Juggling convention
Encyclopedia
Many countries, cities or juggling
clubs hold their own annual juggling convention. These are the backbone of the juggling scene
, the events that regularly bring jugglers from a wide area together to socialize. The attendance of a convention can be anything from a few dozen to a few thousand people.
and juggling games. Many juggling conventions host some kind of Renegade Show
, an open stage where anyone can, at short notice, get up and perform just about anything.
The Internet Juggling Database maintains a searchable database of past and upcoming juggling festivals and events.
Some notable festival style conventions are:
(EJC), the Israeli Juggling Convention
(IJC), and the IJA Festival (IJA), and they all take place annually.
The BJC occurs every spring, the IJC is staged over Passover
, and the EJC and IJA are summer festivals. The BJC takes place in Britain, the IJC in Israel, and the EJC in Europe, as one might expect, but the IJA Festival has so far proven to be an exclusively North American event, despite it being the principal date in the calendar of the International Jugglers' Association
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Juggling
Juggling is a skill involving moving objects for entertainment or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling, in which the juggler throws objects up to catch and toss up again. This may be one object or many objects, at the same time with one or many hands. Jugglers often refer...
clubs hold their own annual juggling convention. These are the backbone of the juggling scene
Modern juggling culture
Since the late 1980s, a large juggling culture has developed, revolving around local clubs and organizations, special events, shows, magazines, video sharing websites, Internet forums, competitions and juggling conventions...
, the events that regularly bring jugglers from a wide area together to socialize. The attendance of a convention can be anything from a few dozen to a few thousand people.
Typical activities
The principle focus of most juggling conventions is the main hall - where any participant can juggle freely, share and learn tricks, and try out multi-person passing patterns. Additionally, more formal "workshops" are often organized, in which expert jugglers work with small groups on specific skills and techniques. Most Juggling Conventions will also include a big show (open to the general public), competitionsJuggling competitions
Juggling competitions range from friendly and silly games to competitive sports. Most juggling conventions include friendly games such as endurance and gladiators. Since 1969, the International Jugglers' Association has held annual stage championships, judged both on technique and presentation...
and juggling games. Many juggling conventions host some kind of Renegade Show
Renegade show
A renegade show at a juggling convention is "an open stage where anyone can, at short notice, get up and perform just about anything". At their best, they allow amateur jugglers to perform a couple of unique tricks for fellow jugglers without having to prepare a whole programme...
, an open stage where anyone can, at short notice, get up and perform just about anything.
The Internet Juggling Database maintains a searchable database of past and upcoming juggling festivals and events.
Types of juggling conventions
Conventions can be split into three distinct types, though all call themselves "Juggling Conventions":"Festival"
These last three to ten days and can attract between 150 and 5,000 people. Most attendees camp, pitching tents within the convention site, and this is covered by the cost of attendance. Onsite there are usually food tents, bar tents, various sports halls or large bigtops for juggling space. During the day there can be shows, workshops, games, parades and exhibitions. Every night there is entertainment provided in the forms of professional shows, open stages, late night stages, live music, parties and more. The largest festival style conventions are held in Europe.Some notable festival style conventions are:
- The European Juggling ConventionEuropean Juggling ConventionThe European Juggling Convention , is the largest juggling convention in the world, regularly attracting several thousand participants. It is held every year in a different European city. It is organized by changing local organization committees which are supported by the European Juggling...
- The world's largest convention visits different European countries each year. The first EJC was held in 1978 in [Brighton], England and attracted 11 jugglers from five different countries (England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, USA). The convention lasts 7 to 9 days. In 2008 it was held in Karlsruhe, Germany and attracted over 6000 jugglers from all over the world. The 2012 EJC will be in Lublin, Poland. - The British juggling conventionBritish Juggling ConventionThe British Juggling Convention is an annual Juggling convention held in a different town or city in Britain every year. The event usually takes place in the second week of the Easter holidays, Usually lasting from the Wednesday to Sunday. The event is for all forms of juggling and object...
- a 5 day juggling convention in the UK, now attracts between 750-1,000 each year. - Israeli Juggling ConventionIsraeli Juggling ConventionThis is an article about the Israeli Juggling Convention which is each year during the Passover Holiday. The IJC is generally the second biggest juggling convention in the world with around 1300 or so participants each year.- Summary :...
- runs for 5 days over the Passover holiday and is held in a national park in the north of Israel. It attracts between 1200-1400 jugglers. - Berlin Juggling Convention - Germany's largest juggling convention, about 600-800 people attend each year. It is very cheap and some food is included.
- The Dutch Juggling Convention - Runs each year in a different city in the Netherlands and is attended by about 500 jugglers.
- The Bristol Juggling and Circus Skills Convention - a 9 day convention held in southwest England. It isn't very large (about 300 people) but has a very dedicated core group that return year after year.
- The Bungay Balls Up - a 10 day convention held in Suffolk, UK - small and friendly, held on a working farm.
- The Turkish Juggling Convention - From now on this convention will be 7 days in Sundance-Antalya (more than 300 people)
- The Swedish Juggling Convention - Four day convention inside a gymnastics hall. Always held over the estern holiday, in Partille, outside of [Gothenburg], Sweden.
- Sydney Juggling Convention - SydneySydneySydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
- a four day convention held over the Australia DayAustralia DayAustralia Day is the official national day of Australia...
long weekend in late January each year.
"Conference"
These are held in city center hotels or conference centers. They are invariably in North America and slightly more expensive than the European Juggling Convention. Camping is only rarely an option, as most are held in hotel convention centers. Notable conference-style conventions are :- The IJA Summer Festival - The first and longest running juggling convention. It is held in different cities each year, with the largest attendance in the 1990s with up to 1,300 jugglers. In 2004 it was held in Buffalo, New York, and attracted about 800 jugglers.
- The World Juggling Federation Convention - the first WJF convention was held in Las Vegas in December 2004 and attracted 150-200 jugglers.
"One Day"
Small, regional conventions that can actually last up to two or three days. These usually attract between 25 and 250 people, have workshops throughout the day and a show in the evening of the main day. At these conventions accommodation and food is not normally provided. They are usually held in sports centers, schools or universities. Some notable one day conventions are:- Chocfest - in YorkYorkYork is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, UK - Juggle This - in New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east... - Leeds Juggling Festival - LeedsLeedsLeeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, UK - Durham Juggling Festival - DurhamDurhamDurham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, UK - Nott A Juggling Convention - NottinghamNottinghamNottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, UK (usually early March - Nottingham Juggling Club) - Bath Upchuck - at University of BathUniversity of BathThe University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....
UK - Oxford Juggling Convention - at Oxford Brookes UniversityOxford Brookes UniversityOxford Brookes University is a new university in Oxford, England. It was named to honour the school's founding principal, John Brookes. It has been ranked as the best new university by the Sunday Times University Guide 10 years in a row...
UK
The four largest conventions
The four most well attended conventions are the British Juggling Convention (BJC), the European Juggling ConventionEuropean Juggling Convention
The European Juggling Convention , is the largest juggling convention in the world, regularly attracting several thousand participants. It is held every year in a different European city. It is organized by changing local organization committees which are supported by the European Juggling...
(EJC), the Israeli Juggling Convention
Israeli Juggling Convention
This is an article about the Israeli Juggling Convention which is each year during the Passover Holiday. The IJC is generally the second biggest juggling convention in the world with around 1300 or so participants each year.- Summary :...
(IJC), and the IJA Festival (IJA), and they all take place annually.
The BJC occurs every spring, the IJC is staged over Passover
Passover
Passover is a Jewish holiday and festival. It commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt...
, and the EJC and IJA are summer festivals. The BJC takes place in Britain, the IJC in Israel, and the EJC in Europe, as one might expect, but the IJA Festival has so far proven to be an exclusively North American event, despite it being the principal date in the calendar of the International Jugglers' Association
International Jugglers' Association
The International Jugglers' Association or IJA is the oldest and largest organization of jugglers. It is open to members worldwide.-Benefits of Membership:* Special from major prop vendors worldwide.* Member prices in the IJA’s ....
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Dates and locations of the four largest festivals
This list was compiled from data provided by Mike Armstrong at UK_Jugglers, a Yahoo! groupYahoo! Groups
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| Year | British Juggling Convention | European Juggling Convention | IJA Festival | Israeli Juggling Convention |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | EJC 37: Millstreet, Ireland | |||
| 2013 | EJC 36: Toulouse, France | IJC 20: Gan HaShlosha National Park (Sachne) | ||
| 2012 | BJC 25: Southend | EJC 35: Lublin, Poland | IJC 19: Gan HaShlosha National Park (Sachne) | |
| 2011 | BJC 24: Nottingham | EJC 34: Munich, Germany | IJA 64: Rochester, Minnesota | IJC 18: Gan HaShlosha National Park (Sachne) |
| 2010 | BJC 23: Huddersfield | EJC 33: Joensuu, Finland | IJA 63: Sparks, Nevada | IJC 17: Gan HaShlosha National Park (Sachne) |
| 2009 | BJC 22: Norwich | EJC 32: Vitoria/Gasteiz, Basque country, Spain | IJA 62: Winston-Salem, North Carolina | IJC 16: Gan HaShlosha National Park (Sachne) |
| 2008 | BJC 21: Doncaster | EJC 31: Karlsruhe, Germany | IJA 61: Lexington, Kentucky | IJC 15: Gan HaShlosha National Park (Sachne) |
| 2007 | BJC 20: Nottingham | EJC 30: Athens, Greece | IJA 60: Winston-Salem, North Carolina | IJC 14: Gan HaShlosha National Park (Sachne) |
| 2006 | BJC 19: Bodmin | EJC 29: Millstreet, Ireland | IJA 59: Portland, Oregon | IJC 13: Gan HaShlosha National Park (Sachne) |
| 2005 | BJC 18: Perth | EJC 28: Ptuj, Slovenia | IJA 58: Davenport, Iowa | IJC 12: Gan HaShlosha National Park (Sachne) |
| 2004 | BJC 17: Derby | EJC 27: Carvin, France | IJA 57: Buffalo, New York | IJC 11: Gan HaShlosha National Park (Sachne) |
| 2003 | BJC 16: Brighton | EJC 26: Svendborg, Denmark | IJA 56: Reno, Nevada | IJC 10: Gan HaShlosha National Park (Sachne) |
| 2002 | BJC 15: Whitstable | EJC 25: Bremen, Germany | IJA 55: Reading, Pennsylvania | IJC 9: Gan HaShlosha National Park (Sachne) |
| 2001 | BJC 14: Cardiff | EJC 24: Schiedam/Rotterdam, Netherlands | IJA 54: Madison, Wisconsin | IJC 8: Gan HaShlosha National Park (Sachne) |
| 2000 | BJC 13: York | EJC 23: Karlsruhe, Germany | IJA 53: Montreal, Canada | IJC 7: Gan HaShlosha National Park (Sachne) |
| 1999 | BJC 12: Durham | EJC 22: Grenoble, France | IJA 52: Niagara Falls, New York | IJC 6: Yafit, Jordan Valley |
| 1998 | BJC 11: Bristol | EJC 21: Edinburgh, UK | IJA 51: Primm, Nevada | IJC 5: Kibbutz Tuval |
| 1997 | BJC 10: Nottingham | EJC 20: Torino, Italy | IJA 50: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | IJC 4: Hebrew University, Givat Ram, Jerusalem |
| 1996 | BJC 9: Edinburgh | EJC 19: Grenoble, France | IJA 49: Rapid City, South Dakota | IJC 3: Hineni Center, Downtown Jerusalem |
| 1995 | BJC 8: Norwich | EJC 18: Goteburg, Sweden | IJA 48: Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 1994 | BJC 7: Manchester | EJC 17: Hagen, Germany | IJA 47: Burlington, Vermont | |
| 1993 | BJC 6: Birmingham | EJC 16: Leeds, UK | IJA 46: Fargo, North Dakota | |
| 1992 | BJC 5: Coventry | EJC 15: Banyoles, Spain | IJA 45: Montreal, Canada | |
| 1991 | BJC 4: Leeds | EJC 14: Verona, Italy | IJA 44: St Louis, Missouri | |
| 1990 | BJC 3: Exeter | EJC 13: Oldenburg, Germany | IJA 43: Los Angeles, California | |
| 1989 | BJC 2: Bath | EJC 12: Maastricht, Netherlands | IJA 42: Baltimore, Maryland | IJC --: Eilat |
| 1988 | BJC 1: London | EJC 11: Bradford, UK | IJA 41: Denver, Colorado | IJC 2: Eilat |
| 1987 | EJC 10: Saintes, France | IJA 40: Akron, Ohio | IJC 1: Eilat | |
| 1986 | EJC 9: Castellar, Spain | IJA 39: San Jose, California | ||
| 1985 | EJC 8: Louvain la Neuve, Belgium | IJA 38: Atlanta, Georgia | ||
| 1984 | EJC 7: Frankfurt, Germany | IJA 37: Las Vegas, Nevada | ||
| 1983 | EJC 6: Laval, France | IJA 36: Purchase, New York | ||
| 1982 | EJC 5: Copenhagen, Denmark | IJA 35: Santa Barbara, California | ||
| 1981 | EJC 4: London, UK | IJA 34: Cleveland, Ohio | ||
| 1980 | EJC 3: London, UK | IJA 33: Fargo, North Dakota | ||
| 1979 | EJC 2: Edinburgh, UK | IJA 32: Amherst, Massachusetts | ||
| 1978 | EJC 1: Brighton, UK | IJA 31: Eugene, Oregon | ||
| 1977 | IJA 30: Newark, Delaware | |||
| 1976 | IJA 29: Los Angeles, California | |||
| 1975 | IJA 28: Youngstown, Ohio | |||
| 1974 | IJA 27: Sarasota, Florida | |||
| 1973 | IJA 26: Livingstone, New Jersey | |||
| 1972 | IJA 25: Rocky Hill, Connecticut | |||
| 1971 | IJA 24: Rocky Hill, Connecticut | |||
| 1970 | IJA 23: Los Angeles, California | |||
| 1969 | IJA 22: Los Angeles, California | |||
| 1968 | IJA 21: San Mateo, California | |||
| 1967 | IJA 20: Fallsburg, New York | |||
| 1966 | IJA 19: Salem, Massachusetts | |||
| 1965 | IJA 18: Bronx, New York | |||
| 1964 | IJA 17: Wheeling, Virginia | |||
| 1963 | IJA 16: Wickford, Rhode Island | |||
| 1962 | IJA 15: Erie, Pennsylvania | |||
| 1961 | IJA 14: Bristol, Tennessee | |||
| 1960 | IJA 13: Madison, Wisconsin | |||
| 1959 | IJA 12: Wickford, Rhode Island | |||
| 1958 | IJA 11: Ashtabula, Ohio | |||
| 1957 | IJA 10: Chautauqua, New York | |||
| 1956 | IJA 9: Norwalk, Ohio | |||
| 1955 | IJA 8: Lancaster, Pennsylvania | |||
| 1954 | IJA 7: Elkhart, Indiana | |||
| 1953 | IJA 6: Erie, Pennsylvania | |||
| 1952 | IJA 5: Altoona, Pennsylvania | |||
| 1951 | IJA 4: Williamsport, New York | |||
| 1950 | IJA 3: Jamestown, New York | |||
| 1949 | IJA 2: Jamestown, New York | |||
| 1948 | IJA 1: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
See also
- European Juggling ConventionEuropean Juggling ConventionThe European Juggling Convention , is the largest juggling convention in the world, regularly attracting several thousand participants. It is held every year in a different European city. It is organized by changing local organization committees which are supported by the European Juggling...
- British Juggling ConventionBritish Juggling ConventionThe British Juggling Convention is an annual Juggling convention held in a different town or city in Britain every year. The event usually takes place in the second week of the Easter holidays, Usually lasting from the Wednesday to Sunday. The event is for all forms of juggling and object...