Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven was inspiration for balloon twister

A lot of people are inspired by music, but not in the same way as Dustin Queary.*
While attending the 2004 Millennium Jam in Belgium with his family, he became inspired by a performer like his mother. Today, Queary, 15, a junior at Gettysburg High School is one of the best balloon twisters in the world.*
“I saw a guy from Canada, who made a guitar out of balloons and played (Led Zeppelin’s) Stairway from Heaven on it,” Queary, who now performs with his two sisters and mothers as part of Adventures in Fun. “It sounded like Stairway to Heaven. I got interested then.”*
Others were using balloons to fashion remote control cars that worked, he said. Queary said he also liked the atmosphere of the event. There were also clowns, magicians and other performers showcasing their skills. Queary’s father, Rob, worked for the government, and his family lived in Germany, Austria, France, Spain and Switzerland. He came to Gettysburg about two years ago.*
“My Mom’s been doing it (performing) my whole life,” he said. “I really didn’t want to do it until two years ago.”*
Sisters Alayna, 14 and Alysa, 9 are also part of the act. Alayna is an unicyclist and stilt walker. Alysa is leaning how to be a balloon twister, he said. Rob does magic, stilt walking and twisting. Dustin also does caricatures. His mother, Shonna, said it is a great way to keep the family doing things together. In fact, it is now the family business – which also involves face painting and character mascots for special occasions, both public and private, such as weddings, anniversaries, Bar Mitzvahs, etc..*
Shonna started dressing like a clown and putting on puppet shows as a girl in Amsterdam, NY. She said she had a friend who worked with disabled children and she volunteered to help. Many of the children were autistic and responded well to that type of interaction.* Eventually, she became “Silly Shonna,” her registered clown character. She prefers to use the European-style clown face, instead of the full-face paint of the American variety. She said it is less intimidating to children.*
Both Dustin and his mother have recently completed their first of a two volume set of instructional DVDs that demonstrate the art of balloon twisting – Squeaks Like Teen Spirit that demonstrates his award-winning designs; and Shonna’s instructional demonstration called Batallic Outstanding Specialty Shapes, which depict her unique designs. Shonna said they will be producing the second volume in the near future.*
So far, this year, Dustin has placed first in a new competitor’s division of Diamond Jam at Mesa, AZ; second in the Diamond Master section at Mesa; second in the Large Sculpture Division of Twist and Shout at St. Louis, MO; and second place for Medium Sculptures at BAM (Balloon and Magic Mania) Virginia Beach, VA.*
Dustin’s work is so highly respected that he was offered a full scholarship to Belgium for six weeks to teach twisting. While he could not go this year, it appears the offer will be extended again next year, his mother said.*
Right now, Dustin is brainstorming ideas for an international twisting competition. He said his entry can be no larger than 12 feet tall. He is used to making life-sized creations. During Bike Week in Gettysburg, he created a full-sized Harley Davidson motorcycle. For this competition, he is considering creating a dinosaur of some type.*
“I was thinking of creating some kind of dinosaur,” Dustin said. “Or, I might do something on a jungle safari-type theme.”*
Dustin performs three times during the week at various restaurants. The family also travels to various functions. They have performed at the White House. for a Christmas celebration and at a Hillary Duff concert in Washington, DC, Shonna said.*
“I like seeing other people smile,” Dustin said. “I enjoy it because I make other people happy.”*
While balloon twisting and drawing caricatures take up a lot of his time, he still has to contend with school in the winter and trying to find time for his hobby – snowboarding. For a career, “I’d like to be an architect or professional snowboarder,” he said.*
Shonna said Dustin’s friends and those of his sisters, often ask them why they spend so much time working. She said some of their schoolmates are jealous of their success. For the family, it’s a great way to spend time together and to travel and experience new things.*
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Adventures in Fun*
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Adventures in Fun, is the family business, created by Shonna Flannigan and her family. They perform on uncicyle, as costume characters, create caractures, present puppet shows, story telling and face-painting. In all they have more than 20 years experience entertaining at schools, corporate gatherings, grand openings, at sales promotions, family nights in restaurants, weddings, and various private and public events.*
Award-winning balloon twister, Dustin Queary and his family, performs from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesdays at Ruby Tuesdays, York Road, Gettysburg; Wednesday 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Damon’s Grill, Eisenhower Drive, Hanover; 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, at Friendly’s Restaurant, Steinweher Avenue, Gettysburg; and Shonna performs, 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesdays at Friendly’s in Carlisle.*
For more information visit http://www.adventuresinfun.com.*/