2010 NZ Juggling Convention Review
After my labour weekend introduction to juggling, the
next logical step, was of course to register for the NZJC Juggling convention.
Eagerly I joined the NZJC Group on facebook, registered the whole family,
paid and waited for the event day to arrive.
Levin here we come.
5 kids, 2 adults squashed into the car and 8 hours drive later…….
What an arrival, clouds lifted early morning to reveal brilliant blue
skies, gigantic hay bales, colourful Kumarani flags and the kids were
gone. Tents were put up, friends were made with our tenting neighbours
and then it was my turn and I was out of there. Juggling balls, borrowed
clubs and my poi all crammed into my now, under-sized bag. Workshops,
workshops and more workshops. Club juggling; Diablo; Staff spinning; 5
ball juggling; 3 ball tricks; Poi; Unicycle; how can I possibly do them
all?
I learnt what a Renegade night was and how skilful the children were that
performed and how the adults showed off their skills to an enthusiastic
audience. I discovered Juggling Olympics and how adults and children can
get together to put their skills to the test against each other. I realised
the beauty of fire, enchanting its way around a dancer. My mind was absolutely
overindulged by the talent; the best of the best performing at the public
show in an elegant little theatre in Otaki.
I juggled all day, all through the night and the next morning I started
again, but this time with a coffee…..…And oh my goodness, the
coffee….the much needed coffee to get you through the following day
was presented within a glorious purple and orange Moroccan style tent
where you could lie on the cushions drinking your coffee, and of course
showing off those new juggling skills to the enthusiastic Coffee Guru.
Sitting for what seemed the first time (clubs in hand and ready of course), I took a look around at the group of people I was sitting with, the group of people who had taught me in and out of the workshops, who shared their skills and props with me, who encouraged me to keep on trying. I was surrounded by vastly talented and very welcoming people, all so highly skilled, some from overseas, some from homeland New Zealand. Wow……
This was my first convention and this event will never end for me, it
continues from festival to festival, from new skill to new skill and of
course, from new friends to new friends.
Vickie Wade
Auckland
