Article Contributed on: 10/13/2009 12:56:58 PM
The Marshdale Jugglers have moved to The Zone at Mountain High Christian Center, 8444 U.S. 285. Classes are held on Fridays. Marion Caldwell, program director and former Jeffco teacher, said juggling is an art and a sport.
"It takes an enjoyment of movement, patterns and rhythm. You have to have a willingness to pick things up one more time than you drop them," she said.
Her son Ian, an engineering student at CU Boulder, also will teach along with coaches Rich Munoz and Tom Chicovsky.
Caldwell said said youngsters learn hand-eye coordination, body control, balance, rhythm and timing.
"There is a sense of genuine accomplishment. I consider juggling to be a cooperative sport when teaching a class, rather than a competitive sport. Students learn to help each other and perform cooperative patterns like passing clubs," she said.
Ian's experience as a juggler led him to perform professionally with circuses since the age of 15. He traveled on a world tour with Feld Entertainment, the producers of the Ringling Brothers. He has coached juggling and acrobatics in California, Vermont, New York and Colorado.
He said, "I've enjoyed traveling and performing in countries like Scotland, Japan and New Zealand. Meeting people and seeing places has been great fun."
Marion recalled the first time she walked into a classroom to substitute teach. The regular teacher had left a long list of tasks for the students to complete. It was a struggle to even introduce herself. After 10 minutes watching children clamor for cake brought in by a student's mother, she said she felt like she didn't exist.
"I wondered if I would get to actually teach during my first day on the job. I took my juggling balls out of my bag, stood at the front of the room and began to juggle. The second-graders started to notice. 'What cha doin?' they asked. I said, 'I'm juggling and I'll teach you how after your work is done.' The rest of the afternoon continued without a hitch and there was time to juggle at the end of the day," Marion said.
Classes are open to all ages and skill levels. Cost is $10 for one hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays. A portion of fees are donated to the Mountain High Christian Center. For more information, call 303-670-5735 or email marioncaldwell@yahoo.com