Juggling
Third-year College student Michael Manning was introduced to juggling at a young age by his dad's high school friend, who gave him a book called, "Juggling for the Complete Klutz" for Christmas. Manning encouraged his friend to take up the hobby, and by the time they were in ninth grade, the two began juggling outside bars at night, trying to impress the intoxicated clientele and convince them to make monetary contributions, sometimes even of $20 apiece.
Manning's favorite juggling experience started when his high school friend got in trouble for crawling through ceiling vents and falling through the ceiling of the girls' bathroom. As punishment, Manning's friend was given a community service obligation, which he discharged by doing some juggling for elementary school students. Manning was asked along to be a part of the act.
"We went to the drama department and borrowed full clown gear," Manning said. "Then we got into the police car to be driven to the elementary school. Man, you can imagine what a sight we were, two clowns in the back of the cop car."
When he came to the University, Manning got involved with the Juggler's Guild on Grounds, a group comprised of jugglers from novices to experts. The Guild also gives back to the community through various events, such as putting on shows to a trailer park day care center and performing at local children's hospitals.
Manning said he enjoys juggling because it allows him to connect with people.
"It's a good way to start talking to strangers in a distant land or place because it's easy to carry juggling equipment around," Manning said. "And the props are pretty colorful, so it's a really happy thing, like you would associate with the circus or leisure."
Juggling also serves as a form of relaxation for Manning because of the passive concentration it requires.
"The best way to sum up my feelings for juggling is through the motto of the U.S. Department of Juggling," Manning said, referring to an organization with which he trained when he was younger. "'Life's a struggle if you can't juggle.' And it's true!"
Flower Arranging
In eighth grade, second-year College student Chelsea Conanan got anapprenticeship in flower arranging in her hometown of Spotsylvania, Va. byworking with her mother's friend, a flower shop owner. When her mother's friend eventually closed her shop, Conanan went to work at Bloomer's Florist, a local shop about five minutes away from her house, where she developed her skills throughout her high school years.
"The first thing they taught me when I started arranging was how to make a bow," Conanan said. "It was kind of hard at first, but you end up putting them on all kinds of arrangements, so it's really simple once you get used to it."
Conanan said the hardest part of making arrangements for others is staying within a price range and making sure the flowers and color combination are suitable for the occasion.
"My favorite kind of arrangement to make is the big, flashy, fancy kind, with lots of really expensive, unusual flowers," Conanan said.
Now that she is at the University, Conanan teaches a short course on flower arranging, hoping to share her talent with others.
"I saw a flyer for short courses last year, and someone had mentioned they were really cool," Conanan said. "So I submitted a proposal, and they gave me an interview. I was really excited and kept thinking of ideas for each class."
When she's not working or teaching, Conanan said it is difficult to find the time to make arrangements for her home. Still, every once in a while she brings one home from the class or work. In fact, Conanan is going back to work at Bloomer's Florist over Thanksgiving Break.
"The holidays are always really busy," Conanan said. "Valentine's Day is probably the busiest, followed by Mother's Day and Christmas."
Despite the hard work involved, Conanan said flower arranging is still her favorite hobby. She loves the opportunity to work with flowers and having such an artistic outlet.
"Hopefully, when I'm older I'll be able to open a flower shop," Conanan said.
Belly dancing
Generally, people are inclined to believe that talented dancers begin training at birth. However, third-year College student Mariza Matel came upon belly dancing only two years ago and is currently president of the University Belly Dancing Club.
"My family was in the middle of the move, and I was extremely bored," Matel said. "So I bought a cheap belly dance DVD in the special interest section at Best Buy. I didn't even finish it before I signed up for classes at the local rec center."
Although Matel said her start at belly dancing was "not really very magical," she said that with practice, she quickly advanced and grew skilled at the dance of isolation, which is locking specific movements, especially in the torso.
Standing over six feet tall, Matel said she was attracted to the inclusive nature of belly dancing.
"I liked dance corps, but always felt like the lumbering giant in the back," Matel said, explaining that this self-perception discouraged her from taking dance classes in her youth. Now, in addition to making her feel more graceful, her training has helped to tone her arms, legs and especially her abs.
"Seriously, I always thought I was imagining the definition in my abs, but I recently saw it on film, so I know it's true," Matel said.
Matel finds the good exercise to be satisfying but also said the club has brought a social aspect to her training and enjoys the opportunity to dance and hang out with friends for an hour.
The club is still in its early years, but Matel arranges for talented instructors from the Charlottesville community to teach classes twice a week. Although the club does not yet host its own shows, it is often invited to perform with other clubs and at other events, including the Latino Student Union and Culturefest.
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