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ARTS & CULTURE
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VALERIE HAAG
Bekah Smith performs various acts on a unicycle for the crowd at the Lawrence Busker Festival on May 29. Smith graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in accounting, but decided to pursue a different career. "Have a passion and do something cool with it," she said.
Fire juggler trades degree to follow her passion
BY KELLY CORDINGLEY
@KELLYCORDINGLEY
From juggling fire on a plank seven feet off the ground to jump-roping on a unicycle, Bekah Smith certainly took a different path than her degree in accounting from Kansas State University would have suggested.
"I just taught myself to juggle three balls because college was really stressful for me, and it was a good way for me to cool off," she said.
Smith, a juggler and circus entertainer from Denver, performed at the Busker Festival last year as well as this year and said it is one of many ways she gets her name out.
After graduating from Kansas State University, Smith moved to Denver where she became immersed in a circus and juggling group.
"I had way too much energy to sit in a cubicle," she said.
She's since traveled to and worked in Germany, France, Switzerland, Iceland and, most recently, India.
She said if she had known how difficult following her passion would be, she might have reconsidered.
"It's really, really hard work, and I think all things worth doing are really hard," she said. "I think knowing things you have to work really hard for are worth it would be helpful to someone who wants to do this."
During her performance, she told one of her child volunteers to follow her dreams of being a veterinarian and do what makes her happy. Smith said regardless of if it's a career choice or a hobby, everyone should pursue a passion.
"Whether you make your career out of something or not, I think that's great," she said. "It's just as amazing as me being up here doing what I love. That's what I mean when I say do what you love; it doesn't necessarily mean do what you love to make money, but have a passion and do something cool with it."
VALERIE HAAG
The African Drum Ensemble at KU performs on Massachusetts Street at the Lawrence Busker Festival on May 29. The 10-member group started in 2007. This year, group members performed at the Busker Fest in order to raise money for their teacher's mother in Guinea who is sick with tuberculosis. Read more at kansan.com.
VALERIE HAAG
Robert and Valerie Wolf, who form the duo The Wicked Liers, eat fire during their show Saturday, May 30, at the Lawrence Busker Festival. Their set included sword swallowing, fire breathing, bullwhip cracking and, of course, magic tricks."If you are going to do [a job] full time, it is a business and it's got to be a passion," Robert said. "If you're not going to do that, then don't even bother."