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I have had some difficulty street performing this summer. Along with other factors,  suddenly everyone started ignoring contact juggling and all I could hear were whispers of this f-word. Then some got loud, “I saw that on TV!” an American tourist would exclaim in the middle of my show. “Fuh-Fuh….” they say

“nope, this is contact juggling” and I explain to them that they’ve been duped into thinking a ball can magically float as hand them a ball to try themselves. “This is a skill that I have taken 9 years to learn, it is not as easy as they make it out to be”.

I call it the F.ball with good reason.  The first offense was the misleading advertising, as it single handedly convinces the entire American public that contact juggling can be learned in an instant with one false advertisement. The second is the less-than-perfect manufacturing process can be proven with a few easy tests. The latest blow includes using a mock website with the registered trademark of Sphereplay  for their own commercial gain (which they have since taken down upon request). Ouch, that’s Low ZoomTV, you should be ashamed of yourselves.

I have begun an information campaign, simply trying to inform people about the problems with this product and this company, in a re-educational campaign about what contact juggling is really about.

Check out the videos, they are very revealing!

Photo by Jonathan Hanley

So I have some deep philosophies about the color green and have given a great amount of thought. Wikipedia says that the word is close to Old English, meaning, to grow.  In some ways the color of new growth is neon, and this bright new color is my favorite, the green of choice.  In Vancouver, you have to appreciate this to get through the rainiest days. If you understand the correlation of the green of this new spring growth with the rain that supplies this growth then you can appreciate how this land really is all about new growth.

I’ve learned a new word, the word Solastalgia . This word is connected to nostalgia and refers to the missing of one’s land that has changed environmentally from some destruction. It is this missing of the green lands which once filled our back yards, but have eroded due to climate change, or pollution or simple destruction of peoples presence. I wear green so often because of this solastalgia. When I look out my windows and see concrete for miles lining the shores I miss the great trees that should be here. This is a tree friendly city and I still miss the green.

I dream of a day where the rooftops are built to be strong enough for gardens and trees. I hope we grow food on each balcony. I wish that this whole city could live under the canopy of trees that once lived in this place, in the not so distant past.

My friend Carmen once said to me “if we all chose to move out to the country side, then the country side will soon become a city”.  In this I agree and realize that I cannot stay in the lush green all the time the way I would like to, if I would like to get what I need to do done, I have to stay here and encourage the city to become more green.

Right now, I stand out in a crowd, because I took this new growth of the trees that were once here and I attempt to replant this idea simply by embodying this color. When people ask, I find it is difficult to explain, that I represent what was once here before the gray sidewalk,  new growth.

One seed is all it takes

I dream one day you will join me.

To fulfill this goal more thoroughly, I have decided to join the Green Peace team as a street canvasser.  I need a bit more money for school than performance is giving me, although I believe performance is picking up quick, I think I can balance both.

3 balls in the air -  school, work and juggling performances. This will be the biggest thing I have ever juggled.

Give’r

Here is a short from a stage show I did with my friend James Hamilton and his group Eastern Star over the February Celebrations. I really enjoy working with James, who is a seasoned performer in the music industry all over the world. I would love more opportunities to work with a band. It really gives a full atmosphere for a performance when a group comes together like this. Feel free to check out his website at www.sitarmusic.ca

Great shows for Grey Days

And the crowd goes wild!

Thanks to the person who recommended my website, I’ve gotten an extra gig for TV! The momentum has really come in my juggling world, it seems I am surrounded by it at home, work and amongst my friends! It’s really awesome to be immersed in this wonderful culture! It really allows me to improvise my skills from event to event, working with diverse crews of people who all have different skills. I am so grateful that I get to be amongst such inspiring and humbling people in my life. Thank you to all of you!

New Costume Photos in the Promo Gallery

With the Olympics coming to Vancouver in just under 6 days, I have been busy preparing for gigs with costumes and rehearsals. The city has changed, the tourists have begun descending upon this small city, ZIP lines, Jumbotrons, pretty lights and art installations have appeared in every corner! This city is about to POP! In preparation I have created a costume archive, check it out! Watch for me during the Torch Relay on February 12 as I will be doing a fire performance with my troop! I will be performing on all the streets I can. I am totally excited to be a part of these celebrations. LET THE GAMES BEGIN!