This weekend, Jugglefest will invade Washington University, offering plenty of activities to keep juggling buffs and newbies alike fully occupied. Look forward to a free festival in the Olin Dance Studio in the Women’s Building where world-class jugglers will perform workshops for jugglers of any caliber. Games and mini-juggling competitions will also take place on Saturday and Sunday, where jugglers can compete in endurance feats and distance passing.

The main event of the festival is the Juggling Showcase, which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 18. The show will feature nine performers, many of whom have flown in from around the country to take part in this juggling extravaganza.

“We are flying performers in. Last year was more local acts, but this year we have national acts with really big names. This is the only time St. Louis can see performers of this caliber,” senior Thom Wall, president of the National Prestigious Society of Collegiate Jugglers (NPSCJ) said.

Also gracing the stage is the NPSCJ of Wash. U., one of the premier juggling clubs in the Midwest.

The NPSCJ jugglers are especially looking forward to the opportunity to work with the greater juggling community in order to improve their already impressive skills.

“I’m excited to meet all the people coming in for the festival. There will be a lot of serious jugglers who will be able to teach me some new things,” sophomore Jeremy Perkins said.
If you want to see some of the most extreme juggling possible, then watch out for a special trick where performer Josiah Jones juggles five clubs in a contortion behind his back. He is the only juggler in the world capable of this feat. Also keep your eyes open for Tony Pezzo, known for his skill in pancake throwing style. At the ripe age of 15, Pezzo is considered to be one of the best ring jugglers in the world. Other highlights of the show will include Jen Slaw, a performer who incorporates graceful dance moves into her juggling, and Frida Odden, a contortionist performer from Norway, who performed at the European Juggling Convention.

While the performers have been working for great lengths of time on their juggling, spectators should not be surprised by mistakes, also known as drops, during the show.

“I expect to drop at least once every time I perform. Someone once said, ‘You don’t expect basketball players to make every shot, so you shouldn’t expect jugglers to make every trick,’” Perkins said.

For a preview of the performance, you can visit www.youtube.com/jugglingshowcase or access the video through the NPSCJ Web site, www.wujuggling.com. Attendees are encouraged to show up early to ensure they can get in. Tickets can be purchased in advance on the NPSCJ Web site, wujuggling.com, or for $10 at the door.