This Week – 10 July 2021

While we’re still basking in the glow of a victory for one of the nation’s most promising athletic, academic and circus-tastic youth, let’s look forward to next week’s Virtual IJA Festival, and behold the many local and internet-born offerings on the menu this week.

CELEBRATION

The prodigious talents of basketball juggler Zaila Avant-garde took a momentary backseat to her equally inspiring spelling prowess as she became the first African American and first Louisianan to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday evening. Check out the round-by-round recap of the bee here, with Zaila’s words including ‘tubifex’ and ‘solidungulate’ (bonus points if you can tell me what either of those mean without looking it up). Follow her on Instagram to see her incredible work on and off the basketball court.

PRIDE ALL YEAR

The trailer for our Pride Month Interview Series premieres tonight at 6 p.m. EDT. Watch it as it premieres (it’s only a minute long!) or catch it anytime later at this link. The full conversations with these charismatic and insightful artists will be appearing throughout the next few months. Follow our YouTube channel so you don’t miss out!

VIRTUAL IJA FESTIVAL

July 12-18

The Virtual IJA Festival runs all next week. Many events will be free of charge. For the full experience, join the IJA at this link. Here’s a quick summary of what this amazing week has to offer:

Monday: Welcome Show 8 p.m. EDT
Tuesday: Iman Lizarazu ‘On Performing’ Workshop, State of the Professional Juggler Panel, Youth Showcase
Wednesday: Race in Juggling Panel, Flow Show, Juggling Trivia
Thursday: Combating Sexism in Juggling Panel, Online Juggling Championships
Friday: IJA Regional Competition Show, Battle Night International Championship
Saturday: Building International Community Panel, Cascade of Stars Gala Show
Sunday: Annual General Meeting

See the full schedule at this link.

You can still sign up to teach a workshop here — there is plenty of space in the schedule for your expertise!

CLASSES

Celebrate physical theater expert Dody DiSanto’s ‘long-awaited return to spatial reality’ with the arrival of her upcoming workshops at The Center for Movement Theatre in Northwest DC, including Rebuilding the Body (July 26-August 30), Clown 2: get inside the ruckus! (August 7 & 8), Comprehensive 1 Program (September 13-November 29) and Clown Weekend (September 18 & 19). Register at this link.

ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT

July 10-18

Les Canons du Cirque: Duels dans la Ville is an extreme spectacle based around five ‘confrontations’ among circus artists filmed in Montréal. To watch these cinematic films and vote for the ‘winner’ of each battle, visit the Montréal Complétement Cirque Facebook page.

SUPPORT

Help students from the Circadium School of Contemporary Circus create a show in Hawaii during their summer break. Donate to their GoFundMe at this link.

IN-PERSON EVENTS

July 10 – August 8

UniverSoul Circus is currently performing a run of shows at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md., with tickets available at this link. This high-energy cast of performers represents 28 years of Black-owned circus shows delighting audiences across the country. Hear from the company’s founder Cedric Walker in this 2017 interview by The Ringling.

July 15

The Fairfax Jugglers will are meeting on Thursdays from 7:30-10 p.m. at the Key Intermediate School Cafeteria (6402 Franconia Rd., Springfield, VA). All are welcome to join this fun and casual juggling meet-up, happening every Thursday that Fairfax County Schools are hosting evening activities. They will likely start the evening outdoors in nice weather, then migrate indoors to the school gym. Check out this map for specific location information.

July 17

Irresistible Revolution: The Seeds We Sow is a full day event at the Olde City Garden in Northeast DC, offering space for BIQOC and LGBTQIA+ movement and flow artists to breathe, reflect and grow together. The day will include panels, performances, open mics, yoga, live art installations, and a Sunset & Chill jam (pending a fire permit). Find out more about this event and RSVP here. You can also sign up to volunteer at this link. Remember that this event is designed to allow marginalized groups to speak their truth, process pain, heal and cultivate a space of joy and healing. Those seeking allyship and solidarity in this movement are most welcome.

VIRTUAL FESTIVALS

July 23-25

The Virtual European Juggling Convention 2021 will feature a global array of workshops, games and an online gala show. If you’re interested in running a workshop or hosting another virtual activity, email VEJC@eja.net. Free virtual registration is now open at this link. Consider also making a donation to support future EJCs. Visit the Facebook event page for the latest.

July 30-August 7

Enjoy the Virtual Aerial Dance Festival, with workshops in aerial theory, dance, juggling, flexibility, creativity, pilates, improvisation, burlesque and more. There will also be panel discussions on a variety of topics including aging in aerial arts, implicit bias of BIPOCs in entertainment, intersectionality in aerial dance and circus, and aerial and motherhood. Register at this link.