Local juggling and unicycle clubs to host marathon convention of merriment

By Nancy Raskauskas

The Entertainer

CORVALLIS - Always wanted to try juggling or unicycling, but never had the chance to try? Looking for a fun way to spend the last weekend of spring break?

Two local groups, the Oregon State University Jugglers Club and the Corvallis Juggling & Unicycling Club, are excited to present the Pacific Northwest Juggling Convention this weekend at Oregon State University.

"For 47 hours Corvallis will be home to some of the most talented and entertaining jugglers in the world," said convention director David Sallee.

Sallee stressed that the entire convention, which kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday, March 27, and runs through 4 p.m. Sunday, March 29, is open to the public and free of charge.

"We pretty much do this as a community event to promote juggling and unicycling," said fellow organizer Angela Schwindt, an instructor for the One Wheel Wonders, a Corvallis-based youth unicycling program.

The Corvallis clubs held their first highly successful convention two years ago.

It takes about $6,000 to put on the event for the community, according to Schwindt. Most of the money is used on travel expenses to bring in high-caliber performers.

Those performers will be featured in a special public performance at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at LaSells Stewart Center. Last year's show in Milam Auditorium drew an audience of more than 600 people; this year, organizers expect closer to 1,000.

Sallee, a well-known local juggling instructor, will be the opening act at the family-friendly public show. He will be followed by jugglers Matt Hal, Aaron Greg, champion unicyclist Becky Banning and many other talented stage performers.

Another chance to catch a great show will be at a convention tradition known as the "Renegade Show," which will take place from 10 p.m. to midnight on Friday, March 27, at McAlexander Fieldhouse.

The Renegade Show typically has a smaller audience than the public show and it is a show where anyone brave enough can volunteer to do a juggling/comedy/alternative act in front of a usually rowdy audience of jugglers and hecklers. The late-night show is for an adult audience only.

All throughout the festival, extra juggling props and unicycles will be on hand in the Beginner's Area, for those who would like to try out the crafts for the first time. In addition, McAlexander Fieldhouse will be open around the clock to provide practice space for convention visitors.

The fieldhouse is the perfect venue for keeping a multitude of jugglers and unicyclists happy, according to Sallee. High ceilings and spongy turf make those juggling drops a bit less of an impact and there are two full-size basketball courts for unicycling.

The convention will also include a multitude of workshops ranging from beginner techniques to advanced techniques that even seasoned pros would benefit from, Sallee said. There will be a raffle giveaway on Sunday.

"It only takes a few minutes to learn the basics, and you'll have a new skill filled with infinite possibilities," Sallee said.

To find videos, and all sorts of useful information for the convention, see jugglingconvention2009.blogspot.com.

CHECK IT OUT

Pacific Northwest Juggling Convention

WHO/WHAT: The OSU Jugglers Club and Corvallis Juggling & Unicycling Club hosts a 47-hour convention weekend of workshops, open gyms and performances. All activities are open to the public and free.

WHEN: Starts at 5 p.m. Friday, March 27, and runs through 4 p.m. Sunday, March 28.

WHERE: McAlexander Fieldhouse, Oregon State University.

INFO: See videos of past conventions, get schedules for workshops and more at jugglingconvention2009.blogspot.com.

PUBLIC SHOW: Featuring Matt Hal, Aaron Greg, and many other renowned and talented jugglers, unicyclists and stage performers, 7 p.m. Saturday, March 28, LaSells Stewart Center.