The fun continues this week with plenty of IJA Festival events and tomorrow’s Irresistible Revolution gathering in Northeast D.C. Got something cooking for the near future? Whether it’s a class, event or unclassifiable glitch in the matrix, let us know by submitting the info here.
VIRTUAL IJA FESTIVAL
July 12-18
The Virtual IJA Festival resumes today, tomorrow and Sunday. Almost all events are free of charge, but you can donate to the festival at this link. Better yet, buy entries to the raffle to win glow balls, juggling clubs, books and other fabulous prizes.
Here’s what’s left on the schedule:
- Friday: International Regional Competition Show (6 p.m. EDT), Battle Night International Championship (8:30 p.m. EDT), Late-Night Renegade Show (11 p.m. EDT)
- Saturday: Building International Community Panel, Cascade of Stars Gala Show
- Sunday: Festival Memories 1980-1996, Annual General Meeting
- Workshops! On topics including hula hoop, tennis ball & can, diabolo, club hits, factory variations, plate spinning, and juggling’s queer future.
And here are some past events you can still watch online:
See the full schedule at this link.
PRIDE ALL YEAR
- Watch the trailer for our Pride Month Interview Series 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!
- There will be an LGBTQIA+ juggling chatroom hosted by your humble listserv author at the IJA Virtual Festival, tomorrow (7/17) at 6 p.m. EDT. Click here to find the Google hangout link.
ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT
Through July 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.
GATHERINGS
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 with panels, performances, open mics, yoga, live art installations, and a Sunset & Chill fire jam. Find out more about this event and RSVP here. Remember that this event is designed to allow marginalized groups to speak their truth, process pain, and heal. Those seeking allyship and solidarity in this movement are most welcome.
July 22
- 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 30
- The DC Unicycle Meet-up will host unicycle hockey at Freedom Plaza from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Join the Meet-up group and RSVP at this link. They will also be a part of the DC Bike Ride on September 25 at West Potomac Park.
TOURING SHOWS
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.
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.
DMV MEMORIES
“Local juggling talent is among the best.”
- Reminisce about the first-ever Congress of Jugglers at the University of Maryland, held in 1993, by reading this lovely write-up from the Washington Post. We look forward to the next time that UMD Jugglers can host an in-person festival!
- Read about the life of extraordinary juggler, Rubik’s cuber and kind human Henry Benton, who usually spent this week behind a video camera documenting the IJA Festival.
Photo by Matthew Ragan © 2012. https://flic.kr/p/c1ZyK9 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/