Oct 21-23, 2005
“Juggling is as old as civilization itself, and was practiced on every continent throughout recorded history, which suggests there’s intrinsic value in juggling. If you can tie your shoes, you can learn to juggle. I learned to juggle because an art teacher believed drawing was basically eye-hand coordination, and juggling is the best way to develop that dexterity. Juggling is used by doctors with patients, writers to clear their brains, special ed students to improve reading scores, physical therapists with stroke patients, and much more. Juggling is fun!”
“Since I learned to juggle five years ago, in my fifties, I’ve become, Shayna, The Juggling Entertaina. When world-renowned juggler Francis Brunn (may he rest in peace) saw my act, he said, ‘You are a true entertainer.’ I’ve performed on the same stages as the world’s best jugglers, which is amazing, considering the short time I’ve been doing this. I’ve performed on television many times, on the stage, in theatres, for thousands of jugglers at juggling festivals, for Governor Jodi Rell, at concerts, weddings, community events, and in friend’s living rooms.”
“I’ve given juggling workshops at corporations and universities and teach as a Cirque Du Soleil trainer in Cirque’s After School Circus Arts program. I also teach juggling in the public schools and will be appearing in the upcoming DVD, Trailblazers, Women who Juggle. Juggling taught me I don’t have to be perfect. It’s not the drops that count, but how you react to them. It’s a meditative activity that clears the mind, keeps you in the moment, expands your ability to concentrate, and trains you to relax under pressure.”
“When I first tried to juggle, because of lousy written instructions and equipment that was the wrong size and weight, I thought it was just one of those things I couldn’t do. Learning to juggle with the proper instruction in a step by step developmental sequence makes learning and mastery possible, while minimizing frustration.”
“I recommend Juggling for the Complete Klutz if you want to get started before you come. I taught myself to juggle first three, then four bean bags. Now I’m working on 7. I do hat and cane tricks, juggle clubs, knives, do contact and bounce juggling, and I always juggle fruit in the grocery store.”
“That joyous scream, ‘I did it!’ that comes from my students is music to my ears. At Rowe, our retreat will suit you if you have never juggled before, or have tried and failed, or if you have some juggling skills and would like to learn new tricks or work with different props. Bean bags, rings, scarves, and clubs will be some of the equipment we’ll work with. You’ll be introduced to toss juggling, as well as contact juggling, balancing skills, and hat tricks to amaze and amuse your friends and colleagues. You’ll be introduced to joggling (juggling and jogging) but not canuggling (canoeing and juggling). We will juggle to music, play, be creative, laugh, and learn.”