Welcome!
My name is Chris Garcia, aka Draco, and I am a professional juggling performer and instructor. I perform for parties, shows, community events, raves, comedy shows, school assemblies, variety shows, weddings, or whatever is needed for a juggler. Feel free to check out my [photo album] for some cool juggling pictures, my [videos], and don't forget about my [blog] which is updated often.
If you are thinking about hiring me for a party, gig, corporate event, or personal instructions please look at my [prices] or if needed you can [contact me].
"So you can teach nearly anyone how to juggle?"
Of course! As long as you have an arm, some eyes, and an interest to try juggling I can teach you how to diabolo, ball juggle, ring toss, club juggle, devilstick, cigar box, or any other form of juggling. I have taught many people how to juggle in my high school juggling club, college juggling club, various parties and gigs, and at festivals. Also, if you are looking for a high level diabolo instructor then you found the right person!
People always say "I dont have the coordination, so I can't juggle" but that doesn't matter. If you are looking for a hobby that improves coordination, quick thinking, and self-confidence then juggling is the right one for you!
Why learn how to juggle, and what good is it?
While the purpose of juggling to keep multiple objects in the air and do various tricks might not save a person's life, juggling is a fun and amazing hobby. Studies have proven that juggling does not only improve one's hand eye coordination, it also improves the gray matter in a person's brain, helping him/her to focus better, think more quickly, and even learn new things easier. Juggling improves self-confidence, self-discipine, creativity, teamwork, and much more! On top of it all, juggling is a relaxing hobby and can relieve one of a stressful day after work or school. It seems that juggling isn't just a circus skill anymore...
"How did you get into juggling and how long have you been doing it?"
I first got my taste of juggling in the 7th grade when I self-taught myself the cascade with 3 tennis balls, getting 30 tosses, then quitting. It wasn’t until around Winter break of my Freshman Year in high school that some friends and I found out about the juggling club and I picked up this hobby once again. Originally, I chose devilsticks to be my main juggling prop since I wanted to be unique and everyone else in the club was doing diabolos at the time… but eventually I became a Diabolo Fanatic. I practiced hours on end each day at break, lunch, and after school to conquer new tricks, and my juggling goal was to be the greatest. However, I learned being the best isn’t always everything, and that goal turned into a passion for juggling and its unique world. Sophomore year we didn’t have a school club, so I was by myself many times practicing my tricks; I can describe this year as my 3 diabolo year… Teaching myself 3 diabolos was the most difficult struggle I had in my juggling career as it was a constant barrage of failure and little progress throughout a period of 6 lonely months, but eventually I broke through. In High School, I performed in many school and community talent shows such as Winterfest, Noche De Fama, and at the Children's Discovery museum. I was Vice President my Junior Year under David Pham, but the club died after November. I became President my Senior Year in which I took it upon myself to construct a more involved juggling club, and it was a success, ending with around 20 active members upon my graduation. My many thanks go to thank Matt Hall (our club advisor and biggest influence in my juggling career) and the Silver Creek Jugglers (especially the originals, ie David Pham, Matt Brown, etc) for teaching me as well as giving me juggling inspiration.
My advice to all you jugglers out there is to never give up no matter how difficult it is to learn something! Juggling is not only a test of skill, it is a test of the mind; and many tricks require knowledge of how the trick works. If you’re having trouble with a trick, think of it in another way, or try to relate it to similar tricks you know already.
"Hey Draco, what can you juggle?"
I can juggle nearly any juggling prop; however, my specialty is the diabolo (chinese yoyo). I can do up to 4 diabolos at the same time. I can also juggle up to 7 balls, and I can do 4 clubs.
"What clubs do you juggle at now?"
Although I will always be a Silver Creek Juggler at heart, you can find me juggling at my college's juggling club (UCSC/Santa Cruz Juggling Society), the Santa Clara Juggling Club, Santa Cruz Fire Night, Santa Cruz Circuz Jam, and other juggling club in the Bay Area. I also try to attend every festival in California depending on my budget.
"What are some of your juggling goals?"
Some goals of mine in juggling are to master the diabolo and get really good with ball and club juggling. I want to make top of line routines that have elegance, energy, high level tricks, and artistry. I also hope to one day travel the world both as a performer and a festival attendee, and even to compete in world juggling competitions. I have already accomplished my goal of holding a juggling festival, but now I want to turn that into a huge annual festival that will brings together jugglers from around the world. Another goal is to make a juggling video game.
"Can you tell us more about yourself?"
I am going to UC Santa Cruz for college to major in Computer Game Design. I am the founder of the Frogfighters!, my independent video game company based on fighting frogs who live in a magical world. I love to design video games and have been doing it longer than I have been juggling (about a year longer). I am also a webpage designer, and created my own site. You can also occassionally spot me running, or riding my mountain bike because I am a cross country runner and a cyclist. I own a 1974 Volkswagen Beetle I call "The Juggle Bug". I am also a bearded dragon owner, and my beardie's name is Draco.
