Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 15/4/2010 (3821 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Don’t be scared if you see a few more clowns on city streets next week.

The World Clown Association is holding its annual convention in Winnipeg from April 18 to 23 at Canad Inns Polo Park. Several clowning competitions during the convention will be open to the public, and conventioneers have also arranged a charity basketball game between clowns and some Winnipeg sports and media personalities.

WCA president Richard Snowberg says the basketball and convention will be a real look into the world of professional clowning.

"Those attending the convention will get to take in a wide variety of lectures while many of the convention’s clown competitions are open to the public, " he said, adding it was a real compliment to the WCA to attract Avner the Eccentric to be the event’s keynote speaker.

Avner Eisenberg was recently inducted to the International Clown Hall of Fame and has been performing one-man shows on Broadway and around the world for decades. He is probably best known for his role as the scene-stealing holy man in The Jewel of the Nile, co-starring Michael Douglas.

"We are very fortunate to have him attending, it is the first time for any convention. It is quite the accomplishment," Snowberg says.

Snowberg, who has over 34 years in the clowning business himself, says clowning as a whole is experiencing a bit of a plateau after blossoming during the late ’80s and early ’90s.

"It is a bit of a pendulum, it goes back and forth. Every year however clowning gets a bit broader in terms of scope."

Southdale resident Deanna Hartmier, Canadian central director of the WCA and director of the local chapter, Bump-A-Nose Clown Alley, says the convention is for anyone interested in getting a real glance at the world of clowning.

"There will be approximately 150 clowns coming in from all across North America as well as Japan, Malaysia, India, England, Puerto Rico and the West Indies," she says.

The charity basketball game in support of Variety the Children’s Charity will be held at the University of Winnipeg’s Duckworth Centre. Doors open at 12:15 p.m. with the game expected to start at 1:30 p.m. followed by photo opportunities and balloon-twisting demonstrations. Suggested donation for the event is $2 per person.

Clown competitions open to the public include Make-Up and Wardrobe at 2:30 p.m., April 19, Single Skits at 7:30 p.m., April 19 and Paradability on April 22 at 10 a.m.

For more information, visit www.worldclown.com



rob.brown@canstarnews.com