IJA eNewsletter – December 2025

IJA logo
www.juggle.org		 IJA eNewsletter
December 2025Editors: Don Lewis & Martin Frost
(ijanews@juggle.org)

Happy New Year!

CONTENTS

  • Between endings, still juggling
  • IJA Festival in Fort Wayne, Indiana, July 27–August 2, 2026
  • 2026 IJA Festival Early Bird Registration open – closes Dec 31
  • Thank you for supporting the IJA for Giving Tuesday!
  • Nominations open for IJA Honorary Awards
  • Flamingo Club Award nominations open
  • Sky Kng Award nominations open
  • 2026 IJA Festival scholarship applications open
  • 2028 IJA Festival Director – Call for letters of interest for the 81st annual festival
  • Save The Date: Fort Wayne Pub Crawl & Tour!
  • The post holiday debris
  • YJA Badge Book
  • IJA Board meetings
  • Upcoming juggling festivals (and juggling clubs)
  • Latest from eJuggle: podcasts & articles

 

 

Between endings, still juggling  Benjamin Domask-Ruh

Happy Holidays, IJA Community!

Benjamin Bell CactusI find myself between endings at the moment.  Not only are we closing out 2025, but I’ve also just finished a 2.5-year contract with an incredible organization focused on (re)activating rural spaces through the arts.  Through that work, I deepened my understanding that true community building comes from listening, learning, and living together in shared spaces and that artists and the arts are a powerful gateway for communities to find their way toward one another.

You can be sure I worked juggling into those conversations whenever I could.  Circus arts are often left out when people talk about “the arts,” and I did my best to represent our community and lay a few stepping stones for future fellow jugglers who may walk that path.

We’ve also reached the end of this four-part series exploring the IJA’s mission statement.  Last month, we reconsidered the word fellow not through its etymological roots, but as an adjective simply meaning another.  And now, as we come in for a landing, we arrive at our final word:

juggler

malabarista, jongleur, giocoliere, жонглер (zhonglyor), 手品師 (tejinashi), 变戏法 (biànxìfǎzhě), jonglör, jonglööri, 마술사 (masulsa), kuglarz, مُشَعْوِذٌ (mush’awidh), nghệ sĩ tung hứng, and so many more…

Across languages and cultures, the word society uses to describe what we do has long captured someone who interacts with the world a little differently.  Jugglers form relationships with objects, companions others might see as frivolous toys or purposeless items.  We value exploration, experimentation, variation, iteration, and, most importantly, failure.

The word juggler binds together people who explore repetition and novelty, focus and flow, curiosity and self-challenge.  A juggler is someone who doesn’t wait to be told what’s possible.  We constantly ask, “What happens if I try it like this?”  We are a group that delights in questioning the expected uses of objects … and sometimes even society itself.

While I stand behind all of these definitions, the simplest one, “a juggler is someone who juggles”, can feel unsatisfying.  That quickly leads to the next question: what does it mean to juggle?  I don’t want to use that question to divide or exclude anyone.  (For a deeper dive, I highly recommend the podcast Object Episodes by Jay Gilligan and Erik Åberg.)  Simply put: juggling is a way of exploring the physical world.

So, as we continue this exploration, let’s keep growing as a community of fellow jugglers.  Let’s stand together and welcome those who are looking for something more personal, relational, and supportive.  And, of course, let’s juggle!

As the year comes to a close, I want to remind you: this community has existed, exists, and continues to exist to help you grow as a juggler.

Whether that’s by attending our annual festival, competing in an IRC, being featured in Tricks of the Month, publishing in eJuggle, growing through the Youth Juggling Academy, or simply asking a juggling question, we’re here for you.  You’re always welcome to reach out to me at ija.chair@juggle.org, and members are welcome to attend Board meetings.  Just email me for the Zoom link!

Happiest of holidays to you and yours.  As you reflect on the year behind us and look ahead to the year to come, remember, perhaps with a little deeper understanding, to Render Assistance to Fellow Jugglers.

Happy New Year!
Benjamin Domask-Ruh
IJA Board Chair

 

 

IJA Festival in Fort Wayne, Indiana, July 27–August 2, 2026
Noel Yee

IJA Community,

2026 IJA Festival in Fort Wayne, INThis will be my fourth year helping direct the IJA Festival, and it still feels a little unreal to say that.  Fifteen plus years ago, my past self would never have believed that this would be my life, or that juggling would become such a constant thread through it.

My first IJA was in Reno, Nevada.  I wasn’t really a “juggler” in the traditional sense.  I was more of a flow person, played with poi and hung out on the sides of the gym with that one flower stick guy.  I remember feeling pretty nervous walking into juggling events.  The only festival I’d attended before was the Isla Vista Juggling Festival, which was very small, but welcoming.

At the IJA Festival in Reno I was also more than a little starstruck to be in the same space as jugglers I had only ever seen on TV, Kris Kremo and Twan Lee.  What I never expected was that I would actually get to talk with both of them.  That moment alone shifted something for me.  Suddenly, the juggling world felt accessible and human.  From there, I just kept juggling, flowing, connecting, and slowly got to know more and more people in this community.  Over the years, those connections have grown into life long friendships, mentorships, and a sense of home once a year that I didn’t know I was looking for.

The holiday season always makes me reflect on how much of a gift juggling has been in my life.  In some ways, it’s a very literal gift – props that are relatively inexpensive and last for years.  I think I still have a set of four PX3s from nearly 15 years ago, and somehow they’re still in kind of good shape while my four clubs is still in bad shape.  But the deeper gift is what we share with one another, a trick passed along, a performance watched, a late-night conversation, or simply getting to know each other a little better year after year.

When I first came to IJA, I remember thinking, “Wow, all these older folks are lifelong friends.  I don’t know if I’ll ever really get to know any of them.” And now, in a strange turn of events, I do know many of them, and somehow I’ve become one of the “old ones” with friendships that stretch across years and cities.

As you start thinking about coming to Fort Wayne for this year’s festival, I invite you to reflect on the connections you’ve already made coming to the annual International Jugglers’ Association Festival.  And if you’ve never attended before, think about the connections you haven’t made yet.  The ones you might be looking back on 15 years from now, grateful for a life shaped by juggling and friends.

Registration for this year’s festival is now open.  If you’re able, consider registering before the new year to take advantage of the early bird pricing (which ends December 31).  Early registration also helps us better understand the financial scope of the festival and plan accordingly.

Wishing you all a very happy holiday season.

With gratitude,
Noel
and the 2026 IJA Festival Core Team

 

 

2026 IJA Festival Early Bird Registration open – closes Dec 31

Early bird registration is open!  Be sure to register soon and get ready for an amazing year of juggling.  Early bird pricing ends on December 31, 2025!

When you register, you have the opportunity to render assistance to fellow jugglers by purchasing a package that donates 50-100% of a festival package to the IJA Festival Scholarship Fund!  Note: Vendor registration will be opening in the coming months.

 

 

Thank you for supporting the IJA for Giving Tuesday! Afton Benson, IJA Treasurer

Thank you to everyone who donated to the IJA Giving Tuesday campaign.  We had a goal of $3,000, and you all helped exceed the goal – we raised $4,370!  Your support ensures that the IJA can continue to render assistance to fellow jugglers each year.  Thank you!

If you made a contribution, don’t forget to check with your employer to see if they do matching gifts on donations.  Matching gifts make your donation go even further.  And if you missed Giving Tuesday and were looking to contribute before the end of the year, you can donate here.

Thank you!
Afton

 

 

Nominations open for IJA Honorary Awards Afton BensonHonorary Awards

Nominations for the 2026 IJA Honorary Awards are open.  All the different awards and previous winners are displayed here.

Nominate someone or yourself today!  Nominations are due by 11:59pm PST on Feb 6, 2026.

 

Flamingo Club Award nominations open  Afton Benson

The IJA Flamingo Club is accepting nominations for the 2026 Flamingo Club Award.  The Flamingo Club provides the recognition, support and encouragement of female-identifying and non-binary persons, children, and families, in order to build a more inclusive juggling community.

The award is given to highlight a female-identifying or non-binary person who has shown outstanding support, inspirational skill, or exceptional promotion of juggling.

Individuals can, and are encouraged to, nominate themselves.

Nominate someone or yourself today!  Nominations are due by 11:59pm PST on Feb 6, 2026.

The Flamingo Club is one of the IJA programs that are supported by donations from jugglers around the world.  Want to ensure the IJAhas the means to support these and other programs?  Please donate here today!  Any questions can be directed to treasurer@juggle.org.

 

Sky King Award nominations open  Paris

The Sky King Award committee is accepting nominations for the 2026 Sky King Award.  The award is given in recognition of outstanding dedication to furthering diversity and equity in the juggling community by a BIPOC member of that community.

Individuals can, and are encouraged to, nominate themselves.

Nominate someone or yourself today!  Nominations are due by 11:59pm PST on Feb 6, 2026.

 

 

2026 IJA Festival scholarship applications open  Afton Benson, IJA Treasurer

The IJA J. Todd Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund is now accepting applications for 2026 IJA Festival Scholarships.  If you have wanted to attend an IJA Festival but have not had a chance and some support would help, apply!  Priority will be given to individuals who have not attended an IJA Festival before.  You can find the scholarship application here.  Please share info about this scholarship far and wide – it is open to jugglers around the world.

Applications close at 11:59pm PDT on March 15, 2026.  Scholarships will start being awarded (and recipients notified) before the application deadline.  The last awardees will be informed by May at the latest.

This fund is named in honor of Todd Smith, one of the world’s top manufacturers of juggling equipment.  Todd was known for giving away props to aspiring jugglers and had the nickname of “the juggler’s friend”.  This scholarship fund will support new jugglers who have not had the chance to attend an IJA Festival.

Big thanks go to the fund’s donors for their generosity: Arthur Lewbel, Mike and Marilyn Sullivan, Unna Med, and a number of other jugglers.  Since 2022, the Scholarship Fund has provided support to 92 jugglers from around the world to attend the annual IJA Festival.

Interested in supporting the J. Todd Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund?  Fantastic!  You can donate here today.  Any questions can be directed to treasurer@juggle.org.

 

 

2028 IJA Festival Director – Call for letters of interest for the 81st annual festival  Ross Berenson

The IJA is looking for a passionate, creative individual to be Festival Director for the 81st IJA Festival.  It’s taking place during the week of July 17-23, 2028, in South Bend, IN.  This is an exciting opportunity to produce a week-long juggling festival!  Help bring together artists, volunteers, partners, and the board to create inspiring shows, games, workshops, and other new ideas.  We’re starting the process early to give you extra time to collaborate and learn from past directors.  This role is your chance to contribute to the juggling community in big ways!  If you want to help create something unforgettable, we’d love to hear from you.

Learn more.

 

 

Save the date: Fort Wayne Pub Crawl & Walking Tour
Mike Sullivan, Advisory Future Festival Site Coordinator

If you’re making plans to be in Fort Wayne for the 79th IJA Festival, July 27-August 2, 2026, you have a real treat awaiting you.

In the words of no less an authority than long time IJA member David Cain, Fort Wayne has the best setup ever for an IJA festival: THREE festival hotels adjacent to the gym and theater, the most beautiful, modern convention center you’ve ever seen, a spectacular Vaudeville-era theater for IJA shows and competitions, and a vibrant downtown with over 50 walkable restaurants and bars close by.

But there’s SO much that’s new since our first visit in 2019!  You will want to have a half-day just to learn your way around, see everything that’s new, and sample some of the best brews in downtown Fort Wayne.  So be sure to save the date for the 2026 edition of the IJA pre-fest Pub Crawl and Walking Tour, set for the afternoon of Monday, July 27th.

Be in town and ready to crawl by Noon on Monday, and watch for full details about tickets and more coming in the spring.  Last year’s crawl in Evansville was a total blast, so be sure to join us for an even more awesome afternoon in Fort Wayne!

 

 

The post holiday debris  Don Lewis

The holidays can be intense and frustrating in addition to being joyful and communal.  Lots of people get “beginner” sets of just about anything.  Toy fishing poles for those who don’t fish, warm mitts for people who never go outside, tacky neckties for men who never dress up, pointless executive games for those who don’t work at a desk, and juggling balls for people who have never seen a circus.  As jugglers, we can at least try to rescue the juggling balls from obscurity, and perhaps also rescue the recipient of the balls from mockery.

A lot of juggling gifts fall into two categories: desperation at finding something for someone who already has everything, or frustration with someone who is far too good at a lot of things and needs to be offered some frustration of their own.

Regardless of why the gift was given, the recipient of the gift has a problem.  They want to be politely grateful, while being totally mystified by why they might want such a thing.  A quick juggling lesson can fix things up just fine.  First off, you juggle the balls for a moment yourself – no tricks or fancy moves, just check they aren’t so badly made that nobody could juggle with them.  Next go through the usual one ball, two ball, three balls progression demonstrating the exchange.  Then stand in front of them and throw three balls very slowly in order for them to catch.  Get them to throw the balls back in similar fashion.  If someone laughs while you are doing that exercise, immediately do that same exercise with them – no excuses – you laugh you’re in.

I know, juggling three balls between two people isn’t much of a feat for a juggler.  But it is to someone who has never juggled.  And it proves to the doubters that the set of juggling balls wasn’t a wasted gift.  Once the cascade rhythm has been introduced to muscle memory it sticks there even if not used.  Those juggling balls may wait in hope, abandoned on a shelf somewhere, until the day when they are pulled out in secret and the muscles remember how cool it can be to throw something to yourself.  You can be the catalyst that turns gag gift juggling balls into serious props with just a few minutes of low pressure instruction.

New jugglers who actually catch the bug once you’ve intrigued them will want another challenge.  Tell them about juggling clubs, rings, diabolo, and contact juggling.  All those things require equipment, which is probably a bar to a lot of people.  Enter the Green Club Project.  Here is a simple way to make well balanced clubs cheaply from recycled materials.  The plans and instructions are available free on the IJA website in English and French.  These clubs are nearly indestructible and can be decorated as you please.  They mix well with other light clubs when the aspiring club juggler eventually makes his/her way to a juggling club for further evolution.

 

 

YJA Badge BookThe Juggler's Badge Book

Did you know that the IJA‘s Youth Juggling Academy has a book?  It does!

The Juggler's Badge Book

The Juggler’s Badge Book is the ultimate companion for aspiring jugglers of any age!  Track your progress, unlock achievements, and earn badges as you learn the art of juggling.  With its engaging format and rewarding sticker system, The Juggler’s Badge Book makes learning to juggle an exciting and fulfilling adventure.  Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned juggler, let The Juggler’s Badge Book be your guide to skillful juggling and a collection of well-earned accomplishments.  Start achieving your juggling journey today!

The Juggler’s Badge Book is $25 and makes a great gift!  Purchase yours today!  Proceeds go to supporting further YJA initiatives and advancing the IJA‘s mission to render assistance to fellow jugglers.

Published by the International Jugglers’ Association in collaboration with Modern Vaudeville Press.

 

 

IJA Board meetingsIJA Board meetings

IJA Board meetings are open to all IJA members and are hosted on Zoom.  To find out the times of this month’s vision and business meetings, or to attend, please email ija.chair@juggle.org and say which meeting you’re interested in.

 

 

Upcoming juggling festivals (and juggling clubs)

For a list of upcoming juggling festivals, please visit our friends over at The Juggling Edge.

While you’re there, visit their list of juggling clubs.

 

 

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