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Kristi Toguchi: The Best of All Worlds

 

Kristi Toguchi is an accomplished performer of both magic and dance with an incredible resume for someone of her young tenure.

You will be able to see her perform with San Diego’s Fern Street Circus this weekend. The high-energy circus began its run in April and will wind-up this weekend. You can check out the full schedule for this weekend’s shows in San Diego by visiting the Fern Street Circus website.

Ms. Toguchi was kind enough to take the time to tell us about her work in magic and dance, her early training, and what she enjoys the most.

The lithe performer tore a ligament in her right arm recently and was sidelined from some of the routines she expected to perform in the circus. Her physicians have pronounced her practically fit to return to her full form and she is anxious to take-up the physically demanding work of entertaining audiences.

Ms. Toguchi will perform with the Circus this weekend (Friday at 8:00pm; Saturday at 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm, and 8:00 pm; as well as Sunday at 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm.

As a third-generation magician from Hawaii, Ms. Toguchi’s immersion into our art began early and was supported consistently. Her father, Terry Toguchi, and grandfather, James Yoshida are magicians of international renown. Mr. Yoshida serves as a SAM International Ambassador, started the SAM in Hawaii and was the first magic dealer to bring products from Japan and Asia to the US.

Ms. Toguchi reflected on her training within such a rich magic tradition.

“I started doing magic in my family’s magic store at the age of 5 or so. Then at the age of 12 I began to study magic more seriously. I have worked with Fukai and Joanie Spina a lot. When I was 18 I went to New York City to pursue dance at the Alvin Ailey School of Dance.”

While training at the world famous Alvin Ailey School, Ms. Toguchi decided she did not need to give up one of her two passions – dance and magic – but could pursue them both. She moved to San Diego, received a Bachelors of Arts in Dance from U.C.S.D. and joined the Fern Street Circus.

Ms. Toguchi’s acts in the Circus featured her skills as a magician and an aerial acrobat – using tissue, aerial silks, and contortion.

Kristi and Lance – Two of a Kind

We asked if she enjoyed one art form more than another. “I can honestly say that dance is my passion. I love dancing and I think it will be a part of me for the rest of my life. Magic has been apart of my life from as far back as I can remember. It is such a beautiful thing to make people smile from just doing a single trick. It is so hard to choose. I don?t think there is one without the…
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May 25th, 2005 | Category: Magic Stories | Leave a comment

Nearly Normal Presentation on Drugs Scheduled for SAM

 

Boston’s Irish Await Magicians

Bob Steiner, SAM Past National President and Chair of the Freedom from Drugs Program, will chair a blue ribbon panel entitled “Magic with a Message” at the National Convention in Boston, July 7 at 9:30 PM.

The panel will suggest many ways to communicate this important message, benefiting the audience members for a lifetime, while entertaining young people with your magic. Other members of the panel will include award-winning drug counselor Harris Deutsch, probation officer Tom Gentile and SAM past national president Jann Wherry Goodsell.

Mr. Deutsch is popularly known to magic fans and certainly readers of Ring 2100 and SAMTALK as The Nearly Normal Magician and a self-proclaimed Doctor of Laughology.

We have featured Mr. Deutsch in past issues of Inside Magic and complimented his website design and graphics so much we were accused of trying to “guilt the lilac” by one reader.

Mr. Deutsch works with Middle and High School Students in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, their families and community. His official title is a Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist. Deutsch is much more. Along with his clinical

skills, Harris has many tricks in his counseling briefcase. (This could be a business briefcase or a blue Duck-Tales gym bag) He cleverly combines the arts of improvisational theatre, magic, puppetry including marionettes

and ventriloquism to create energizing events which will have you laughing and thinking. He was awarded the 2002 COMBAT Substance Prevention Specialist of the Year. His lovely wife Annie’s background in theatre as an actress and

director is instrumental in Harris’ programs.

But Mr. Deutsch’s work in schools is not the only foundation upon which constructed his nearly normal counseling, entertaining, and lecturing work. He was at one time in the Big House. Prior to his work in prevention, he worked at Kansas’ Oldest Bed and Breakfast. Some of you may know this as Kansas Correctional Facilities. Mr. Deutsch took on the position of Primary Counselor for the Maximum Security prisoners.

Richard Pryor said the best thing about being funny in prison is that you don’t get beat-up. The worst thing, he said, was when you run out of jokes. Mr. Deutsch discovered his special talent on the maximum security yard where he entertained the lifers and serious bad guys with a game of “Harris Sez” (his version of

Simon’s Game).

Mr. Deutsch has been described as a cross between a family-oriented improvisational comedian, and Mr. Rogers.

Check out his website and be sure to attend his presentation at the SAM in Boston. He will not only speak from experience but will do so in a nearly normal manner.

Congratulations to Mr. Deutsch and thank you for making all of us look good.

Continue reading Nearly Normal Presentation on Drugs Scheduled for SAM

May 25th, 2005 | Category: Magic News | Leave a comment