2008 - in the beginning....

... was a dream. Nothing more, but no less. Many stories start with dreams...

As a frequent traveler to Goa, Tom Heine - himself more of a fire performer than juggler - was simply impressed by the incredible amount of talented people he met there. Most of them choose Goa as their winter-camp from October til March.

These artists work in the West for six or more months of the year and then migrate to Goa - to spend the winter there, to relax, get new inspiration, meet old friends and new faces, develop ideas, practice, train, produce...

Europe is nice, no question - but especially for juggling, it needn't be winter. Limbs and especially fingers don't work well in the cold. Certainly one of the reasons, why Tom doesn't like "winter"...

Inspired by the European Juggling Conventions - he dreamed a dream. In this dream all artists, from all different categories would join and start playing with each other under the blue skies of Goa...

Hilltop Motel in Vagator got scouted for the following season, Tom designed a flyer, set a date and called out his friends: "Come to play!"

The first ever, international juggling convention in Asia was named the "Body Arts Convention" and it was a total success.

 

Though most people had to drive up to 1 hour, already 50 people attended every day.

The atmosphere was one of family, of kindergarden and university alike, it was pure and fresh, innocent, playful and uplifting at the same time. Everybody was smiling every day and all day - as the convention started at 10am and ended at 10pm (sharp! due to the Goa entertainment curfew ; )

What to say more? In the evenings, friends would play music, give a small concert or simply jam and  it even had a Gala Show...

Yes, it was a tough piece of work - but with a little help of his friends, Tom was even able to donate profit to the "Moving School Project" of the Lions Club International Arpora, to finance new books and tables...

A beginning was made - it was sweet and small...

Special thanks to Lata Seth for coordinating the Gala Show and other friends taking shifts at the door.

 

 

Get a glimpse: