THE BALLOON MAN

Up In The Air
 

By Sam Boykin | Photography by Sam Boykin
from:  charlotteobserver.com
Tuesday, Nov. 06, 2012
Giant turkey legs, men in tights, jousting tournaments and other unique entertainment can be found at the 19th annual Carolina Renaissance Festival in Huntersville, which runs through Nov. 18. Among the festival’s 500 costumed characters, Davidson’s own Austin Bruckner will be there, performing his juggling routines and tricks.
Bruckner, a junior at Community School of Davidson, says he first tried juggling when he was about 10 during a Lake Norman Parks and Recreation “circus” summer camp. For most kids the activity was just a passing distraction, but Bruckner loved it. Plus, he was a natural.
“I really taught myself,” he says. “I could pick up new tricks really well.”
Soon he was practicing for hours every day, juggling everything from balls and rings to bowling pins. He joined Lake Norman Jugglers, a group that meets regularly to practice and do tricks. It was through the juggling club Bruckner met Ken Julian of Valdese, and together they formed the performing duo Spin Cycle and started putting on shows around the area.
As the two friends continued to improve, they decided to audition for the Carolina Renaissance Festival, which uses a variety of jugglers, acrobats, dancers and other performers.
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/11/06/3647317/up-in-the-air.html#storylink=cpy