The Juggling Equipment Blog

Name: Ori Roth
Country: Israel
Age: 22
Favorite prop: Balls
Started Juggling: 9 years old
Currently working on: A big juggling video!
Other than that.. a bit of cup stacking, guitar hero/rockband, and 3-5 balls.
Website: www.juggleroth.com

Short Bio:
After 9 years of watching hundreds of my father Yuval, and his partner Tal Ginat, shows, I eventually learnt to juggle.
Through the next 2 years I trained with my brother Shay almost nonstop.
Then I got a bit tired of it and forgot about it till I was 16.
When Vova and Olga Galchenko came to the 10th IJC they stayed one week after in my house and it really got me (and my brother and cousin (Avner)) back to juggling.
After that it was mostly Avner that continued juggling and practicing with me. We started making videos and perform together in a local circus.
2 years later it was Avner’s turn to quit again and going full power with his basketball career.
Since then I attended and performed in juggling conventions (mostly IJC’s and EJC’s) and making videos of me and my friends.
Defining moment in my juggling history: Going to the 2004 EJC. After a couple of short IJC’s it was my first EJC and everything there just shocked me.

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Favorite Cereal: Shugi
3 things you didn’t know about me:
1. I broke my right hand 5 times in 10 years.
2. I made a world record (unofficial) in Bejeweled 2.0 Deluxe.
3. I taught Bar Mualem how to do club passing.

If I weren’t a juggler, I would be: A snail, or something with computers…
Time it took me to learn 5 balls: 4 months
Is juggling sport or art? Both!
If I were a juggling equipment, I would be: A beanbag…
Jugglers in my family: Everyone except my mother…
Juggling equipment that has not been invented yet: Triple poi
Famous juggler i’d love to pass with: Anthony Gatto
after the invention of a time machine – what advice would you give to your younger self?
Knowing diabolo may be useful, but also bad for your right wrist.

Name: Matthias Romir
Country: Germany
Age: 29
Favorite prop: Clubs/Balls
Started Juggling: 1992
Currently working on: many different things. It was always hard for me to focus on something specific. Recently I´ve been juggling more balls than clubs.
Website: www.ballmaschine.de

Short Bio:
I was born in 1980 in Nuremberg, Germany. When I was around 8, my mom bought my brother a unicycle, so he would strengthen his back. So this was my first contact to circus skills. A few years later, my mom attended a juggling course and brought home all the balls and clubs. In 1992 we went to see the gala show of a juggling convention with my family and that was when said I want to be on stage. So my first solo performance was around 1993. It was a 2min 3 ball juggling peace and I performed in school in front of 1000 people. I had around 10 drops in 2 minutes, but I didn´t give up.
In 1996 I went to live and go to school in Bolivia for a year. My first big solo travel experience. It was a great year.
After school during my civil service I decided to become a teacher for handicapped people and went to university for more than six years. I studied in Germany and Hungary and it was cool, but somehow juggling became more and more important to me, so I finished my studies and became a professional juggler. That was in 2007. Since that I travel around, presenting my shows.
Defining moment in my juggling history: I presented my act Pinball Paranoia for the first time in 2007 on the open stage of a Juggling Festival in Poland. Beforehand I really couldn´t imagine, if people would like it or not. People´s reactions made me cry.

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Favorite Cereal: Nougat Bits
3 things you didn’t know about me:
- I play the pan flute.
- I started unicycling before juggling.
- I can whistle two tones in the same time. But it sounds horrible.
If I weren’t a juggler, I would be: probably a teacher
Time it took me to learn 5 balls: I don´t remember. Usually this kind of stuff takes me a lot of time.
Is juggling sport or art? For me it is art. That doesn´t necessarily mean, that I don´t like sport juggling.
If I were a juggling equipment, I would be: a paranoid pinball
Jugglers in my family: my mom juggles a little bit.
Juggling equipment that has not been invented yet: fire kendama
Famous juggler i’d love to pass with: I´m not a big passer.
after the invention of a time machine – what advice would you give to your younger self?
don´t listen to your older self. He ain´t any better.

Name: Mathieu Moustache
Country: France
Age: 29
Favorite prop: Body
Started Juggling: 1997
Currently working on: Strange things with strange objects
Website: www.mathieumoustache.fr

Short Bio:
In order of appearance : milk, fruits, school, piano, circus, love, cheese, love, shows, computers, shows, love
Defining moment in my juggling history: Learning “3 balls eyes closed” in WC.

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Favorite Cereal: Spelt
3 things you didnt know about me:
the color of my mind, the shape of my life, the texture of my smile
If I werent a juggler, I would be: A trout
Time it took me to learn 5 balls: 730 days
Is juggling sport or art? Juggling is a spart
If I were a juggling equipment, I would be: An eggplant
Jugglers in my family: Cousins
Juggling equipment that has not been invented yet: The plartquirzee
Famous juggler i’d love to pass with: God.
after the invention of a time machine – what advice would you give to your younger self?
Cut your hair.

Name: Bill Berry
Country: USA
Age: 33
Favorite prop: Beanbags
Started Juggling: 6th grade
Currently working on: Mostly maintaining rather than expanding right now.
Website: http://www.rootberry.com

Short Bio:
When he is not juggling Bill enjoys surfing, mountain biking, chess, brain teasers, and people watching.
Defining moment in my juggling history: 2003 IJA

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Favorite Cereal: Rootberry Burst Cheerios.
3 things you didnt know about me:
1. I’m not a fan of math.
2. I I have a cat even though I’m allergic.
3. If I had three wishes only one of them would be selfish.
If I werent a juggler, I would be: Something X-Games, Chess player, Surfer, Book Reviewer, Constructions Worker, Fireman, Doctor, Forensic Scientist, Physicist, Stand-Up Comedian, Underworld Boss, Politician, or Flea Circus operator. Any of those would be interesting and/or fulfilling to me…
Time it took me to learn 5 balls: 2 weeks = 14 catches
Is juggling sport or art? Both, everyone thinks differently but neither is wrong… To me juggling is entertaining… I enjoy doing it and I try to make it interesting for others to watch…
If I were a juggling equipment, I would be: Jugglers Prop Shop, Peacock colored Blue Lame’, Sean McKinney loose packed, 3″ beanbag. Then I’d be perfect…
Jugglers in my family: My brothers Frank & Rick.
Juggling equipment that has not been invented yet: How could I know that?? Ok, how about the reinvention of the Jugglers Prop Shop, Peacock colored Blue Lame’, Sean McKinney loose packed, 3″ beanbag…
Famous juggler i’d love to pass with: There’s a famous juggler? I enjoy passing with everyone, except for that kid who always has orange Cheeto all over his fingers… If he washed his hands, I’d pass with him too though.
after the invention of a time machine – what advice would you give to your younger self?
Write more and practice less…

Name: Morgan Cosquer
Country: France
Age: 32
Favorite prop: balls
Started Juggling: at the age of 20
Currently working on: synchronized stupid tricks with two balls.
Website: www.morganetcie.fr

Short Bio:
I was born in 1977 in Paris but my parents had the good idea to move to Brittany. Ah the sea side and the girls… it was for one of them that I touched juggling balls for the first time. We stayed together for two months, then she took her balls and left. A year later I found a book about juggling tricks which made me run and get the necessary equipment, and my life really took a turn. I stopped my studies, found soul mates and soon thereafter organised a juggling convention in Brest.

With time I got more and more interested in the stage and I spent a year at the theatre conservatory in Brest before I passed the qualification to the Lido circus school in Toulouse. I was 24 at the time! Two years of formation in circus acrobatics and the consequential injuries, juggling and other clowneries before I was released to the wide world. Luckily I was not alone, we were five of the same year, and our company Sacékripa was born! It was the start of a beautiful adventure – and I was 26…
We took planes, boats and lorries, we had accidents but we continued to perform. First we played the streets with “Tourne Autour”, then the theaters with “Who Goes On?” (prize « Jeunes Talents Cirque » 2004).

At the age of 28 I dusted my old chair, sat down on it and resumed the work on my solo and with my feet and hands and balls. And in January 2008, an old dream of mine came true: I had the opportunity to perform at the festival mondial du cirque de demain. All went very well, and even better than that because I won the silver medal, le prix Arte and 5 other prizes! What a bliss!
In February 2009, the members of Sacékripa created a new circus show for the stage called “Coulisses” and hopefully the clowneries are to be continued – I have reached the age of 32..
Defining moment in my juggling history: there once was this girl with two blue eyes… and three balls…

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Favorite Cereal: buckwheat, the basic cereal of the « galette » speciality of Brittany
3 things you didnt know about me:
1. I did a lot of club swinging when I started to juggle.
2. i have never managed to get through my act without dropping a ball in rehearsal, but i succeeded once in a live performance.
3. I am nervous before every show. Sometimes I am so nervous that I even wonder why I do this job.
If I werent a juggler, I would be: I’d be an archaeologist , or a writer, or a history teacher
Time it took me to learn 5 balls: I don’t remember exactly, maybe 5 or 6 months to juggle for 30 seconds. In the beginning I was juggling 5 balls only in multiplexes, I didn’t know it was possible to do a cascade. At that time internet wasn’t so developed yet, and it took me a few months to meet jugglers, and even longer to meet jugglers who were able to juggle 5 objects.
Is juggling sport or art? i consider it art most of the time, but sometimes it feels like sports, and it is real bliss when it happens: I don’t think of anything it’s mere physical exercise and I’m nicely exhausted at the end of my session.
If I were a juggling equipment, I would be: I’d be a silicone ball.
Jugglers in my family: Nobody.
I taught my brother and he was able to do a few tricks with 3 balls, that’s it, he never got the fever.
Juggling equipment that has not been invented yet: hot steamy plugged-in pressing irons…
Famous juggler i’d love to pass with: Bobby May, Francis Brunn…
Wes Peden, Jérôme Thomas, Sander de Cuyper, Eric Longequel, Matthias Romir, Maksim Komaro…
After the invention of a time machine – what advice would you give to your younger self?
to really believe that anything is possible in juggling.

Name: Luke Burrage
Country: British, but live in Germany
Age: 29
Favorite prop: Clubs, due to passing and combat and backcrosses. But rings, due to how cool they are. But I have more ball juggling in my show than anything else.
Started Juggling: At the age of 11
Currently working on: A routine made up of squeeze catches with clubs.
Website: http://www.lukeburrage.com

Short Bio:
I’ve been juggling for 18 years, seriously for 13 years, quit my last “real” job six years ago, and have been making my living from juggling ever since.
Defining moment in my juggling history:Performing my 3 ball and video routine for the first time, and getting such a good reaction that I thought “Hmmm, maybe I could do this for a living.”

Spoiler! »

Favorite Cereal: Crunchy Nut Cornflake. Of course.
2 things you didnt know about me:
1. I have an identical twin brother.
2. I write science fiction novels, one of which you can download for free from my website.
If I werent a juggler, I would be: a movie director.
Time it took me to learn 5 balls: It depends on how you define “learn”, but I guess I started working on it in 1996 or 1997, and I beat Ben Beever at 5 ball endurance in the games at a convention in 2002.
Is juggling sport or art? It depends on the venue and the attitude of those taking part. I play a lot of combat, and that is 100% sport. As is Volleyclub. There is no subjective judging, nor does the aesthetics of the juggling count in any way towards winning or losing. At the other end I perform on stage all the time, and I always consider myself an artist. I did a whole 45 minute podcast on the issue, so it feels a bit strange summing up my thoughts in a single bullet point.
If I were a juggling equipment, I would be: One of Gatto’s props, so I wouldn’t be dropped very much.
Jugglers in my family: my twin brother can juggle, and makes it to various juggling conventions in the UK.
Juggling equipment that has not been invented yet: I’m working on it.
Famous juggler i’d love to pass with: For me a passing relationship is not merely a passing relationship. It has to develop over time, as you find the strengths and weaknesses of your partner, and become comfortable together. If I had the option of passing once with a great juggler, or pass every week with a beginner, but know we can improve together, I’d rather have the long term partnership. That said, Get The Shoe is my favorite passing act, so I’d love to pass with those guys. Thankfully I live in the same city, and have passed with Jochen and Florian quite a few times over the years. For some reason I’m as good at 10 clubs with Jochen as I am with 9 clubs with anyone else, and as good at 5 club takeouts with Florian on the first attempt than I am with Pola, with whom I’ve performed the same tricks for years.
after the invention of a time machine – what advice would you give to your younger self?
No advice, because finding your own way with juggling is one of the most exciting things. There are no rules. There is no set path. However, if you want to become a professional performer, you MUST perform as much as possible, at every opportunity. I did this, but it was more because I liked performing, rather than thinking it could be my career, but now I look back I see that everything I’ve done as a professional comes from that basis of trying stuff out on stage all the time.

Name: Matthew Christian Hall
Country: U.S.A.
Age: 40
Favorite prop: Balls
Started Juggling: 11 when I learned the cascade, and then quit until 27, which is when I really started.
Currently working on: 4 club Mills Mess, 3 club Mills Mess on half-spins with oh-shits (from Tony Pezzo), 3 club reverse backcrosses, and 5 club singles. I’m trying to get my clubs level up.
Website: scweb.esuhsd.org/programs/jugglesensei

Short Bio:
All my life I’ve been passionate about Asian scholarship, performing, and service to youth. So what did I do? I became a high school Japanese teacher! Perfect!
Defining moment in my juggling history: Buying Charlie Dancey’s Encyclopaedia of Ball Juggling when I was 27 and freaking out about how much you could actually do with 3 balls. I was hooked from that moment on.

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Favorite Cereal: Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs
3 things you didnt know about me:
1. I have a black belt in Aikidou.
2. I can’t balance anything on my chin.
3. In high school I wanted to be a politician.
If I werent a juggler, I would be: fatter and less connected with the global community.
Time it took me to learn 5 balls: About two months, if I remember correctly.
Is juggling sport or art? It is what it is–just juggle.
If I were a juggling equipment, I would be: a Kendama, for sure.
Jugglers in my family: My wife Lisa can do 6 balls, 4 clubs, and 2 diabolos. Cool, eh?
Juggling equipment that has not been invented yet: Clubs that you can really devil stick with…
Famous juggler i’d love to pass with: The Passing Zone–I would love to be a part of their act one time.
after the invention of a time machine – what advice would you give to your younger self?
Start working on clubs immediately so that you don’t have a 5 year skill-gap between clubs and every other prop you do. Oh yeah, and don’t work so hard to convince Bill Berry to compete in IJA in 2003. =P

Name: Peter Åberg
Country: Swedish but now living in Finland
Age: 26
Favorite prop: Clubs
Started Juggling: When I was 16
Currently working on: 6 club stacks (3 club cascade but throw 2 each time)
Website: www.igiveyoume.com

Short Bio:
Grew up in the north of Sweden, basically in the forest. Dreaming about becoming a rockstar or a ninja. Playing in lots of bands and skateboarding. Started with a friend to juggle on the side. Realized it was super fun and started to practise up to 6-8 hours a day. After 2 years auditioned for the circus school in Stockholm and got in. And from there it started for real.
Defining moment in my juggling history: Got in to circus school and started to perform much more. Realized that a trick needs to be really solid in practise to be solid on stage…

Spoiler! »

Favorite Cereal: Don’t eat them but I’ll answer Cinemon toast crunch
3 things you didnt know about me:
1. I play the trumpet
2. I am sometimes really superstitious
3. In my hometown it can be -40 degrees in the winter
If I werent a juggler, I would be: Musician
Time it took me to learn 5 balls: from when I started work on it about a week.
Is juggling sport or art? It’s up to the one doing it.
If I were a juggling equipment, I would be: A ball, then I could roll around and just be fat!
Jugglers in my family: me
Juggling equipment that has not been invented yet: the kind that never drops.
Famous juggler i’d love to pass with: Francis Brunn, but it’s not possible anymore…
after the invention of a time machine – what advice would you give to your younger self?
I would ask him to start earlier!

Name: Jorden Moir
Country: Canada
Age: 22
Favorite prop: Footbag
Started Juggling: at the age of 14
Currently working on: 5 clubs
Website: www.zacadacircus.com (no personal site yet)

Short Bio:
I started footbag 1st year of high school in 2001.
Soon after came ball juggling, but not serious training.
2003-2007 saw my competitive footbag career, including participation in 4 World Footbag Championships (with a few top 3 finishes).
I began combining ball juggling with footbag in 2006 while at college. This is what interested me the most so I quit college after one year to pursue performing.
In 2007, I joined Zacada circus School, where I learned basic acrobatics, movement, and acting.
Here I created an original act for their show. It debuted at the RIT festival in April 2008.
Since 2008 I work on improving my act.
Defining moment in my juggling history: Cirque de Demain festival committee accepting my act for 2010!

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Favorite Cereal: Shreddies.
3 things you didnt know about me:
1. I’m left-handed.
2. I’m self taught.
3. I have a black belt in Taekwon-Do.
If I werent a juggler, I would be: Depressed! (hmm…probably a math teacher)
Time it took me to learn 5 balls: 2 years
Is juggling sport or art? Juggling by itself (standing; trying to do difficult standard tricks) is most like a sport.
Adding in elements like movement, different body positions, unique tricks/props, and personality it can become art.
The higher number/strength of new elements, combined with clever composition, the higher the artistic level (I think!).
If I were a juggling equipment, I would be: A ring, because you can see right through me! haha, jk.
Jugglers in my family: I taught my parents 3 ball cascade. That’s about it.
Juggling equipment that has not been invented yet: 3 ring-halves attached at 120 degree angles. Or combine a ball with a spinning top. That’d be an interesting juggling routine.
Famous juggler i’d love to pass with: I’d love to create a hands and feet passing routine with Peter Irish at some point!
after the invention of a time machine – what advice would you give to your younger self?
You are more capable than you think.
The tricks that seem impossible now can become easy with persistent training. Coordination, muscle memory, strength and reflexes all require time to develop. In some cases this will take years, regardless of how much you train per day. Just relax and know that you will get to the level you want eventually.

Name: Alvaro Palominas
Country: Chile
Age: 25
Favorite prop: Balls and rings
Started Juggling: when I was 12
Currently working on: 9 ball cascade and 7 balls over head.
Website: www.alvaropalominos.cl

Short Bio:
I’m a juggler of high numbers, I like tricks with 5, 6 and 7 balls, and records with 8, 9 and 10 balls. Now I’m playing rings too, I like the pancake throws, I did 7 throws with 7 rings some days ago.
Defining moment in my juggling history: Getting more skills and teaching to other jugglers. I’m working in a personal DVD with real theory of juggling.

Spoiler! »

Favorite Cereal: Quaker (muesli with fruits)
3 things you didnt know about me:
1. I have a girlfriend since 10 years :O
2. I learned alone, I was working in my 7 tennis balls when I met other jugglers!
3. I can solve the rubik cube in 30 sec and run 10kms in 45 minutes
If I werent a juggler, I would be: nothing.
Time it took me to learn 5 balls: I learned 3 in 1997, and 4 balls in 1998. I stop to juggle some years and in 2001 I saw Bruce Tiemman in internet with 8, 9, 10 and 11 balls! then I did 5, 6, 7 and a flash with 8 balls that year!, 9 and 10 balls in 2002 and 11 balls in 2003
Is juggling sport or art? Juggling for me is both, but is boring if is only sport or art.
If I were a juggling equipment, I would be: Mmm a rolling ball, because I like to play with many friends
Jugglers in my family: My father can do 3 balls!
Juggling equipment that has not been invented yet: Pyramid cigar box lol
Famous juggler i’d love to pass with: I want to do passing with Sergei Ignatov and Anthony Gatto.
after the invention of a time machine – what advice would you give to your younger self? Boy, It’s a hard road but don’t exist limits. You will have to practice a lot and use your mind too. Enjoy all the process