What was it like to emerge a legend before the wave of pros many of us were mentored by? I talked with Larry Vee, one of the greats of the New Vaudeville era, about his career. Having written about his act for Suspended Animation, a comedy magazine, I thought it time to revisit Vee’s juggling and his work with the …
2019 IJA Fest Review
This year’s IJA Festival in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, provided a forum for jugglers to excel and enjoy what they do best. This year’s festival was organized by David Cain – juggling chronicler, performer, and competitor. The festival, which was primarily held at the Grand Wayne Convention Center in Ft. Wayne, offered some of the best versions of activities the IJA …
IJA 2018 Fest Review
The 71st Annual IJA Festival convened at the Mass Mutual Center and nearby Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts July 16-22, 2018. Jugglers enjoyed the environs of this Art Deco city on a river in the Boston area. Special Guests included Michael Moschen, Wes Peden and Florence Huet. Moschen returned to his hometown for the event. Many other guest performers attended …
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2015 IJA Festival Joins Circus in Quebec City
IJA 2015 Contemporary circus, Canadian scenery, and serene climate made Quebec City a star location for the 68th Annual IJA Festival. Though only some of the festival transpired at L’Ecole de Cirque, known to many jugglers as home of the Turbo Festival, the creative atmosphere infused the spirit of the art. The college gymnasium of Cegep Limoileu housed most of …
IJA 2012: All Things Gravitational
On the theory that jugglers always get tricks right on the third try, the IJA returned to the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, NC for the 65th annual festival, July 16-22, 2012. The virtually cataclysmic event spanned nationalities and generations as juggling history, know-how, and festive fun gave rise to a yearly bonanza only jugglers can create. From internationally renowned variety artist …
The Original Object, Redux
For jugglers, a sphere can be considered the simplest or most complex of objects. Two acts recently challenged limits and created beauty with these objects. Dmitry Chernov, having already won a bronze medal at Cirque de Demain in Paris as a teenager, performed his shaman routine in the Big Apple Circus. Les Objets Volants, a 5-person ensemble that started as …
Perfect Catch: A Throwmantic Comedy
It takes ambition as well as wit to name a juggling show “Perfect Catch,” and Michael Karas and Jen Slaw Napolitano are just the duo to pull off this wacky combination of character work and skill. The show has played to rave reviews and many sold-out houses since opening last fall (it has also toured other east coast locations). I …