Play Festival is a community meet for juggling, poi and staff spinning groups and individuals from all over Europe. This year it was held at Fordham Farm in Market Drayton, Shropshire.
I went by myself and without really knowing anybody, but I was made to feel so welcome by this wonderful bunch of people that I had an excellent time (although there were troughs where you realise that you've run out of socialising instinct and really would like people around that you know better.. but I guess I've made a start.) The atmosphere was great, friendly and frequently hillarious :)
The various goings-on were centered around a large circus big-top tent. Many workshops on everything from various forms of juggling, poi techniques, staff work, to Pimms drinking and chocolate eating were held during the 3 main days. At night there were talent shows, fire performances, comedy, cabaret and DJs.
I've learned a whole lot of new moves and technique while just being around all these talented people. I -highly- recommend getting to one of these events if you're at all interested in such things or if you just want to spend a weekend with a load of cool folk. Why aren't more festivals like this?
To top a fantastic weekend - on the Sunday night 174 of us attempted to break a world record for the largest number of people doing a choreographed fire spin. I can't wait to see the pictures from this (there are a few floating about already here for instance). We arranged ourselves in concentric rings of people grouped by the equipment they were using. Poi spinners on the outside, Staff spinners inside of that (about 49 of us), Double staff spinners inside of that, Devil-sticks inside of that with Nunchucks and Fire-Hula people in the middle. It did get quite toasty when everyone lit up but it was an amazing sight :)
Anyway, I'm blatantly going to more juggling/poi meets in the future. They are just too good to miss :)
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circle_theory) wrote,
