Juggling is second nature Elizabeth Bolick.
Whether it’s tennis balls or two gigs on a humid Monday afternoon, Bollick hands alway seem to stay full.
“I’ve been busy,” Bolick said after finishing her act at Gillie Park in White Plains Monday. “The economy must be getting better if jugglers are able to find work.”
Bolick, who resides in Cos Cob, Ct., performed magic as part of the White Plains Recreation and Parks Department “Neighborhood Nights” program. The program provides family friendly entertainment for residents in parks throughout the city during the summer.
Bolick, who appeared at a number events in the city, spun plates and juggled for the pint-sized audience members.
“I didn’t pull out the swords and the fire,” Bolick said about her act. “The kids here were between the ages of three to seven and I didn’t want to scare them.”
It’s different path from the she envisioned for herself when she graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts more than 20 years ago.
“I went to school for acting, but I practiced a lot of mime, juggling, sword fighting, stage fighting...there was a great circus atmosphere when I was there,” Bolick said. “When I had free time, everyone would be studying Shakespeare and I would be out juggling in the field somewhere.”
Bolick moved to New York City after she graduated and worked as waitress while auditioning for roles.
She nearly lost all hope until she saw a job listing from someone in need of a juggler. Bollick said she beat out one other woman for the job, which entailed juggling ice cream sandwiches for the now defunct Chipwich brand.
“It was amazing,” Bolick said. “I travelled the country and I had an expense account...my parent couldn’t believe it.”
Over the years, Bolick’s career has taken her to stints with the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit and through locations around the world. In 2008, she formed Miz Liz and Company. The company provides variety entertainment, stage shows, airbrushing and body art.
A schedule of the city recreation department’s summer events can be found at: http://cityofwhiteplains.com/dataimages/2013_summer_events.pdf
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