| first learned how to juggle in 1979 while completing his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in New York. It wasn't until he came to Europe in 1984 that LEE discovered that filling the streets with laughing people would become his future. These experiences have led him from kibbutzim in Israël and Maori fire dances in New Zealand, to major events, large theatres and corporate celebrations around the world. Since 1989, Lee has also earned himself a reliable reputation as an excellent festival organizer. His very first project; The 12th European Juggling Festival in Maastricht (1750 jugglers from 23 countries including top acts from Europe, America and the USSR) was a highly acclaimed success. In 1991 Lee was asked to co-organize the 1st International Juggling Convention Tbilisi, Georgia together with the Soviet State Circus. In 1990 Lee Hayes was elected vice-president of the European Juggling Association and since 1993 he has been the President of the EJA. In this capacity, he has advised, attended and performed at juggling festivals in Europe, Israël, Thailand, Laos, and Australia, Hawaii, and Argentina. In 1993 LEE was appointed as the Artistic Director of the Oranjeboom Straattheater Festival in Rotterdam. Under his guiding hand this already popular event became one of the major international showcases for street theater. Every year the Oranjeboom Straattheater Festival featured 25 acts competing over 3 days for the Gouden Straatkei, and attracted half a million spectators. For the past few years, Lee has been using his talents in the corporate sector, using the principals of juggling and comedy as a tool in management training seminars and symposiums. This has lead to custom written presentations for IBM, ABN-Amro Bank, Randstand Uitzendbureau, the Frankfurt Music Messe, and many more. |