Juggling is a physical human skill involving the movement of objects, usually through the air, for entertainment (see object manipulation). Torches are Juggling props used in many Toss juggling routines Devizes is a small Market town and Civil parish in the heart of the English county of Wiltshire, in the southern United Kingdom Etymology The county formerly 'Wiltonshire' or 'Wiltunscir' (9th century is named after the former county town of Wilton (itself named after the River Wylye England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Object manipulation is a form of Dexterity play or performance in which one or more performing artists physically interact with props including balls The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling, where the juggler throws objects through the air. This article focuses on one aspect of juggling For a more general discussion of juggling please see the main article Juggling. Jugglers often refer to the objects they juggle as props. The most common props are balls, beanbags, rings, clubs, and bouncing balls. Juggling balls, or simply balls, are a popular prop used by jugglers, either on their own&mdashusually in sets of three or more&mdashor in combination with other A bean bag (also beanbag) is a sealed bag containing dried Beans or PVC pellets with various applications Juggling rings, or simply " rings " are a popular prop used by jugglers, either on their own—usually in sets of three or more—or in combination with Juggling clubs, or simply clubs are a prop used by jugglers, either on their own&mdashusually in sets of three or more&mdashor in combination with other Some performers use dramatic objects such as chainsaws, knives and fire torches. A chainsaw (or chain saw) is a portable mechanical motorized Saw. This article focuses on one aspect of Toss juggling. For a more general discussion of juggling see the main article Juggling Knife Torches are Juggling props used in many Toss juggling routines The term juggling can also refer to other prop-based circus skills such as diabolo, devil sticks, poi, cigar box manipulation, fire-dancing, contact juggling, hooping and hat manipulation. Circus skills are a group of pursuits that were traditionally used as a form of entertainment in Circus, Sideshow, Busking or variety / Vaudeville The diabolo (commonly misspelled as diablo and mispronounced dia-BO-lo; formerly also known as "the devil on two sticks" is a Juggling prop consisting Devil stick ( also Devil Stick devilstick devil-stick Rhythm Stick etc Poi is a form of Juggling or Object manipulation employing a ball depending from a length of rope which is held in hand and swung in circular patterns comparable See also Cigar box (juggling and Baker Bowl (aka "The Cigar Box" A cigar box is a Box container for Cigar Fire dancing (also known as " fire twirling," " fire spinning," " fire performance," or " fire manipulation Contact juggling is a form of Object manipulation that focuses on the movement of objects such as balls in permanent contact with the body Hooping generally refers to artistic manipulations of a Metal, Wooden or Plastic hoop with various parts of the body in a rhythmic fashion usually Hat manipulation is a form of Juggling in which the manipulator performs feats of skill and dexterity using a brimmed hat such as a Bowler hat or a Top hat
The word juggling derives from the Middle English jogelen to entertain by performing tricks, in turn from the French jongleur and the Old French jogler. Middle English is the name given by Historical linguistics to the diverse forms of the English language spoken between the Norman invasion of Old French was the Romance Dialect continuum spoken in territories which span roughly the northern half of modern France and parts of modern Belgium There is also the Late Latin form joculare of Latin joculari, meaning to jest. Vulgar Latin (in Latin sermo vulgaris, "folk speech" is a Blanket term covering the popular Dialects and Sociolects of the Latin Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. [1] "Juggling" has come to mean, colloquially, any activity which requires a constant refocusing of one's attention from an overall goal to multiple subsidiary tasks, for example "Juggling Work and Family", the title of a PBS documentary, [1] [2] This colloquial meaning is similar to the non-computer use of the word multitasking. Human multi-tasking or multitasking is the performance by an individual of appearing to handle more than one task at the same time
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Origins and history
Ancient to 20th century
The earliest record of juggling, a panel from the 15th Beni Hassan tomb of an unknown prince, shows female dancers and acrobats throwing balls. Juggling has also been recorded in most other early civilizations including Chinese, Indian, Greek, Aztec (Mexico) and Polynesian civilizations. Chinese civilization originated in various city-states along the Yellow River ( valley in the Neolithic era This article is about the history of South Asia prior to the Partition of British India in 1947 The History of Greece traditionally encompasses the study of the Greek people, the areas they ruled historically and the territory now composing the modern state of The Aztecs were a Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican people of central Mexico in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries Polynesia (from Greek: πολύς many, νῆσος island) is a Subregion of Oceania, comprising a large grouping of over [2]
In Europe, juggling was an acceptable diversion until the decline of the Roman Empire, after which it fell into disgrace. The Decline of the Roman Empire, leading to the Fall of the Roman Empire, or the Fall of Rome, was the end of the Western Roman Empire. Throughout the Middle Ages most histories were written by religious clerics who frowned upon the type of performers who juggled, called 'gleemen', accusing them of base morals or even practicing witchcraft. A gleeman was an itinerant performer in the Middle Ages. Gleemen were distinguished from other kinds of performers by their ability to Juggle, which was sometimes Witchcraft, in various historical anthropological religious and mythological contexts is the use of certain kinds of Supernatural or magical powers Jugglers in this era would only perform in marketplaces, streets, fairs or drinking houses. A marketplace is the space actual or metaphorical in which a Market operates They would perform short, humorous and bawdy acts and pass a hat or bag among the audience for tips. Some kings' and noblemen’s bards, fools, or jesters would have been able to juggle or perform acrobatics, though their main skills would have been oral (poetry, music, comedy and storytelling). Etymology The word is a Loanword from descendant languages of Proto-Celtic *bardos, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gwerh2 A jester, joker, jokester, fool, wit-cracker, prankster, or buffoon is a member of a profession that came into popularity Acrobatics (from Greek Akros, high and bat, walking is one of the Performing arts, and is also practiced as a Sport. Music is an Art form in which the medium is Sound organized in Time. Comedy (from the Greek κωμωδίαkomodia has a popular meaning (any discourse generally intended to amuse especially in Television, Film, and Storytelling is the ancient art of conveying events in Words Images and Sounds often by Improvisation or embellishment
In 1768 Philip Astley opened the first modern circus. Philip Astley ( January 8, 1742 &ndash January 27, 1814) is regarded as the " father of the modern circus. A circus is most commonly a traveling company of performers that may include acrobats, Clowns trained animals trapeze acts Hoopers, tightrope walkers A few years later he employed jugglers to perform acts along with the horse and clown acts. Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by their Grotesque appearance colored wigs stylistic makeup, outlandish Costumes unusually Since then, jugglers have been associated with circuses.
In the 19th century variety and music hall theatres became more popular, and jugglers were in demand to fill time between music acts, performing in front of the curtain while sets were changed. A variety show or variety entertainment is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts especially Musical performances and Comedy Skits and Music hall is a form of British theatrical Entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960 Performers started specializing in juggling, separating it from other kinds of performance such as sword swallowing and magic. Sword swallowing is a Performance art, in which the performer inserts a Sword into his or her Mouth and down the Esophagus towards the Stomach The Gentleman Juggler style was established by German jugglers such as Salerno and Kara. This is an outline of the most popular forms of Juggling as practiced by amateur non-performing hobby jugglers Rubber processing developed, and jugglers started using rubber balls. Previously juggling balls were made from balls of twine, stuffed leather bags, wooden spheres or various metals. Twine is a strong Thread or String composed of two or more smaller strands or Yarns twisted together Solid or inflatable rubber balls meant that bounce juggling was possible. Inflated rubber balls made ball spinning easier and more readily accessible. Soon in North America, vaudeville theatres employed jugglers, often hiring European performers. Vaudeville was a Genre of variety entertainment prevalent on the stage in the United States and Canada, from the early 1880s
20th Century - Birth of a hobby
In the early to mid-20th century, variety and vaudeville shows decreased in popularity due to competition from motion picture theatres, radio and television, and juggling suffered as a result. Since the late 1980s a large Juggling culture has developed revolving around local clubs and organizations special events shows magazines websites Internet forums competitions Radio is the transmission of signals by Modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible Light. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic Music and comedy transferred very easily to radio but juggling could not. In the early years of TV, when variety-style programming was popular, jugglers were often featured. But developing a new act for each new show, week after week, was more difficult for jugglers than other types of entertainers - comedians and musicians can pay others to write their material but jugglers can’t get other people to learn new skills on their behalf.
In the early 1950s, more people began juggling as a hobby. The International Jugglers' Association began as a club for performing jugglers, but soon non-performers joined and started attending the annual conventions. The International Jugglers' Association or IJA is the oldest and largest organization of jugglers It is open to members worldwide although most of its members live The 61st Annual IJA Juggling Festival will be held July 14-20, 2008, in Lexington, Kentucky, at the Lexington Convention Center. The International Jugglers' Association or IJA is the oldest and largest organization of jugglers It is open to members worldwide although most of its members live
World Juggling Day was created as an annual day of recognition for the hobby, with the intent to teach people how to juggle, to promote juggling or for jugglers to get together and celebrate. Traditionally held on a Saturday in June, the date for 2008 is June 14th (in 2007 it was June 16).
Most cities and large towns now have juggling clubs. These are often based within, or connected to, universities and colleges. There are also community circus groups that teach young people and put on shows. The Internet Juggling Database maintains a searchable database of most juggling clubs.
Since the 1980s a juggling culture has developed. The scene revolves around local clubs and organizations, special events, shows, magazines, web sites, internet forums and, possibly most importantly, juggling conventions. Many countries cities or Juggling clubs hold their own annual juggling convention. In recent years there has also been a growing focus on juggling competitions. Juggling competitions range from friendly and silly games to competitive sports
Juggling conventions form the backbone of the juggling scene. Many countries cities or Juggling clubs hold their own annual juggling convention. The focus of most juggling conventions is the main hall: a large space for open juggling. There will also be more formal workshops in which expert jugglers will work with small groups on specific skills and techniques. Most juggling conventions also include a main show (open to the general public), competitions and juggling games.
Popular forms of juggling
Juggling can be categorised:
- Objects juggled
- such as ball juggling, club juggling and rings, as well as diabolo, devil sticks and cigar box manipulation. This is an outline of the most popular forms of Juggling as practiced by amateur non-performing hobby jugglers Juggling balls, or simply balls, are a popular prop used by jugglers, either on their own&mdashusually in sets of three or more&mdashor in combination with other Juggling clubs, or simply clubs are a prop used by jugglers, either on their own&mdashusually in sets of three or more&mdashor in combination with other Juggling rings, or simply " rings " are a popular prop used by jugglers, either on their own—usually in sets of three or more—or in combination with The diabolo (commonly misspelled as diablo and mispronounced dia-BO-lo; formerly also known as "the devil on two sticks" is a Juggling prop consisting Devil stick ( also Devil Stick devilstick devil-stick Rhythm Stick etc Other objects are handkerchiefs, chainsaws, knives and flaming torches.
- Method of juggling
- the classical and best known form (toss juggling) is throwing and catching objects in the air without touching the ground. This article focuses on one aspect of juggling For a more general discussion of juggling please see the main article Juggling. Bounce juggling is bouncing objects (usually balls) off the ground. Contact juggling is manipulating the object in constant contact with the body. Contact juggling is a form of Object manipulation that focuses on the movement of objects such as balls in permanent contact with the body
- Performance style
- This may include the gentleman juggler - using everyday objects such as hats, canes, plates, wine bottles and cigars; comedy juggling - the juggling skill is secondary to the comic character and jokes of the performer; sport themed - the performers dress in sporting attire and juggle sports equipment such as tennis rackets, footballs, or even snooker balls; traditional circus style - presenting pure skill with precision, skill and panache. Cultural extensions of the traditional circus style include: Chinese circus - using mainly rings and badminton rackets, fantastic costumes, concentrating on numbers juggling; Russian folk - colourful costumes and characters, unique props with acrobatics.
- Number of objects juggled
- In trick juggling, the main aim is to perform exceptionally skillful and impressive manipulations with the objects juggled. Numbers juggling, by contrast, has the goal of juggling as many objects as possible.
- Number of jugglers
- Juggling is most commonly performed by an individual. However, multiple-person juggling is performed by two or more people. Some method of passing between the jugglers is used - this can be through the air (as in toss juggling), bounced off the ground, simply handed over, or numerous other ways depending on the objects and the style of juggling. For example, two club jugglers may stand facing each other, each juggling a 3-club pattern themselves, but then simultaneously passing between each other. Back to back juggling is also possible, and other configurations.
The object, method, style and number of jugglers can vary. For example, a single juggler could be juggling different objects (say a ball, a club and an orange), could start by toss juggling them, then start bouncing the ball as part of the routine, and finally start passing the objects between themselves and a second juggler.
Juggling world records
Juggling world records are tracked by the Juggling Information Service Committee on Numbers Juggling (JISCON). This is a list of juggling world records for solo Juggling of clubs balls rings and bouncing balls as well as the two person passing All the records listed on the JISCON page represent the longest runs with each number and prop that has been authenticated using video evidence. As of September 2006, the records for each prop are:
- Rings/Plates: 13 rings for 13 catches by Albert Lucas in 2002. Albert Lucas is a Juggler. He holds the official record for being the only person to flash 13 rings.
- Balls/Beanbags: 12 beanbags for 12 catches, first done by Bruce Sarafian in 1996. Bruce Sarafian (born August 17, 1966) is an American juggler who holds several juggling world records
- Clubs/Sticks: 9 sticks for 9 catches, first done by Bruce Tiemann in 1996.
Each of these records is what is known as a "flash", meaning each prop is thrown and caught only once. Some jugglers, and some juggling competitions, do not consider a flash to be "real juggling" and use "qualifying juggle" (a term taken from the International Jugglers' Association's Numbers Competition) to denote a pattern where each prop is thrown and caught at least twice. The JISCON records for qualifying runs are:
- Rings: 10 rings for 64 catches by Anthony Gatto in 2005. Anthony Gatto is an American juggler who holds several Juggling world records
- Balls: 10 beanbags for 23 catches by Bruce Sarafian in 2001. Bruce Sarafian (born August 17, 1966) is an American juggler who holds several juggling world records
- Clubs: 8 clubs for 16 catches by Anthony Gatto in 2006. Anthony Gatto is an American juggler who holds several Juggling world records
Venues
Circus
. A circus is most commonly a traveling company of performers that may include acrobats, Clowns trained animals trapeze acts Hoopers, tightrope walkers Jennifer Miller (born 1961 is an American Circus Entertainer, Writer, and Professor at the Pratt Institute in Circus Amok is a New York City-based circus and theater troupe that produces free outdoor performances every year in the NYC parks Wherever there are circuses, there are jugglers. Many circus jugglers are from Russia and other Soviet block states, products of circus schools. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Other traditions are represented, such as Chinese acrobatics schools, and traditional circus families that are often Latin American or European. Some of the greatest jugglers from the past 50 years are from Eastern Europe, including Sergei Ignatov, Evgenij Biljauer and Viktor Kee (featured in Cirque du Soleil productions). Sergei Ignatov (born 1950 in Chemnitz, Germany) is a Russian juggler He is famous for his numbers juggling and for being "The Poet of Juggling" Cirque du Soleil (French for "Circus of the Sun" in English sɜrk duː soʊˈleɪ is an entertainment company
Clowns would often dress up and perform this art with objects ranging from bouncy balls to scarves.
Variety Theatres
Variety theatres still do business in Europe, particularly in Germany. In North America the closest thing to variety shows are in casinos, in places like Las Vegas, where jugglers perform alongside singers, comedians and others. A casino is in the modern sense of the word a facility that houses and accommodates certain types of Gambling activities As with circuses, the demand for jugglers to perform in variety theatres and casinos is far lower than jugglers seeking work, meaning only the best, most dynamic performers find regular work in the top venues. Germany and the USA have also produced some of the greatest jugglers from the past 50 years, most notably Francis Brunn from Germany and Anthony Gatto from the United States. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Francis Brunn (1923-2004 was a notable German-American Juggler. Anthony Gatto is an American juggler who holds several Juggling world records
Renaissance and Medieval Fairs
Renaissance and medieval fairs in North America and in Europe can also offer short-term performance venues for professional jugglers. With the increasing popularity of such venues (and with the continued success of Medieval/Renaissance themed restaurants) the ancient art of juggling finds a home.
Street Performance
In some places, especially tourist destinations such as Spain, Cyprus, and London, entertainers perform on the street (busking). Busking is the practice of performing in Public places for Tips and Gratuities. Street performers often include juggling and comedy in their shows. Wellknown locations for this kind of street performance include Covent Garden in London, and Faneuil Hall in Boston.
Juggling notation
Juggling tricks and patterns can become very complex, and hence can be difficult to communicate to others. It has often been said of many juggling patterns that it is "easier done than said", while it might be easy to learn a given manoeuvre and demonstrate it for others Therefore notation systems have been developed for communication of patterns, as well as for discovering new patterns.
Diagram-based notations are the clearest way to show juggling patterns on paper, but as they are based on images, their use is limited in text based communication (email and the internet). Ladder Diagrams track the path of all the props through time, where the less complicated Causal Diagrams only track the props that are in the air, and assumes that a juggle has a prop in each hand. Numeric based notation systems are more popular and standardized than diagram-based notations. They are used extensively in both a written form, and for those "fluent" in juggle-speak, in normal conversation.
Siteswap is by far the most common juggling notation. In Juggling, a cascade is the simplest pattern achievable with an odd number of props Siteswap (also called Cambridge notation in the United Kingdom) is a notation used to describe Juggling patterns Siteswap (also called Cambridge notation in the United Kingdom) is a notation used to describe Juggling patterns In its most basic form, vanilla siteswap, each pattern is reduced to a simple sequence of numbers, such as "3", "97531" or "744". Siteswap (also called Cambridge notation in the United Kingdom) is a notation used to describe Juggling patterns However, vanilla siteswap can only notate the most basic alternating two-handed patterns, with no deviations from a very strict set of rules. If one of these rules is broken, say an extra hand is added, the same string of numbers will result in a wildly different pattern than first conceived. For slightly more complicated patterns, extra rules and syntax are added to create synchronous siteswap, to notate patterns where both hands throw at the same time, and multiplex siteswap, to notate patterns where one hand holds or throws two balls on the same beat. Siteswap (also called Cambridge notation in the United Kingdom) is a notation used to describe Juggling patterns Siteswap (also called Cambridge notation in the United Kingdom) is a notation used to describe Juggling patterns Other extensions to siteswap have been developed, including passing siteswap, Multi-Hand Notation (MHN), and General Siteswap (GS).
Beatmap is a numeric notation which can notate any number of hands or juggling props, and in any rhythm, with no added complexity to its basic structure. Within beatmap it is possible to notate not only the balls in a pattern, but also the hands or arms of the juggler, as well as the position, location or orientation of the body of a juggler. Luke Burrage, the inventor of beatmap, claims [3]that beatmap can more accurately describe more patterns than all ladder diagrams, causal diagrams, mills mess state transition diagrams, vanilla siteswap, synch siteswap, passing siteswap and multi-hand notation combined. So far use of beatmap is very limited, as most jugglers and all juggling software understand only variations of siteswap.
See also
- Category:Jugglers
- Contact juggling
- Equilibristics
- Joggling
- Stick juggling
- Toss juggling
- Flair bartending
References
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition, 1989: juggling entry
- ^ The Museum of Juggling
- ^ no reference
External links
Organizations
- The International Jugglers' Association (IJA) - worldwide community of jugglers united. Contact juggling is a form of Object manipulation that focuses on the movement of objects such as balls in permanent contact with the body Equilibristics refers to a number of ' Circus arts ' and Juggling skills characterised by balancing or maintaining a moving equilibrium or balance of opposing Joggling is a Portmanteau word that describes Juggling while Jogging. Devil stick ( also Devil Stick devilstick devil-stick Rhythm Stick etc This article focuses on one aspect of juggling For a more general discussion of juggling please see the main article Juggling. thumb|right|300px|Flair bartending Flair bartending is the practice of Bartenders entertaining guests clientele or audiences with the manipulation of bar
- The European Jugglers' Association (EJA) - European community of jugglers united.
- The World Juggling Federation - private company aimed at promoting competition-style juggling.
Resources
- The Internet Juggling Database - includes a juggling forum, club and event listings, a video database and numerous articles.
- Juggling Information Service - dated but has a huge amount of information.
- Learn the Cascade - detailed instructions and videos.
- The Passing Database - including videos
- The Juggling Trick Database - instructions for juggling tricks.
- rec.juggling - juggling newsgroup; active community
References
- A Glossary of Juggling Terms by the Juggling Information Service (JIS)
- JIS Numbers Juggling Records - List of world juggling records.
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