“JUGGLE THE FESTIVAL”

Festival “RE RE RIGA!” has launched an action called “Juggle the Festival!”, offering audiences to acquire the basics of juggling as well as to get acquainted with contemporary circus in special screenings of the film “Grazing the Sky”.

“Juggle the Festival!” will happen in the form of a tour, as part of which “ambassadors” of the festival will offer juggling lessons for beginners, for instance, teaching how to create juggling balls out of found materials. This will be followed by a screening of “Grazing the Sky” – an emotionally moving film about the everyday challenges, faced by artists of contemporary circus.

The first juggling workshop already occurred on Friday, the 19^th of July, at the Kalnciems quarter, and many more workshops will be held at such upcoming festivals as “Give&Get”, “Rojal” and “Laba Daba” with an additional workshop at the open-air movie theater “Goldingen Knight Cinema”.

It is widely known that juggling has a positive effect on one’s health and thinking. According to a research, conducted at the Oxford University, juggling has coefficient effects on cerebration (functions of the brain) and motor coordination (physical coordination).[1] Juggling is also one of the few circus disciplines that can be self-taught without large expenses. The “Juggle the Festival!” workshops are a great opportunity to learn to create juggling balls out easily found materials as well as acquire skills for performing a “cascade” – one of the simplest juggling tricks that utilizes three balls.

Film screenings and juggling workshops can be attended at the following occasions:

Friday, 25^th of July, at Kuldiga’s open-air movie theater “Goldingen Knight Cinema” (juggling workshop – 21:00; movie screening – 23:00);
Saturday, 26^th of July, in Roja, at the film festival “Rojal” (movie screening – 12:00; juggling workshop – 13:30);
Sunday, 26^th of July, at the festival “Give&Get” (precise times of the juggling workshop and movie screening are yet to be announced).
Sunday, August 2^nd, at the festival “Laba Daba” (look for the workshop and movie screening schedule in the program of the festival!).

About the movie:

“Grazing the Sky” /A Ras del Cielo
Spain, 2013, 87 minutes

Spoken language – Spanish; subtitles – Latvian.

The film gives its viewers a unique chance to follow the striking and dynamic routine of circus acrobats, backed by honest and personal stories about risk, crossing borders and the quest for perfection. In order to be able to put their health and lives on the line after studying and training for their craft for many years, these performers must be armed with an iron will and the soul of an artist. Endurance is not of least importance, since most of their days are spent far from home – on the road.

Director Horacio Alcala has penetrated the personal life stories of eight acrobats from diverse backgrounds. These storylines are supplemented by lush and suspenseful footage from actual acrobatic performances. What truly allows the director to portray the many different atmospheres, present in the world of contemporary circus, and the endless possibilities of human self-expression, is his own seven-year experience of working in the circus (including, among others, the world renowned troupe “Cirque du Soleil”).