Bali

I have been to paradise. I have just spent the last month in Bali, Indonesia. A powerful, synergistic place that has left me feeling more human having been there. I really think that if anyone's life brings them to Bali they are very fortunate. Being in a tropical climate, the infusion of life is palpable. Fresh fruit and vegetables are bountiful and 'mating season' in the animal kingdom is constant. I went to Bali wanting to share my skills as a performer and circus artist, as well as learn from the huge population of talented artists who live and breathe their art daily.

The arts are engrained in the Balinese culture. Dance, puppetry and mask performance are a part of their religious ceremonies. I saw a few of the 'touristy' shows but once I became friends with some locals they took me to the real ceremonies that lasted hours, the artists performed for God. There are tens of thousands of temples in Bali and each one is on its own calendar for prayer, offerings and celebration. There is always a ceremony somewhere. It was such a joy to hear the drumming in the distance and then turn a corner and see a precession of beautiful, traditionally dressed people smiling, laughing with a variety of customary accessories. Two artists in particular brought me with them to their performances in temples outside of the tourist zone. I witnessed some really powerful energy and was entranced by the performance. I then learned from some sensational artists the art of Balinese dance, Topeng and the Gamalan. All the lessons were challenging in so many ways and I only scratched the surface. I really wish I had more time to focus on learning but I was also set on teaching while I was there and doing a lot of yoga.

I volunteered for the Bali Children's Project (balichildrensproject.org), a not-for profit that works with underprivelidged Balinese young people. This enabled me to really immerse myself in the culture. You can learn so much from the youth of a society. These children were the nicest, most eager and friendly I had ever encountered. They were so focused on me and so thankful that I was there to teach them. I taught basic English, simple juggling, feather balancing and drama games. The children were so supportive and respectful of one another, the older ones were helping the younger ones and I never once had anyone misbehave. The peacock feathers were super popular, adults and children alike lit up while they were balancing a feather on their palm. I left every session elated by the smiles and positive energy I shared with each group.

There is so much creative education happening in Bali, I met an awesome and ambitious couple who are homeschooling their very cool and smart kids, traveling the world as well as establishing a ground-breaking community farming movement in Australia. (www.organicfarmshare.com). I also visited The Green School (www.greenschool.org), a private outdoor concept school built the jungle. It was designed by a world renowned jewelery designer, John Hardy, about 4 years ago. There is a lot of controversy floating around the island about the school's presence and somewhat elitist demographic but regardless, it is a phenomenal structure as well as an inspirational depiction of what it is to be green. I was a guest at their juggling club in the bamboo auditorium and had a great time exploring the exciting campus. I was also fortunate to perform and teach at a pre-k program called The Spring, a beautiful home style early education program that has a healthy balance of hippy idealism with two feet on the ground.

Yoga, yoga and more yoga. Ok I will admit it I AM A YOGI. I said it, that awful word dripping with stigma and patchouli. There are so many 'yogis' in Bali. It is impossible to sit at a cafe and not hear “Today in downward dog, I was like so present, I didn't even hear Monica do like the next three Vinyasas...” I went to the yoga barn as much as I could and took a variety of classes. I left Bali feeling strong, centered, healthy and very peaceful. It was refreshing to be somewhere where the quality of the yoga classes was so high yet the price so reasonable. I am so sick of living in parts of the world where yoga has become so fashionable that only the rich can afford to practice! When I do splurge on a class in London, I find myself squeezed in between some sweaty dude with a massive beard and a rubber woman whose thighs don't touch, without an inch of space to myself to breathe. I was happy to practice in Bali, as is everyone else who flock to the Yoga capital of the world. The most important thing for me is that since I left I am still practicing and have learned so much about alignment and breath that I can skip the fancy studio and find presence and peace anywhere I lay my mat.

Hiking up an active volcano, Mt. Batur, was another highlight of my trip. I ended up doing it twice. The first time early in the morning to watch the sunrise and the second to watch the sunset and then head over to the hot springs. This is a must if you go to Bali. I had a fantastic guide and enjoyed breathtaking views. The climate is not as hot, a welcomed break from the humidity and heat of the Ubud area.

All in all, Bali is my new favorite place on Earth. Everyone is warm and friendly and I didn't feel the aggressive pressure as some other touristy places have. People try to sell you things but always with a smile and a positive attitude. I also felt very safe there, never a sleazy moment or any fear of crime whatsoever. The food is incredible, fresh and local and very cheap. I have fallen for Bali and now will probably just try to figure out when I can go back.

Chinese New Year in China

Sunday morning, I awoke to the sound of a car alarm and explosives. The celebration for the Chinese New Year had begun and the exorcism of demons through fireworks was well underway. All of a sudden there were big stalls set up on corners that from afar look like street food and the closer you got you realize they were selling fireworks! The tradition of setting off fireworks literally anywhere and everywhere for two weeks straight strikes me as the manliest tradition I have come across since the Finnish sport of Wife Carrying, (a man carries his wife through an obstacle course and the prize is her weight in beer.) the only women I have seen holding any fireworks are those selling them.

As far as the eye can see there are the most stunning firework displays I have ever seen, non stop. Sure, I have experienced Canada Day in Ottawa, New Years in London, Fourth of July in Chicago but those displays last twenty to thirty minutes at the most. Here anyone can buy fireworks and set them off anywhere. I look out my window and see guys just holding them in their hands with big grins watching the sparks fly as they shoot it into the air. I feel jaded after the last 36 hours of fireworks, I can hear the whiz of the 'good ones' and maybe I will look out the window, I also know the loudest ones are the least impressive.

Last year I didn't even want to go to the display in London for New Years. I thought, Really what innovations have they done in fireworks? Is it really worth my time with all those people? In Beijing I have seen the future, (technically I am in the future due to the time difference but I will keep at a metaphoric level) they are purple and gold with fabulous shapes, like balloons filled with stardust glittering across the sky. I won`t post a picture because no camera could do it justice! In a city where there are no stars due to insufferable pollution, two weeks of the year the sky is filled with an utter spectacle of beauty like nothing I have ever seen before.

A stroll in Beijing.

As I walk the streets of Beijing I find myself reflecting on homelessness. Here in China, there is virtually no visual 'street people'. I regularly see people employed to do jobs that seem completely irrelevant. For example, today I saw two men mopping a parking lot. I mentioned it to a friend and she said they mop the parking lot every day! This just seems like a completely futile task. As I continue my stroll I observe, normal, general upkeep of the city that I would see in any western country. For example, trees being trimmed. The odd thing is an incredibly large team of men are helping to trim each tree. Trimming trees seems to be pretty straight forward but they are having intense discussions over each branch. Each tree is treated like a community bonsai.

As an outsider it seems as though jobs are being made up so that there is no unemployment. When going to the markets to do some shopping each stall has at least three clerks, it is intimidating because they are all trying to pressure me to buy something but the irony is I can't see the merchandise because the stall is too small to have four people in it. This city is definitely not short of rickshaw drivers, street food vendors or guards. I have never seen more guards in my life and they all just stand there in one spot for hours, guarding.

That being said I see next to no one on the street begging. Coming from San Francisco just a couple months ago where there were countless people begging, shooting up, out of their minds living on the street, I thought then, there just aren't enough jobs out there for these people, the economy is in the toilet it just isn't fair! Alas, China of all places, 40 million people in Beijing alone and nearly everyone is working.

It really is a sight to see, hard working people absolutely everywhere. The strange thing is, watching those men mopping the parking lot this morning with a dirty mop I just couldn't help but think that a job like that is a microcosm of the Chinese culture that I have observed up till now.

I really respect the fact that everyone is working here, how much they are being paid is a whole different blog in itself... I really am in a totally different world and society here. I am just taking it in.

A juggling farmer who loves his sheep

This is really sweet. Enjoy!

Performance vs. Stability, a pair of ducks

By: Tess Cartwright
www.tessential.com

I am inspired to write this post since I have decided to take the leap. I have been part-time performing and working an admin job at a circus charity for 2 years. I have enjoyed the steady income of the admin but the paradox comes in while I am sitting in a chair staring at a screen for hours on end when all I want to do is train, rehearse and perform. I have been performing with my partner whenever we get work which is getting more and more frequent. I get frustrated that our performance isn't as good as it could be if it had my full focus. One of the joys of my job that I have had is directing the youth troupe in their circus routines. I get so much pleasure working with them I really wish I could do that more. They are such talented kids, I can't wait to see where they take their skills!

So, now, I have decided to dedicate all my time to my business and website, teaching and performing, theatre and circus. Yes,  I am scared.

I am a firm believer in following one's heart, living in the present and going for it. I need to practice what I preach but it is the steady income that I know I will miss. I will not know when the next cheque may  come from which is in some ways exciting and in others terrifying. I know how hard it is to hone a skill and perform. Frankly, I feel those people who say it isn't a real job probably wish they could dedicate their lives to something they love. If a 'real job' means you spend hours wishing the day were over and counting down to your retirement then I would rather live a real life and take the 'fake job'.

Any work one chooses one should find the joy and passion within it. If there isn't any then you are spending a good portion of your life being miserable and no monetary compensation for those hours are going to fill that void. Yes, times are hard and sometimes we need to take any work that comes so find ways to love what you do no matter what it is and watch as everything starts to look brighter around you.

So, I take the leap... I must believe the net will appear.

Festival Culture

This summer my performance partner and I have been gigging at various festivals. Our act is targeted towards families and festivals seem to be the perfect place to perform. I had never really gone to a festival before living in the UK. Last summer I was introduced to this magical bubble where every day is dress-up day and there are no rules. If you want to have a beer at breakfast that is perfectly acceptable! Everyone has about as many cares as they do showers and shoes are optional. Every performance has been lovely, it is a supportive and friendly audience who are there to have a good time.

Then I went to Glastonbury festival as a plus one. This was the first festival I have done where I wasn't working but got to reap the benefits of the crew camping. Without having to be anywhere at a certain time I was able to wander freely through the massive city that is Glastonbury Festival.

We arrived on the Thursday carrying all of our stuff (2 backpacks, our 6-man tent, air bed, sleeping bags and juggling equipment) and were dropped off on one side of the site but needed to be on the complete opposite side. The mud was so thick and sticky it took us two hours to walk across the festival to where we were going to camp. Once we got there we were tipped off to a lovely camping area called the secret orchard where we found the perfect place next to a beautiful tree. It was only later when I saw the alternative, where all the paying customers had to camp and use the toilet did I realize how damn lucky I was.

Glastonbury festival has a completely different demographic to any other festival I had been to up till this point. There were far less families. There seemed to be more students and adults who were really intrigued by getting as intoxicated as possible. There was such a sensory overload the last thing I wanted was a stimulant of any kind. The crowd seemed less generous as an audience since they could just walk away at any point and go see something else. Then again the acts were of such high quality their attention span probably had more to do with their sobriety level than anything else. There is something for everyone, all 200,000 people. I would guess a lot of people that go to Glastonbury aren't festival goers in general but go to Glastonbury because there is nothing else like it.

On the whole I would much prefer to be at a small chilled out festival with pot smokers than a huge, overwhelming fanfare amongst a bunch of loose cannons who haven't slept and pumped themselves with stimulants. That being said, all festivals are truly magical places, no matter where you go you can find a little gem of a moment, or a peaceful corner to have a intellectual conversation with a complete stranger. There is something incredibly human about camping in a field, ceasing to shower and just taking in the art, performance and music around you.

3 days with Jay Gilligan and Wes Peden

By: Tess Cartwright

At the European Juggling Convention 2010 Finland, I saw one of the most mesmerizing and engaging performances. Jay Gilligan, Wes Peden, Luke Wilson, Patrik Elmnert and Erik Aberg brought their props to life in remarkable ways. I had never seen anything like it, I was on the edge of my uncomfortable stadium bleacher the entire time. I said to myself, I would love to bring them to Sheffield. A few months later I got an email from Jay Gilligan asking if Greentop would be interested in hosting a masterclass and show by Wes Peden and himself. This past week my dream became reality as I shared an incredible three days with two of the best manipulators in the world along side a diverse and inspiring group of star-struck jugglers.

I was slightly nervous about taking the workshop since my skill level is fairly basic. (I can juggle 4 balls, 4 rings, 3 clubs and I can pass fairly well) I never once felt out of place, I pushed myself in ways I never thought I would. I tried everything "If it's broken you can fix it, if you don't try, there is nothing to fix" - Jay Gilligan. Every day we challenged ourselves with new mind-boggling concepts. We could not help but smile and laugh with joy learning from Jay and Wes who are such positive and effervescent creatures. I walked away with a whole new perspective on my juggling, performance and life.

Wednesday night their show had the entire audience at Greentop blown away by their virtuosic skill, creativity and playful complicité. They created a poetic playground with their mountain of props and we were delighted to share in their joy. They bounced about the space surprising each other and keeping us guessing. The duo has the ability of serving their props and bringing them to life like no juggler I have ever seen.

The most valuable and thought provoking concept I took from my three days with Jay and Wes was philosophical. They both emanate happiness and positivity. They love what they do and put their heart and soul into it. They are so positive and focused and really connect and care about the people around them and one another. When they walked into the hall the space felt lighter. I don't aspire to be able to do all the tricks that they can but rather live life the way they seem to, believing anything is possible.