! This show embodies the best that family entertainment has to offer: a visual display of human skill and precision and timeless humor with all the subtlety of an atom-smasher.

INDIVIDUALS

Delaney Bayles is from Salt Lake City, Utah and has been juggling for the past five years. She recently won the World Juggling Federation’s Advanced Overall Championship. She is a student at Colorado College and is coached by Richard Kennison. This summer she will be on tour with Cirque-us, a contemporary circus company based out of New England. When not juggling she can be found in the mountains snowboarding.

Eric Jackson is a hobbyist juggler and performer, largely performing for small events, his local festival, and various renegade acts around the Midwest. It’s been a dream of his to eventually muster the courage to form an act worthy of the IJA Individuals competition, and it looks like that time has finally come.

Yi-Chieh Liao started to play diabolo when she was 12 years old at MHD Diabolo Art Taiwan, a diabolo school in Taiwan. This is her second time at IJA. In 2006, she applied to compete in the Juniors Championship, which is why she finally chose the National Taiwan College of Performing Art. She has performed mostly in Asia and Europe with her troupe. Yi-Chieh is very happy to be back here again to meet people and enjoy the juggling festival. She hopes you will like her diabolo act.

Zak McAllister is an 19-year-old juggler from Temple, Texas. His recent work with balls has been influenced by jugglers such as Kyle Johnson and Haavard Hvidsten. Zak has performed at numerous festivals and plans to attend the circus school Circadium in the Fall under the teaching of Greg Kennedy.

Erin Stephens is excited to kick it at the IJA Stage Championships.

Kentaro Tsuchiya specializes in the art of foot juggling. His act may surprise you.

Hayato Watanabe from Tokyo, Japan, has competed in many events. He placed third in the 2017 Japan Juggling Festival, first in the 2015 Tokyo International Diabolo Contest, and first in the 2014 All Japan Diabolo Contest.

Shinya Yamane is a professional juggler from Japan. (His stage name is YAYA.) He has been juggling for nine years and is an expert at cigar-boxes. He has unique ideas and creates the music that he use in his juggling show. It’s his own act. Also, he is a professional artist. He has performed his show all over the world since 2011.




2017 IJA Festival lodging,
by Mike Sullivan

NOTE: The IJA rooms at the DoubleTree Hotel are sold out. You can contact them to see if there’s been a cancellation. See also below for info on rooms at our other IJA hotel: Comfort Inn & Suites Cedar Rapids.

Official Festival Headquarters Hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cedar Rapids Convention Complex ($109.00/night single through quad) — The IJA headquarters hotel is located in the same building as the gym, workshop spaces and Renegade venue, and a 5-minute walk to the Paramount Theatre. Numerous restaurants, bars, shops and city parks are within an easy walk.

The DoubleTree Hotel Cedar Rapids Convention Complex is a brand-new, modern, high-rise hotel that is attached to the U.S. Cellular Center Convention Center and arena. You can ride the hotel elevator from your room in the hotel and walk right into the gym through the hotel lobby, without ever leaving air-conditioned comfort!  The DoubleTree Hotel is the right choice for jugglers who want the best combination of convenience and comfort for the week!

Check out all of these great reasons to choose the DoubleTree Hotel for the most carefree week of festival fun in Cedar Rapids:

  • 275 modern, clean, quiet, comfortable rooms, all of them just a quick elevator ride away from the gym, workshops and Renegade.
  • On-site dining at 350 First, the hotel’s rooftop restaurant. Open 6:30am to 1:30pm for breakfast and lunch; 5:30pm to 9pm for dinner, 7 days a week. The adjacent lounge is open 4:30pm-late for cocktails and bar food with spectacular views of the city and riverfront.
  • Indoor heated pool and full fitness center.
  • In-room dining available 6:30am – 9pm.
  • Hilton HHonors Digital Key — use your smartphone to automatically unlock your guest room door, and check in and check out without stopping at the reception desk on your arrival and departure day! Use the Hilton HHonors app to customize your stay, choose your room from a digital floor plan, and much more! Get the free app from the Google Play store or the App Store.
  • Free Wi-Fi internet access throughout the property for all jugglers reserving with the special IJA rate.
  • Free airport shuttle for all registered guests to and from Eastern Iowa Airport (CID). Call the hotel for details and pick-up times.
  • Free secured garage parking for all jugglers reserving with the special IJA rate.

Use this special IJA group booking link, or book at Hilton.com and enter Group Code IJA.

If reserving by phone, tell the reservationist you are booking at the IJA (International Jugglers’ Association) group rate using group code IJA.

DoubleTree Hotel Cedar Rapids Convention Complex
350 First Avenue NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Hotel direct phone: 1-319-731-4444
Hotel Website

IJA Group Rate booking link

And to make your festival week as affordable as possible, IJA has negotiated an amazing rate of just $109.00/night single through quad, plus 12% state and local tax and $1.00/room/night city tourism fee ($123.08/night total).

To book your stay at the exclusive IJA festival group rate:

  1. Call the hotel directly at 1-319-731-4444 between 5am-6pm Central Time Monday-Friday, or use this special booking link to book online. (If you have any problems with the online booking, please call the hotel directly to make your reservation).
  2. Tell the reservationist you are booking at the IJA group rate, or enter group code IJA when reserving online.
  3. Use your credit card to guarantee your reservation. No deposit is required.
  4. BOOK BY JUNE 9, 2017, to obtain the IJA rate.
  5. Availability is limited, so book soon!


Auxiliary Lodging: Comfort Inn & Suites Cedar Rapids

The Comfort Inn & Suites Cedar Rapids is a modern, limited-service hotel located 4.0 miles / 10 minutes by car from downtown Cedar Rapids. IJA has negotiated special rates for jugglers on a limited number of rooms during our festival week.

The Comfort Inn is at 2025 Werner Ave NE, one block away from the I-380 Collins Road exit on the north side of Cedar Rapids. It will take guests less than 10 minutes driving time to reach the DoubleTree Hotel downtown and the U.S. Cellular Center. The hotel is also located on the biking/hiking trail that runs from the north side of Cedar Rapids all the way downtown to the DoubleTree and U.S. Cellular Center, so you could even bike, unicycle, skate, walk or run to the festival!

The Comfort Inn & Suites Cedar Rapids offers many value-added amenities for jugglers to make their stay comfortable and convenient:

  • Smoke-free property
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Pet Friendly
  • Free parking
  • In-room mini-fridge, microwave oven and coffeemaker
  • 32″ flat-screen HDTVs in every room
  • Guest laundry
  • Free hot buffet breakfast every morning for all registered guests
  • Hotel Manager Penny serves a home-cooked evening meal to all her guests Monday-Thursday nights! Call for details!
  • Fitness center with heated indoor pool and whirlpool
  • Business center with laser printer and desktop computer workstation


Comfort Inn & Suites Cedar Rapids has the following room types available at special IJA Festival rates, based on very limited availability.

  • King bed, accessible room (room type HNK): $99.99 single or double, $10 extra person for triple
  • King bed (room type NK): $99.99 single or double, $10 extra person for triple
  • Double Queen bed (room type NQQ): $99.99 single or double, $10 extra person for triple
  • Queen Suite, with 3 queen beds (room type QQQ): $124.99 single or double, $10 extra person for triple
  • King Suite, accessible room (room type SHNK): $114.99 single or double, $10 extra person for triple
  • King Suite (room type SNK): $114.99 single or double, $10 extra person for triple
  • Double Queen suite, two queen beds (room type SNQQ): $114.99 single or double, $10 extra person for triple


All rooms & suites are non-smoking. The IJA rate is available for nights starting July 10 through the night of July 15, 2017 (for checkout on Sunday, July 16). Add 12% state and local tax and $1.00/room/night city tourism fee to all rates.

Hotel website
To reserve: call the hotel directly at 319-378-8888. Tell the reservationist that you want to reserve under the International Jugglers’ Association rate, group code 2915501. HURRY! AVAILABILITY IS VERY LIMITED!




Dining and drinking in Cedar Rapids,
by Mike Sullivan – Festival Registrar, Future Site Coordinator

Jugglers coming to the IJA’s historic 70th Annual festival this July in Cedar Rapids will be delighted with all the close, convenient, reasonable and delicious options for dining and drinking in downtown Cedar Rapids, all within a comfortable walk from our HQ hotel, the gym and our evening performance venue, the Paramount Theatre. And since we’re in the Midwest, America’s Bread Basket, food is cheap and abundant, and portions are HUGE! You will need to juggle night and day to keep from adding a few pounds during your visit to Cedar Rapids!

Take it from those of us who have been there multiple times to visit our festival venues: downtown Cedar Rapids has a nice collection of excellent, casual and fun restaurants and bars, and you’ll be able to choose from many great places for your meals all week long.

Here are some of our favorites, all within an easy walk of the DoubleTree Hotel and U.S. Cellular Center. Entries marked with a ✔️ are highly recommended by your Festival Director and Festival Registrar!

350 First – Located atop the DoubleTree Hotel, 350 First offers spectacular views of downtown Cedar Rapids and the Cedar River, and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. For lunch, try the Perfect “10” Lunch Menu — select from 10 items from the existing lunch menu for $10.00 (entrée, non-alcoholic beverage and tax). Dine with this special menu from Monday to Friday 11:30am – 1:30pm. The adjacent 350 First Lounge offers bar fare selections and a full bar, open from 2:30pm – 11pm.
Jersey’s Downtown – 200 1st Avenue NE, adjacent to the DoubleTree Hotel and U.S. Cellular Center. Fun, casual sports bar and restaurant open 4pm-2am seven days a week for dinner and late-night dining with a full bar. Burgers, salads, appetizers and daily specials.
Blue Strawberry Coffee Company – ✔️118 2nd Street SE, about a 4-minute walk (just 900 feet!) from the DoubleTree Hotel. Excellent coffee shop and breakfast restaurant very conveniently located around the corner just one block from the DoubleTree Hotel. Blue Strawberry has a very good selection of gourmet coffees and teas, smoothies, pastries and desserts, plus salads, and several outstanding breakfast wraps, breakfast burritos and breakfast sandwiches.
Bricks Bar & Grill – 320 2nd Avenue SE, about a 4-minute walk from the DoubleTree Hotel. Local hangout with a full bar and a full menu. Over 50 beers on tap, and a menu featuring meats smoked in-house, all inside an historic century-old building. Open 11am-2am seven days.
Ruby’s Pizzeria – ✔️ 223 2nd Street SE, about a 5-minute walk from the DoubleTree Hotel. Ruby’s Pizzeria is a local favorite serving giant pizzas, subs and sandwiches and salads, plus a nice selection of craft beers on tap. Super lunch deals with slices starting at just $3.
White Star Ale House – 305 2nd Ave. SE, about a 4-minute walk from the DoubleTree Hotel. White Star Ale House is an upscale casual restaurant and bar located inside an historic old bank building. Featuring an American Contemporary menu, White Star Ale House has a very large menu available for dinner seven days a week, with everything from burgers and seafood to beef, chicken, pork and pasta entrées. Open 3:30-10pm daily, plus late night on most weekend nights.
Jimmy John’s – 411 3rd Street SE, about a 7-minute walk from the DoubleTree Hotel. A downtown location of the ubiquitous sub shop, with nearly instant free delivery in downtown! About a 5-minute walk from the DoubleTree Hotel. Open 10:30am-9pm Mon-Sat, closed Sunday.
NewBo City Market – 1100 3rd St SE — An indoor farmer’s and artisan market located right up the street from the DoubleTree Hotel, about ten blocks walk (20 minutes). Filled with nearly a dozen food vendors offering everything from locally-produced wines and produce to pizza, ice cream, sandwiches, baked goods, coffees and teas and much more, the Newbo Market is a must-see stop when you visit Cedar Rapids. There’s also a Cedar Rapids Visitor Center booth inside, and the Market is adjacent to the Czech Village shopping and dining district (see below). Open Thursday & Friday, 10am-8pm, Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 10am-4pm.
The Quarter Barrel Arcade & Brewery – ✔️ 616 2nd Ave. SE, about a 7-minute walk from the DoubleTree Hotel. Superb pinball bar and restaurant, and the home of the IJA’s Pinball Tournament, hosted during this year’s festival by Richard Kennison. Very nice selection of Iowa craft beers on draft including up to a dozen of their house brews, plus a full menu of pizza, salads, appetizers, and sliders. And check out the array of classic and contemporary pinball machines in the bar and play to win in this year’s IJA Pinball tournament!
Black Sheep Social Club – ✔️600 1st Street SE, about a 13-minute walk from the DoubleTree Hotel. Astoundingly elegant bar and restaurant along the river, located inside an historic clock factory. Featuring Midwest “comfort food” served in an upscale casual setting inside a beautiful, fully-restored factory building, Black Sheep Social Club is a top favorite among locals for lunch and dinner. The bar is one of the most beautiful spaces you will ever see in an old building, so be sure to check it out! Open Mon-Sat 11am-2pm for lunch, 5pm-10pm dinner; bar open all restaurant hours plus late on Friday and Saturday nights.

Czech Village / NewBo : Walk ten blocks southeast on 3rd Street SE out the door of the DoubleTree Hotel and you’ll be in the Czech Village / NewBo area of downtown Cedar Rapids. The district has a collection of excellent local, independent restaurants, bars, coffee shops and breweries, and they are all worth the walk. “Czech” out all of these fine establishments in the Czech Village and NewBo area during your week in Cedar Rapids:

Parlor City Pub & Eatery – ✔️ 1125 3rd Street SE — Fabulous food for lunch and dinner, plus over 50 beers on tap and a full bar! Amazing burgers, sandwiches, pizza and much more. Open 11am-2am Monday-Friday, and opening at 8am on Saturday and Sunday for breakfast!
Brewhemia – ✔️ Very cool coffee shop with breakfast and lunch selections in a cozy, airy space, plus beer and wine and free Wi-Fi! Open for breakfast and lunch 7am-6pm Monday-Thursday, 8am-7pm Saturday, and 8am-5pm Sunday.
Bata’s Restaurant – 1006 3rd Street SE — Upscale American restaurant with a varied menu of pizza, sandwiches, entrées and much more, and rated to have the “best burger in Cedar Rapids!” Open 11:30am-8:30pm Tuesday-Saturday.
Lion Bridge Brewing Company – 59 16th Ave. SW — Across the “Lion Bridge” from NewBo/Czech Village, Lion Bridge is Cedar Rapids’ local downtown craft brewery and restaurant. Excellent house-brewed ales and lagers always available in the taproom, plus sandwiches and bar favorites from the kitchen. A great place to hang out, drink or eat, right on the banks of the Cedar River! Open Wednesday-Friday 3pm-10pm, Saturday Noon-10pm, Sunday Noon-8pm.

Here are some additional resources to check out for even more ideas on places to eat and drink in downtown Cedar Rapids:

NewBo City Market
Czech Village
Cedar Rapids Economic Alliance Dining Guide
The Cedar Rapids Ale Trail: Buy 7-day Cedar Rapids Ale Trail mobile passport for just $10 and get over $500 in coupons and discounts at more than 25 participating breweries, distilleries and restaurants!
Cedar Rapids Downtown & Metro Area Map
Go Cedar Rapids (Official Tourism Authority) Dining & Restaurant Guide
Yelp’s listings for restaurants in our downtown festival area, most of which are listed above.



SPECIAL IJA FESTIVAL FEATURES

All events are subject to change.


AERIAL WORKSHOPS

Presented by Craig Lewis, owner of Night Owl Circus Arts in Johnson City, TN, and Laura Ernst Kinetic Entertainment.

Aerial workshops are open to all beginners including first-time students! Instructors will work individually with each student and adapt to their level of strength and comfort. In class, you’ll learn many movements in the silks, hammock, and aerial hoop depending on the workshop you choose.

Aerial Workshops
Beginner Aerial Fabric
Beginner Aerial Hammock
Beginner Aerial Hoop
Advanced Aerial Fabric
Advanced Aerial Hammock
Open Aerial Playtime

(Free Playtime for People with Previous Aerial Experience)


Open to ages 13+. Max 8 students per workshop.
For information and to sign up contact Laura Ernst at: aerial2017@juggle.org

$10 PER WORKSHOP WITH ADVANCE SIGNUP, $15 ONSITE


CASCADE OF STARS

Gena

It is only fitting that the highlight of the 70th Anniversary of the IJA Festival is called the “Cascade” of Stars. Like a river flowing with juggling luminaries, this show will shine a light on the brightest stars in the juggling world.

Starring special guests Gena Shvartsman Cristiani and Paul Ponce, along with a cast of thousands*.

Directed by Peter Davison.

*Some claims may be exaggerated for theatrical purposes.

SATURDAY 8PM, PARAMOUNT THEATRE

Gena Shvartsman was born in Russia on March 2, 1983, and immigrated to the United States in 1991. Her father, Eugene Shvartsman, taught her to juggle when she was almost six years old. Gena is a fourth generation circus performer.  Gena is our 2017 Award of Excellence Winner, has put together a special performance, and will be conducting a free workshop for the 70th Anniversary of the IJA Festival!

Paul Ponce’s act has been a hit in practically any type of venue around the world, from New York to Tokyo, Melbourne to Monte Carlo, Berlin to Los Angeles. One success after another has led this 6th generation performer to a magnificent career starting at age 7, and leading him to perform at some of the most prestigious stages around the world. A high energy act loved by all and seen by millions around the globe.


COACHING LOUNGE

For 8 hours over 2 days, professional juggling coach Richard Kennison will offer tips and video feedback on tricks, juggling technique, and proper form. Visit Richard in the coaching lounge and get the expert eye you need to take your juggling skill to new heights.

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NOON – 4PM
FREE


DAVID CAIN’S THE MUSEUM OF JUGGLING HISTORY

Welcome to the Museum of Juggling History – the touring exhibit. Here you’ll be able to see pictures of famous jugglers from the past and some of the rarest, most important juggling props in the world. The items in this collection have been donated to, purchased by, or rescued by, David Cain, a professional juggler and juggling historian from Middletown, Ohio. The collection is usually on display in the normal museum setting, located in Middletown, Ohio, but is sometimes displayed as an exhibit at juggling and circus festivals, like this year’s IJA Festival. The purpose of this collection is to preserve the history of juggling through the props that make the art possible.

TUESDAY 11PM – 2PM
WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY 11PM – 5PM
FREE


ERIK ÅBERG’S “DEFINITION OF JUGGLING” LECTURE

Erik Åberg will present his long awaited “Definition of Juggling” lecture. Expect standing room only crowds and heated debates.

Erik will also present lectures on the History of Props and on the great juggler Paul Cinquevalli (Erik will also present The Juggling History Show with David Cain and Object Episodes with Jay Gilligan).

History of Props, TUESDAY, 3PM – 4PM, FREE
Paul Cinquevalli, WEDNESDAY, 3PM – 4PM, FREE
Definition of Juggling, THURSDAY, 3PM – 4PM, FREE


FLOW ZONE

Need a place to chill out, relax, and take a time out while you’re checking out the latest fads in flow? Experience the Zen manipulation wisdom that only master teachers and performers like Kevin Axtell, Jeremiah Johnston and Emily Jane Perkulator can teach. Listen to the music, kick back on the bean bag chairs, and juggle lava lamps (oops, let’s scratch that last idea). Come over to the flow zone and #feeltheglow.


FLOW, GLOW AND DIABOLO SHOW

Co-hosted by Kevin Axtell and Matt Hall.

Flow and juggling meet head-on in this fast paced show of “light and laughter.” Featuring the talents of:

Jeremiah Johnston
Dan Holzman
Elise Vanpraet
Emily Jane Perkulator
Noel Yee
The Diabolo Duo of Alexis Levillon and Victor De Bouvere

THURSDAY 11PM
$10 EXTRA TICKET CHARGE
$5 for children 10 or under


FREE BRUNCH

Thanks once again to the kindness and wisdom of our anonymous donor iiWii (whoever it is knows that jugglers like to eat), there will be a free buffet brunch taking place Wednesday through Saturday.  Brunch will be in the Bud Light Lounge on the lobby level of the U.S. Cellular Center.

Brunch vouchers are included with all Festival Event Packages and can be purchased on-site for others for $20/day, except $10/day for kids 5-10 and free for kids under 5.  Purchase your Event Package by March 15 for the best price and get the free brunch with it.

Please carry any extra food to go inside your stomach.

WEDNESDAY – SATURDAY 10AM – NOON
FREE TO EVENT PACKAGE HOLDERS
$20/DAY FOR OTHERS.  $10/DAY FOR KIDS 5-10.  FREE FOR KIDS UNDER 5.


GLOW OUT TO DINNER

Friday night get out your glow props* and “glow” out to the city of Cedar Rapids. Check out the dinner specials offered at the local downtown restaurants, mix and mingle with the local residents, and explore the nighttime charms of the “City of Five Seasons”.

*There will be no fire jam this year. Jugglers are being encouraged to leave their fire equipment at home, and bring illuminated props instead.

This year’s motto when it comes to lit props is: ”If it glows, it throws.”


JOBS FOR JUGGLERS

Christian Ruiz de Loreto, a Diabolo manufacturer with a focus on teaching Diabolos through school P.E. programs is looking to create job opportunities for jugglers. Based in California, he is looking to expand his program into other states and is seeking qualified candidates to teach and sell Diabolos for him at schools across the U.S.

Jugglers interested in interviewing with him while at the IJA Festival should have strong skills with one diabolo and at least a basic ability to do two. (You will be required to pass a background check to work in the schools.)

Jugglers interested in this job opportunity can visit Christian at his booth at the 2017 IJA Festival, or get information and set up a job interview in advance by writing to: christian@jestergames.com.



KING OF SNACKS TABLE

After many years of feudal warfare and carnage, Mark Hayward has defeated those who oppose him and has risen to become “The King of Snacks”. Jugglers are encouraged to bring a favorite or local snack from their hometown for the IJA Snack Table, as a token of favor to the one-and-only Mark “The King of Snacks” Hayward.


OBJECT EPISODES –
EXPERIMENTS IN ENTERTAINMENT
WITH JAY GILLIGAN AND ERIK ÅBERG

Erik Åberg and Jay Gilligan present a collage of stories, ideas, and images taken from the Scandinavian style of experimental juggling. Work will be presented from their past collaborations including the Manipulation Research Laboratory, Shoebox Tour, and RenegadesignLab. This collection, created and framed especially for the 70th Annual IJA Festival, includes special material not seen anywhere else. The secrets of juggling will be revealed!

WEDNESDAY 11PM
$10 EXTRA TICKET CHARGE
$5 for children 10 or under


PETER DAVISON’S SOLO SHOW “MOVINGS”

Peter combines the artistry of a physical comedian, dancer, and National Juggling Champion in a one-of-a-kind performance that transforms the stage into a magical world of motion. Rather than using standard juggling and circus props, Peter finds extraordinary things to do with ordinary objects, which he brings to life as characters in a pantomime, or partners in a dance.

FRIDAY 5PM – 6PM
$10 EXTRA TICKET CHARGE
$5 for children 10 or under


PINBALL TOURNAMENT

Crack your knuckles and loosen your wrists. The 2017 IJA Festival is looking for some “pinball wizards” to play the silver ball and see if they can beat the IJA’s resident Pinball Ace Richard Kennison and all comers in a Pinball Tournament. Scores will be collected during the week (using juggler selfies with their score), and the finals will be held on Friday night in Downtown Cedar Rapids at The Quarter Barrel Arcade and Brewery.

FRIDAY NIGHT FINALS


SPECIAL WORKSHOPS – ALL ARE FREE!

  

Jay Gilligan will lead three one-hour workshops entitled “Juggling Junk Food”. These tricks are definitely not part of the four basic food groups, but you will find Jay’s workshop nourishing to your artistic and creative juggling soul.

TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY 4PM
THURSDAY 5PM
FREE

   

 

Alexis Levillon “The Future of Diabolo” The latest tricks and techniques for Diabolo fanatics of all levels. Two one-hour workshops.

WEDNESDAY 2PM
FRIDAY 3PM
FREE

 

   
 

  

Peter Davison will host two one-hour workshops: Stage movement, choreography, and physical theater as applicable to jugglers will be explored. Bring a few basic props of your choice and get ready to move!

WEDNESDAY – THURSDAY NOON
FREE

   

  

Learn how to make your own magnet clubs and more with the wizard of magnets and mystery Ameron Rosvall.

WEDNESDAY 5PM
FREE





THE GAMES OF THE IJA!

IJA Games Director Brian Koenig, in association with the Laws of Gravity presents: The 2017 Games of the IJA! (So amazing this year that the name has an exclamation point at the end of it.)

Games Under Consideration by the
Galactic Federation of Jugglers

Endurance Games:
Club Balance 5 Ball – 7 Ball – 5 Club
Blind Juggling
Club Passing (8,9,10)
Mixed Prop Endurance

Fun Games:
Best Trick
Worst/Silliest Trick
Diabolo Bucket Toss
Holzman/Sensei Sez
Wheel Barrow Races
Huggling
Erratic Passing
Skill/Random
Fewest Catches of 3 in a Minute
Speed Club Passing
Distance Passing

For more information contact Brian at: games2017@juggle.org.

SATURDAY NOON – 4PM (WITH XJUGGLING)

 


THE JUGGLING HISTORY SHOW

The Juggling History Show is a first-of-its-kind presentation at an IJA Festival. Juggling historians and full-time performers Erik Åberg and David Cain have created a show that will resurrect juggling tricks from the past that modern audiences and jugglers have never or rarely seen, and they’ll provide background information about the tricks.

They will also share videos of Bobby May, King Repp, Adanos, Trixie, and others that have never been made public before. Please be sure to join Erik, David, and several special guests for this one-of-a-kind performance.

TUESDAY 11PM
$10 EXTRA TICKET CHARGE
$5 for children 10 or under

Proceeds help fund the museum at the festival.


WATER SKUGGLING

As part of an ambitious pursuit to make this year’s IJA the biggest and best festival yet, the International Jugglers Association is joining forces with the Five Seasons Ski Team for the first ever Water Skuggling Workshop!

What in the world is water skuggling? It’s the rare combination of advanced water skiing and advanced juggling, pioneered in 2012 by Doug Sayers and the Five Seasons Ski Team. In the few short collaborations with Doug, and later with Bob and Trish Evans, they’ve done everything from juggling 7 balls, to passing, bounce juggling, and even juggling in a human pyramid.

But there’s so much more that could be done with this concept! We’re looking for a small group of motivated jugglers to think outside the box and open it to the stylistic diversity of modern juggling. Water skiing experience is helpful, but not required. Those who are athletic and have experience with learning balance and stability skills usually learn to ski quickly. However, water skuggling is a multitasking skill, so our students will need to be able to juggle while focusing on skiing.

If you’re selected, you will learn one-on-one from experienced members of the nationally competitive Five Seasons Ski Team, using the best and safest equipment available. And of course, if it’s not on video, it never happened. We’ll be using multiple waterproof GoPro cameras to make sure you have plenty to show off afterwards.

This class will be held at Ellis Park along the Cedar River, about 1.8 miles from the U.S. Cellular Center. Days, times and pricing TBA — contact David Lammers for further information. This is a limited capacity class, so if you’re interested, please either Message David Lammers on Facebook, or email him at: skuggling@juggle.org.

For more excitement, find the Five Seasons Ski Team on all major social media, and follow the IJA for more reasons not to miss the historic 70th annual festival, in Cedar Rapids on July 10-16, 2017.


WELCOME SHOW
STARRING THE DANGER ZONE  (PASSING ZONE & THE DANGER COMMITTEE)

A one-time only IJA Exclusive Event!

Watch as two titans of the variety entertainment world combine their talents into an epic entertainment spectacle of thrills and laughter. See juggling clubs and throwing knives collide when “The Danger Zone” takes the stage. With special guest Chloe Somers Walier.

TUESDAY 7:30PM, PARAMOUNT THEATRE


“WOMEN IN JUGGLING”
VIDEO PREMIERE & PERFORMANCE BY CINDY MARVELL

In 2002 Connie “Paprika” Leaverton and Cindy Marvell joined forces in documenting women jugglers across the globe in the film “Trailblazers, Women Who Juggle.”

In 2013, Paprika continued the project, and went on to film on the Asian Pacific Islands of Tonga where almost all women juggle. Juggling (or Hiko) is also a cultural dance, an ancient song, a sport and a game for women of all ages and has been in their culture for 3000 years.

Join us for partial screenings of both documentaries and a discussion on women and men jugglers from around the world.

FRIDAY 8PM – 10PM
FREE


XJUGGLING

XJuggling is the fast paced, non-stop, best trick competition. This is about pushing the limits of creativity and possibility. You’ll see the best jugglers in the world pull off their most incredible, insane, cutting-edge tricks — or crash and burn.

Watch the Highlights video from 2015.

For more info visit xjuggling.com, or contact organizer Jack Kalvan at: xjuggling2017@juggle.org.

SATURDAY NOON – 4PM (WITH GAMES)


NUMBERS CHAMPIONSHIPS

The competitors in the IJA Numbers Championships challenge each other as well as all past Numbers champions — and the laws of physics! See who can successfully juggle, individually and in teams, the greatest numbers of balls, clubs, rings and bounced balls. Cash prizes will be awarded, including a special prize for breaking IJA Numbers records.

Individuals interested in competing must read the IJA Numbers Championships Rules.

See the Numbers Directors, Merry Spahr and Scott Cain, at the fest to sign up. Send questions to them at numbers@juggle.org.

The winner of each event will receive a $100 prize. There is an additional $100 bonus for a winning competitor that breaks an IJA record!

Individuals Numbers Events:

  • Individual Balls
  • Individual Rings
  • Individual Clubs
  • Individual Ball Bouncing

Teams Numbers Events:

  • Ball Passing
  • Ring Passing
  • Club Passing
  • Ball Bounce Passing
  • Three-Person Club Passing

FRIDAY NOON FINALS
$15 ENTRY FEE PER EVENT



STAGE CHAMPIONSHIPS HOSTS

Josh Casey


Individuals and Teams Host (Thursday, July 13, 2017, Paramount Theatre)
Josh Casey is a juggler and comedian from Madison, WI. He was brought into the world of juggling through Midwest juggling festivals starting 25 years ago. Since then he’s traveled the country with his interactive comedy and juggling show, performing for all kinds of events from family theater shows to corporate events and comedy clubs. To really round our his resume, Josh earned a degree in theater arts and broke the Guinness World Record for “Sitting On the Most Whoopee Cushions in 30 Seconds.” Josh is also a co-founder and board member of the Madison Circus Space.


Tuey Wilson


Juniors Host (Wednesday, July 12, 2017, Paramount Theatre)
Tuey Wilson has been performing for over 35 years and has been a regular at IJA festivals since 1983. He has always had a passion for physical skills and going beyond the usual displays of juggling; he is not your everyday juggler. Tuey is excited to be hosting the Juniors Championships in Cedar Rapids at what is shaping up to be the best festival ever.


SPECIAL GUESTS of the 2017 IJA Festival

Gena Shvarstman Cristiani, 2017 Award of Excellence Winner!
Paul Ponce
Ameron Rosvall
Peter Davison
Alexis Levillon
Jay Gilligan
Erik Åberg
David Cain
Kevin Axtell
Emily Jane Perkulator
The Passing Zone
The Danger Committee
Chloe Somers Walier
Matt Hall

Keith Nelson and Crash: onsite technical support and Renegade Show directors.

More to be Announced!


ADVANCE REGISTRATION CLOSES ON JUNE 10 FOR THE HISTORIC 70th ANNUAL IJA FESTIVAL

Advance registration for this year’s festival in Cedar Rapids is now open and closes at 11:59pm ET on June 10, 2017.

You must be a member of the IJA to register for the Festival. Click here to join or click here to renew your membership.

You can register and pay online with your credit or debit card or with PayPal. No mail-in or phone registration is available.

Only Festival Event Packages, vendor table reservations, Joggling Championships entry fees and IJA Stage Championships entry fees are being sold through advance registration.

All other festival items (additional show tickets, Gym Passes, spectator passes & additional festival T-shirts) will be sold on-site at the festival starting Tuesday morning at 9am.

Note that this year all four Special Workshops are free to registered fest attendees, with no sign-up required.

Lodging, meals and transportation are not included. Please make your travel plans as soon as possible to secure the best rates and availability. See the “Lodging” and “Getting There” sections for details.

FESTIVAL EVENT PACKAGES: Festival Event Packages include gym admission all through the week (including all regular festival workshops), a hot brunch buffet Wednesday-Saturday mornings, a festival T-shirt, a ticket to each of the evening shows in the Paramount Theatre, access to watch all regularly-scheduled events in the gym and other indoor festival venues.

VENDOR EVENT PACKAGE ADD-ON: Available ONLY to IJA Vendor Discount Program (VDP) members. This $99 add-on to a Vendor Set-Up includes all the items from the Festival Event Package above. Limit two Add-Ons per vendor.

ADDITIONAL SHOWS at U.S. CELLULAR CENTER: Tickets to the four additional special shows held at the U.S. Cellular Center will be sold during the festival at the IJA registration desk and at the door for $10 each.  The Event Package does not include admission to these shows, which require separate ticket purchase at the festival.

DEADLINES AND EVENT PACKAGE PRICES FOR IJA MEMBERS (Youth are ages 11-17):

  • Regular: March 16th through 11:59pm ET on June 10, 2017: Adult $249 / Youth $199 / Youth Group $99
  • On-site at the festival: Adult $279 / Youth $229

Register now for an Event Package.

Go to the IJA Store to purchase vendor tables, other vendor items, and Joggling and Stage Championships entry fees.

Price list for all advance and on-site items (PDF)

Tentative schedule for the IJA Festival (PDF)

Full IJA Festival website


VENDOR REGISTRATION

Each vendor must purchase a minimum of one Vendor Set-Up at $50 which includes one 6’ table, two chairs and Wi-Fi Internet access. The set-up fee is waived for IJA Vendor Discount Program (VDP) participants. Additional 6’ tables are available for $50 each. Electrical drops are available for $75 per drop. Space is limited, so be sure to reserve early.

During advance registration, IJA Vendor Discount Program (VDP) members may also purchase, with a Vendor Set-Up order, a Vendor Event Package for $99 that includes all the items of the Festival Event Package. Limit 2 per VDP vendor.

Vendor space will not be sold on-site at the festival. You must order your vendor space before 11:59pm ET on June 10th, 2017. For more information, email Vendor Coordinator Cheryl Sayers at vendors2017@juggle.org. Click this link to purchase vendor items.


 
   
 




Getting to the 2017 IJA Festival, by Mike Sullivan

Cedar Rapids, The City of Five Seasons, is Iowa’s second-largest city and is located along the banks of the Cedar River in Northeastern Iowa. Cedar Rapids is in the Central US Time Zone.


BY AIR…

The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) is just 9 miles south of all of our festival venues in downtown Cedar Rapids, and connects the city to the world with over 30 flights a day to world hubs at Chicago O’Hare, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Denver, Charlotte, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Detroit and Atlanta on flights from American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier and United Airlines. Chicago and Minneapolis are just a quick 20- to 30-minute flight from CID on more than a dozen daily jet round-trips.

Additional service is provided on Allegiant Airlines to and from Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB), St. Petersburg/Clearwater International (PIE), Los Angeles International (LAX), Phoenix/Mesa Williams Gateway Airport (AZA), Las Vegas (LAS), and Ft. Meyers/Punta Gorda, FL (PGD).

  • Route map of non-stop destinations to/from CID
  • Real-time flight status for flights at CID today
 
AMERICAN AIRLINES serves Cedar Rapids with several daily flights to their world hubs at Dallas/Ft. Worth International (DFW) and Chicago O’Hare (ORD), plus two daily round-trips to Charlotte (CLT), and then on to 350 cities in 50 countries. Through the oneWorld global network, American and their 14 oneWorld partner airlines serve an additional 1,000 cities. Visit aa.com for booking, or visit oneworld.com for information on oneWorld partner airlines worldwide.

DELTA AIRLINES serves Cedar Rapids with several daily flights to their world hubs at Atlanta/Hartsfield International, Detroit and Minneapolis/St. Paul, and then on to 325 cities on six continents. Through the SkyTeam global network, Delta connects to over 600 additional international destinations through 20 partner airlines. Visit delta.com for booking, or visit skyteam.com for information on SkyTeam partner airlines worldwide.
 
FRONTIER AIRLINES serves Cedar Rapids with twice-weekly non-stops from Denver International Airport on mainline AirBus jets. Connecting through their hub at Denver, Frontier flies to over 50 cities in the US and the Caribbean. Visit https://www.flyfrontier.com for booking.

UNITED AIRLINES serves Cedar Rapids with several daily flights to their world hubs at Chicago/O’Hare and Denver. Through the Star Alliance global network, United connects to over 1,400 worldwide cities through 50 hubs on two dozen Star Alliance partner airlines. Visit united.com for booking, or visit staralliance.com for information on Star Alliance partner airlines worldwide.
 
ALLEGIANT AIRLINES serves Cedar Rapids with low-fare flights to six popular Sunbelt destinations: Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB), St. Petersburg/Clearwater International (PIE), Los Angeles International (LAX), Phoenix/Mesa Williams Gateway Airport (AZA), Las Vegas (LAS), and Ft. Meyers/Punta Gorda, FL (PGD). From their Las Vegas hub, Allegiant flies to over 60 cities. Visit allegiantair.com for booking or click here for an interactive route map of their flights.
 
AIRPORT TRANSFERS
The Doubletree Hotel provides complimentary airport shuttle service for registered guests. The shuttle leaves CID airport baggage claim shuttle bus area for the hotel on the half-hour, and leaves the hotel for the airport on the hour throughout the day, seven days a week. Call the hotel at 1-319-731-4444 for details and pick-up times.

Additional ground transportation options from the airport to downtown include car rental, independent airport shuttles, taxi, limousine, Uber, and public city bus CRTransit (Route 11), which stops about 3 blocks from the Doubletree Hotel.  See this page for all ground transportation options.


BY CAR…

Cedar Rapids is 23 miles north of I-80 along I-380. Driving times to Cedar Rapids from major Midwestern cities:

          

Chicago:  4 Hours

St. Louis: 4.5 Hours

Minneapolis: 4 Hours

 

Des Moines: 2 Hours     

Omaha: 3 Hours

Kansas City: 4.5 Hours

 

Detroit: 7.5 Hours

Madison, WI: 3 Hours    

Cleveland: 8.5 Hours


BY BUS…

Burlington Trailways serves Cedar Rapids with a terminal at Eastern Iowa Airport, and serves over 75 destinations in six Midwestern states, as well as connecting with the nationwide Greyhound Lines network.



Upcoming juggling festivals


Below is a list of some upcoming juggling festivals. For a list of even more fests, check the worldwide juggling event listings on our website at: dev.juggle.org/events.

To get a festival listed here for free, just drop a note to us at ijanews@juggle.org. Hey, jugglers want to know about juggling fests. Help them out and get more jugglers to your fest at the same time.


Galway Juggling Convention ’17
    2 June – 5 June 2017
    Áras na Mac Léinn, NUIG, Galway Ireland (Éire)
    https://www.facebook.com/events/1844413409152000


4th Annual Juggleboro Festival
    3 June – 3 June 2017
    Greensboro, NC USA
    https://juggleboro.com/


Rastelli Festival 2017
    9 June – 11 June 2017
    Teatro Sociale Stagione, Bergamo, Italy
    https://ambaradan.wordpress.com/2017/05/19/rastelli-festival-2017/


13th Boulder Juggling Festival
    16 June – 18 June 2017
    Boulder, CO USA
    https://www.boulderjuggling.com


Montreal Juggling Festival
    16 June – 18 June 2017
    Verdun, Quebec, Canada
    https://www.jaq.qc.ca


5th Eindhovens Juggling Convention
    16 June – 18 June 2017
    Onze Lieve Vrouwestraat 1, Eindhoven Netherlands
    https://www.jongleers.nl/ejf/


Stockholm Juggling Weekend 2017
    16 June – 18 June 2017
    Vikingavägen 4, Märsta Sweden
    https://www.fjong.org/index.php/StockholmJugglingWeekend2017


World Juggling Day 2017
    17 June – 17 June 2017
    The World
    https://juggle.org/calendar/


Flatland Juggling Festival 2017
    23 June – 25 June, 2017
    Lincoln, Nebraska USA
    https://underthecouch.com/lcj


15th Hungarian Juggling Convention
    30 June – 3 July, 2017
    Pécs Hungary
    https://www.facebook.com/events/360453577683804


70th Annual IJA Juggling Festival 2017 – Cedar Rapids
    10 July – 16 July 2017
    US Cellular Center Complex, Cedar Rapids, Iowa USA
    https://juggle.org/festival


40th European Juggling Convention, Lublin, Poland
    22 July – 30 July 2017
    Park Ludowy and in the adjacent Targi Lublin (International Lublin Fair Hall) and MOSiR Sports Center Hall, Lublin, Poland
    https://www.ejc2017.org


Denver Juggling Festival 2017
    10 Aug – 13 Aug 2017
    1212 W. Cedar Ave, Denver, Colorado USA
    https://www.facebook.com/events/555741497937816


2017 Kansas City Juggling Festival
    8 Sep – 10 Sep 2017
    Kansas City, MO USA
    https://kcjugglingfest.com/


Broxford Juggling Convention
    9 Sep – 17 Sep 2017
    Kiln Farm, Kiln Lane, Oxford, OX44 9AR UK


Melbourne Juggling Convention 2017
    22 Sep – 25 Sep 2017
    35 Johnston St, Collingwood VIC 3066 Australia
    https://www.melbournejugglingconvention.com/