When
people hear the word juggling, the first thing that usually comes to their mind
is circus. Typically because jugglers are usually seen performing here.
However, this is not the only location that you can see people juggling. In
fact, even non-professionals partake in it for fun or as a hobby. It is no
longer just a source of entertainment; it is also now considered as a type of
recreation and sports.
As
mentioned, circus is not just the only place that you can experience fantastic
juggling performances. If you would like to see the amazing skills of these
jugglers but there is no circus in your area, walk around the town, especially the
tourist areas. Not all street performers sing and dance. Some of them actually
perform juggling.
This
is very common in countries like Cyprus, Spain and England. Jugglers also
perform in casinos, together with dancers, singers and comedy acts. There are
restaurants that hire professional jugglers to entertain their guests,
especially those that have Renaissance and Medieval themes. Juggling organisations
like the International Sport Juggling Federation and World Juggling Federation
made it into a kind of sport. With sport juggling, jugglers compete against
each other based on their technical skills in juggling.
Juggling Categories
While
juggling is generally known as the ability to manipulate objects in your hand,
it actually has various forms. It can fall under a specific category based on
certain criteria. Here are some of the most common juggling categories.
- Objects Used – jugglers use various
kinds of objects in their performance. This includes scarves, balls, cigar
boxes, rings and sticks. Vegetables, fruits and knives are also used by
other performers.
- Number of Objects Being Juggled –
there are some forms of juggling that focus on showmanship or how well
juggling is done. There are those that give importance on the number of
objects juggled. The more objects are used in the performance; the better
it is deemed to be.
- Juggling Method – the most popular method
of juggling is toss juggling. In this method, jugglers throw the objects
in the air and catch them so they will not hit the ground. In other
juggling methods, jugglers let the objects bounce off their body or off
the ground.
- Number of Jugglers – juggling is not
only performed by an individual. It can also be performed by two people or
more. Jugglers would pass the objects between or among them without
touching the ground.
Choosing the Right Juggling Balls for
Beginners
If
you are interested in learning how to juggle, there are simple tutorials that you can find online. You may also
read basic juggling from books or ask a professional if you know one. The best
objects that you can use as a beginner are scarves and balls. This is because
they are easier to manipulate. Get your first juggling equipment from Firetoys; as an example their items are of quality and are sold at a
reasonable price.
Find
soft and lightweight balls so they will be easier to catch. Balls that are 120-130
grams in weight are recommended. For kids, 2” balls are good but for adults,
2.5” balls are better.
If you love the thought of trying out some
juggling of your own, you do not need to be one of the audiences forever. Get
your equipment now and start learning the basics of juggling; who knows, you
might just be competing in the future for applause like the performers of
today.
