"Hot Off The Press" - Book Review in "Kaskade" - Eurpean Juggling Magazine.

1 / 2010 ISSN 1432-9085

Article by Gabi Keast.

A side-effect of the fashion for poi spinning is that staff spinning is becoming popular again, and staff workshops are now on offer at practicly every convention. Newcomers tend to approach it very cautiosly, as if the grass were breakable as china, so they don't get very far in an hour.

This is where Johnathan Reynolds' book can help. He provides very clearly stuctured and thorogh explanations of the planes along which the staff travels, and the moves themeselves. If you follow the instructions, you won't break any vases or get any bruises. Each individual movement and grip is decribed in words and illistrated in detail. Beginners receive a full intiation into the art, and in the second half of the book, advanced staff spinners will find plenty of suggestions for moves with one or two staffs.

One long chapter is devoted to handling fire staffs, with a special focus on the safety aspects. Tips on choosing your props and a chapter on choreography round off this attractively deigned book. The text is in English, but don't worry if you English isn't perfect. Together with the illistrations, the instructions are easy enough to understand, and you can fill in any gaps at the next convention workshop, which you will surely now be in a much better position to follow!

Please feel free to email me any comments you may have.