RIT wrap up
MasterKatra42
Let's start with the open gym. What a great experience. Tons of people
showed up to juggle on Saturday, and I heard the estimate was 750+ people.
In previous years, the most that have attended was 400, so that's a major
step forward for the annual festival. I loved the competitions, and I bet
Wes loved them even more, he won both quarter and dollar coin juggling.
Turned 3.75 into 76 dollars. I did get to beat him in three ball simon
says and five ball endurance, which I was pretty psyched about. Brian
Gadomski won best trick with a seven ring pulldown suicide which the crowd
went nuts for. Also, meeting Jay Gilligan and Eric Nillson was totally
cool though. I learned a ton of stuff from Jay, including how to change
my perspective on juggling and be more creative with throws, and Eric was
just a really cool guy. We played one club horse at the airport, and that
was a good time.
Now on to the best part. The show was rediculiously amazing. I can't
even describe how great the lineup was. At the end of last year, everyone
was saying that it couldn't possibly get any better, but this year blew it
out of the water. The whole event opened up with the Roth family, doing
some amazing club passing and hitting all kinds of great tricks. Gary
Arubach was next, and if you haven't seen freestyle frisbee yet, look this
guy up. The stuff he was doing was amazing. He'd roll the disk down his
chest, spin it on one finger, throw it up then catch it completley blind
somehow. I guess that's why he's the best. After everyone was amazed by
that, Jason Tardy of TWO came out and did a great looking ring routine
which everyone loved. Steve "Your hero" Brown was funny and entertaining
while he did his yo-yo routine to accapella death metal (truly the heart
and soul of death metal), but all in a nice pink tutu. Yea, you read that
right. After people had a chance to pick their jaws up off the floor, Wes
came out and put them right back down. He did an amazing new club routine
that looked so good... absolutley dropless. Standing ovation for this
amazing kid. As soon as he ended his run of five club flats, you expected
everyone to go crazy, but they were too stunned and amazed to make noise.
After he walked off the stage though, everyone busted out.
Then there was Jay. Him and Eric did the best piece of performance art
I've ever seen. If you have ever had a question about what makes a great
juggler, watch Jay's Nouveaux Nouveaux act and be amazed. It's like the
difference between an 17 year old jacked guy who does kung-fu (Vova) or a
kung-fu master who's like 80 years old and can defeat you with his index
finger (Jay). Everything about his routine was jaw droppingly amazing.
The live music added an entirely different, but totally cool element to
his act. He told me afterward that he usually did it to a CD of an
electric guitar solo. I'm so glad he did it with Eric this time... it was
simply astounding.
I guess if you missed it, you'll have to wait for next year.
~Joe
----== posted via www.jugglingdb.com ==----
Rory Tatum
Is there any video from the show? I would have loved to have seen it but
I just don't have the money to fly from Texas to New York for a weekend
juggling festival.
Greg Phillips
seen it twice --- once at 5-3-1 in Finland in 2004, and then again this
past weekend in Rochester. I think I must be the luckiest fest-goer
alive.
As my son Tristan says, THAT IS THE MOST INSANE THING EVER! (And yes,
he shouts when he says it. Almost takes my ear right off. But he's
right, so I put up with it.)
Jay has two modes: moody artistic and rock-star intense. I like them
both. This is mostly a performance in the rock-star intense mode, with
the amp dialed all the way up to eleven. About forty minutes in which
there is almost always an object in a balance or in motion. Bizarre and
unusual ring manipulations. Five clubs on low quads. The Jay Gilligan
Arm Trick. Long runs of six balls, seven balls, seven rings. Surprising
kick ups and prop lifts. Astonishingly complex three-ball work. Eight
and nine rings. Six clubs. Strange siteswap combinations with mixed
bounce balls and clubs. Wild throws and impossible saves. Drops, yes,
but not many, and they never broke the momentum of the performance. All
to an amazing drum and seqencer beat laid down live by Erik Nilllsen.
(At 5-3-1 Jay performed to recorded music --- this is better, so much
better.) And the encore: three clubs, high throw, forward roll, high
throw, forward roll, high throw, forward roll, stay on the back and
keep juggling.
I know, I've tried to describe it, but it's really indescribable.
Thanks, Jay.
Greg
MasterKatra42
> Is there any video from the show? I would have loved to have seen it but
> I just don't have the money to fly from Texas to New York for a weekend
> juggling festival.
>
>
> ----== posted via www.jugglingdb.com ==----
There may be video of the show, because the performers have the right to
tape their own bit, but it's not up to me to distribute their work. You
can get the show, but you can't get the experience, and honestly, if you
don't see Jay in person, I don't think there's a reason to see Jay. I was
seriously in tears when I saw him at the end of his show to thank him for
such an amazing performance.
No, I'm not afraid to admit it.
Greg Phillips
Steve Brown everything he knows about being a manly man.
Greg
Greg B
festival this year, you guys rock! All of us from Cornell who came had
an amazing weekend. Special thanks to Jeff Peden and Tim for keeping
the fire alive and everyone else behind the scene. I can't wait until
next year.
About the show, jaw dropping. As Joe said, a tape wouldn't begin to
capture the emotion and experience of Jay's incredible performance.
The first act build amazing momentum with my personal highlight being
Wes' new club routine that was the best I've ever seen. According to
Wes, he created it just shortly before the festival. The entire second
act was absolutely perfect. Jay and Erik blew everyone away. Erik's
cooking act was hilarious, complete with a flying carrot and broccoli
chopping. Then with Erik on drums, Jay juggled for a continuous 45
minutes mind blowing absolutely beautiful piece of performance art.
The effect of Jay's performance was the biggest natural high I've
ever experienced. Jay is expanding what we think is possible and how
juggling can be expressed --- amazing!!
Thank again! A special thanks to Wes for juggling 9 clubs with my
brother, he was so happy!
Greg B
Jason Perry AT
news:444e5dc9$0$741$bed6...@news.gradwell.net...
> Is there any video from the show? I would have loved to have seen it but
> I just don't have the money to fly from Texas to New York for a weekend
> juggling festival.
I hope Wes doesn't mind me posting this; it was pointed out by someone on
the Gatto forum. Yet another fantastic, innovative & floorless routine by
Wes Peden.
http://theartofjuggling.com/video/Wes_RIT_Club_Routine.mpg
Jason.
The Void
> ...floorless routine by Wes Peden.
Wow, a whole club routine whilst levitating. And levitating on a slope,
too. You have much to learn, Norbichu!
The Void
............
Yeah, ok, it was good - I admit it.
Adam Chamberlain
>
>> ...floorless routine by Wes Peden.
Well technically, none of the clubs were dropped such that they hit
the floor, so it was kind of flawless and floorless :P. It has to be
said though, that was a ridiculously good routine, I almost gave a
standing ovation myself...top stuff Wes,
>The Void wrote:
>Wow, a whole club routine whilst levitating. And levitating on a slope,
>too. You have much to learn, Norbichu!
lol, it would have been nicer if it was a bit more zoomed in as well I
guess. I'm just glad Wes is cool about people taping his routine
because it means I get to watch it :D, cheers again,
Adam
Mutton
A RIT write up, some gym footage, and links.
--
Andrew Gradisher
Jason Perry AT
news:4454f366$0$658$bed6...@news.gradwell.net...
> Jason Perry wrote:
>
>> ...floorless routine by Wes Peden.
>
> Wow, a whole club routine whilst levitating.
I meant that it was floorless from the clubs point of view, but now I guess
you'll argue with me that four of them started the routine on the floor.
Whatever!
Jason.