Local fire juggler lights it up in Quebec
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/04/2013 (4654 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A young Brandon man is making light of the rule to never play with fire.
In his first competition, 25-year-old Isaac Girardin juggled his way to the top spot against 40 other performances at the Les Maîtres du Feu (The Masters of Fire) competition in Montreal last weekend.
Under his arms and behind his back, Girardin wowed the judges by swinging and spinning his homemade “inferno stick” — a two-foot-long rod encased in a wick, dipped in fuel and set on fire, a routine rarely done, if ever.
During his four-minute performance, he also juggled two “fire flower sticks,” juggling sticks that are lit on fire at both ends.
“It’s a blinding fire two feet from my face,” he said. “I have to wear welding goggles to actually see it properly.”
In its fourth year, the Montreal theatrical fire-handling competition is the biggest in the city, drawing in fire-eaters, fire-breathers, hula hoopers and acrobats from all over Canada, parts of the United States and even South America.
He first discovered the hobby six years ago when he was travelling through Istanbul. After he returned to Canada, he landed in Montreal where his enthusiasm for juggling proved to be as strong as ever.
“I spent hours and hours playing with sticks,” he said.
After two years, Girardin decided he was confident enough with his skills to set those sticks on fire, “that being said, I had no idea what I was doing.”
But he soon got the hang of it, despite the obvious occupational hazard. Along with burning the hair on his head, face and arms, he said the most painful was scorching his nose hairs.
Girardin has made a living off of his performances and workshops, travelling across the country, appearing at fairs, festivals, birthdays and schools.
When he moved back to Brandon three years ago, he began selling his own juggling sticks and a performance at the Brandon Folk, Music and Art Festival in 2009 set his career on fire.
Performing is now a full-time job for the Brandonite, along with his business, skillcircus.ca, where he sells juggling equipment and offers workshops.
Girardin will perform at Knox United Church on Saturday, April 13, along with belly dancers, circus performers from Winnipeg, knife-spinners, magicians, and of course, jugglers.
The $10 tickets for the show are available at Forbidden Flavours, or $15 at the door. The show begins at 7 p.m. and doors open at 6 p.m.
» gbruce@brandonsun.com