DOVER-FOXCROFT, Maine — When Matthew Tardy and Jason Tardy of Turner started juggling in middle school, their parents considered the hobby a great outlet for their energies and a way for them to stay out of trouble.
As the brothers grew older and more determined, however, their parents expressed skepticism about their making a career tossing balls and knives through the air and at one another, according to Matthew Tardy. It was when they graduated from high school and were making more money at juggling than their mother was making at her job that she realized they were going to make it.
“She had no problem kicking us out of the house then,” Matthew Tardy, 28, joked Monday.
Their families are still huge supporters of the pair, who entertain under the name TWO: High Energy Juggling, an act that combines high-tech juggling, fire eating, comedy and full-body contortion accompanied by music the pair wrote.
Their performances in schools, like one held Monday at SeDoMoCha Elementary and Middle School, come with a message to youngsters that goals, positive choices, school and hard work are important in life.
“We try to relay what we did to achieve our goals, that way the kids can take similar steps to reach their goals,” Jason Tardy, 30, said Monday. Their performances have included three White House shows and the “CBS Sunday Morning” TV show. “We kind of know what it takes to be successful and we’re trying to help kids understand that message as well.” Even at a young age, children can start thinking about their future and things they might want to accomplish, he said.
Jason Tardy said the pair had presented standup comedy as teenagers at a local talent show when Michael Miclon, The Stand-Up Juggler, noticed them. He encouraged them to develop their talent and they accepted an invitation to apprentice and tour with the popular artist. Later, they had the opportunity to train with world-renowned jugglers Michael Menes and Peter Davison and mime master Tony Montanaro. The late French mime Marcel Marceau is part of their lineage, he said.
In addition to juggling the props of doom — knives, a battle ax, a spiked mace and a plunger — the pair also perform mind-bending choreography and Matthew demonstrates his ability as a contortionist. Matthew is able to fold his thin, tall body and slide it through a string-less tennis racket.
From their performances, the pair have found that a lot of children want to be rock stars or something similar and that’s OK, according to Jason. “We explain to them we’re jugglers, it’s not the same thing, but no matter what you want to do, you have to have a clean mind and body to do it, you have to invest in yourself,” he said.
The Tardys are offering schools a free daytime show that is combined with a paid performance for the public at night. For more information, call 1-866-584-4532 or e-mail jason@jasontardy.com or visit www.TwoShow.com.