Juggle This

This weekend is the 6th Annual NYC juggling festival, Juggle This, hosted at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn by the local juggling club (Jugglers Anonymous) with support from Manhattan's own club, the Carmine Street Irregulars - click here for links. Juggling has seen substantial growth in the last 30 years, particularly at the hobby level, with local clubs in high schools and universities nationwide. In addition to an annual national festival, there are numerous regional fests. The Pratt fest activities takes place in their enormous gym where jugglers of all ages, skill levels and demographics interact. There is nonstop juggling with workshops, games, vendors, a raffle and the Show, the highlight of the festival. This 2 1/2 hour extravaganza takes place in Pratt's Memorial Hall theater and features primarily professional acts - many of the performers travel from other parts of the country. Some attendees juggle alone at these events, but most take the opportunity to hone and share their skills with others. In a world where individuals share such a unique passion, social networking has become a big part of the festivals - new friends are made and old bonds renewed. The feel is that of a small, tightly knit family reunion ...