By Lilia Velbovets
Many kids dream of being a magician after watching the masterwork of jugglers and magicians. A group of BYU students are fulfilling these childhood dreams as Y Jugglers, entertaining and serving others with their skills.
Y Juggle is a BYUSA-sponsored club here on campus. It unites people who know how to juggle or ride a unicycle as well as people who want to learn. The club is free to join and everybody is welcome.
Club members perform several times a week and on holidays, for ward activities, MTC meetings and parties. Some members juggle as volunteers and some are paid.
During their weekly meetings they learn new tricks, socialize and plan their shows.
Members of the club treat each other like a family. The meetings and shows are filled with the spirit of friendship. Members are laid back and have fun juggling.
Kurt Twining from Parsonsburg, Md., majoring in computer science, learned how to juggle when he was seven years old through a circus program at his school. He loved doing it so much he bought three balls and practiced after school to master juggling.
“I love the club because I can learn many tricks from other people,” Twining said.
Not only is juggling fun, but several studies also show juggling is a healthy activity. It broadens the juggler’s focus and improves his or her coordination.
Lindsey Halsell from Redlands, Calif., majoring in Eastern studies and Arabic, said juggling is “a great stress relief because you only concentrate on whatever you juggle and forget the problems with school.”
Y Juggle members participate in community services for the elderly, schools and church groups.
The marriage homerun history of Y Juggle presidents started in 2000 with Kevin Bylund. He and five other past presidents all got married while serving as presidents of the club.
The spirit of service attracted Jane Atherton to Y Juggle. She is a former club president and graduated, but still comes to club performances with her husband, Alan, who is current president of the club.
All it takes to learn a new skill is a desire and practice, club officers said. Then students can share magic with others.
Students who want to learn how to juggle and meet new people can come to 445 MARB Thursday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information, e-mail .
