MadFest 2010

MadFest was cool. I was introduced to some new tricks, such as a 441 in which the 1 is passed behind the back, and a variation on mill's mess in which the upper hand is clawing. I got to see some pretty cool performances in the evening, and I saw some really impressive skills being practiced in the gym. Possibly the best part was taking part in the juggling games on Sunday afternoon. Nolan and I competed together in a three legged race while partner juggling clubs, and we both competed separately in a quarter juggling contest. There were also 7 ball endurance and distance passing contests, but neither of us are that good (yet!). Sara bought herself some rings, and Jessie learned a few new tricks for three balls. Erica made progress on learning three balls as well. We all got to do some partner-acro too! Unexpectedly, we ran an impromptu mini-workshop on some tumbling skills after a small crowd gathered around Nolan and I practicing somersaulting on each other's backs. Both the show on Saturday night, and the renegade show that took place later at a local bar were excellent. We saw a fantastic juggler by the name of Thom Wall, whose tricks and attitude I really enjoyed, as well as a great comedy juggling duo called Smirk, and a hula-hooper with lots of courage and style who calls herself Dizzy Lizzy Delicious. A real treat of the show was to see a juggler who has been working with Cirque du Soliel for the past ten years do some excellent clowning, some creative contact juggling, solid toss juggling, and very impressive and smooth object manipulation with his suitcase, his cane and a ball.

Below is a show reel for Dizzy Lizzy Delicious, a perfomer from both the regular and the renegade show whom I enjoyed watching very much.