A to Z Glossary of Circus Competencies and Juggling Equipment Prop Definitions

This glossary has simple descriptions of props you are probable to find if you go to a Juggling / Circus Techniques Workshop. “Juggling” in a standard feeling can refer to all kinds of item manipulation these kinds of as diabolo, devilsticks, spinning plates and many others, so it is more than just the art of throwing numerous objects in the air at the same time!

Astrojax – A toy that includes 3 balls on a string. One ball is mounted to every single stop of the string and the middle ball is totally free to slide in between the two end balls. This talent toy lets you to do a mix of juggling, yo-yo and lasso tricks. It was invented in 1987.

Bar Aptitude – The practice of bartenders entertaining their guests even though mixing drinks (these types of as cocktails) applying bottles, cocktail shakers and so forth. “Flair” can contain juggling and flipping the bottles, catching in the shaker cups and many others. This skill grew to become common when viewed on the 1988 film “Cocktail” starring Tom Cruise and on Britain’s Received Talent where the Bar Wizards designed it all the way to the Grand Ultimate in 2007.

Beach Flingo – A activity wherever you move a smaller ball between by yourself and a companion utilizing a bib that is produced of trampoline style fabric. Incredibly addictive and you can use these bibs to play volleyball or for a significant group activity of keepy-uppy’s!

Bounce (Ground) Juggling – The artwork of bouncing balls off the flooring in numerous juggling designs.

Cigar Box Manipulation – A few rectangular formed containers which resemble cigar bins but are a lot additional strong. They are ordinarily padded at the edges with a felt-like materials. The standard methods contain holding the two outer bins, trapping a single box in the center (identified as the “residence posture”) and then manipulating the center box in various directions. W. C. Fields popularised this prop, and it received reputation in the Uk when Kris Kremo carried out expertly with them on TV’s The Technology Sport Christmas Unique in 1993.

Club (Juggling) – A person of the main juggling props. It consists of a deal with and a overall body. You toss from the cope with so that the club completes a single or additional spins before you capture by the manage after once more. Referred to as “pins” and “skittles” by our American buddies or “torches” if they are set alight!

Club Rolling – When you roll a club on the flooring, it will roll in a excellent circle. This will allow a lot of fantastic and fascinating styles to be established with 3 or 6 clubs.

Club Swinging – The swinging of two golf equipment all over the body, arms and legs. This is a type of Speak to Juggling as the props continue to be in make contact with with the performer at all times.

Get hold of Juggling – a type of item manipulation wherever one particular or more objects remain in get in touch with with the entire body (arms, toes etc) at all situations. The most common variety of make contact with juggling is applying a ball (ordinarily an acrylic or phase ball). This was created well-liked in the movie Labyrinth. Other props you can call juggle with contain Poi Spinning, Club Swinging & Pen Spinning.

Diabolo – A significant hourglass shaped object which can be spun and caught on a string amongst two handsticks. The name is derived from a Greek verb indicating “‘to toss across”. Several diabolo’s can be spun on a string, and the opportunities for this prop hold on increasing each individual yr with new people pushing the boundaries!

Devilstick (also acknowledged as satan adhere, rhythm sticks, lunastix and so on) – This is composed of 2 handsticks (coated in rubber/silicone) and a larger sized adhere in the center which is manipulated in hundreds of unique approaches. Flowersticks have tassles on the conclusion which make it possible for it to go a little bit slower in the air (earning tricks a lot easier to discover).

Feather Balancing – A person of the most straightforward objects to stability as they go so bit by bit in the air. Peacock and Ostrich feathers are perfect. Try out balancing on your hand, finger, chin, nose and many others.

Fire Juggler/Juggling – Lots of of the Circus Techniques props featured in this glossary have variations with wicks you can soak in fuel (this sort of as paraffin) and gentle on fireplace. The major hearth props consist of Fireplace Poi, Fireplace Personnel, Hearth Devilstick, Hearth Diabolo, Fireplace Golf equipment and even Hearth Balls (you might need to have kevlar gloves to be equipped to juggle these!)

Giraffe – Tall unicycle (commonly among 5-6ft) in which the pedals & wheel are connected by a chain. It can actually be much easier to journey than a typical sized Unicycle as long as you usually are not frightened of heights!

Glow Juggler/Juggling – Quite a few of the Circus Capabilities props showcased in this glossary have versions which you can gentle up. The more highly-priced glow props will even allow you programme mild sequences! Most frequent glow props include Glow Poi, Glow Balls, Glow Diabolo, Glow Devilstick, Glow Rings, Glow Clubs & Glow Staff.

Hat Manipulation/Juggling – Throwing and catching one particular or a lot more hats using palms, feet, physique and head. Tricks normally finish with the hat currently being thrown or placed back again on the performers head.

Jitter-Ring / Gyro Ring – The Jitter ring is really just 5 tiny tops of somewhat uncommon style and design which are strung on to a steel ring so that they can freely spin. The discs can spin up to 1000 rpm! Makes a really pleasing rattling spinning sounds.

Kendama – Standard Japanese toy which consists of a ball on a string, a spike and various different sized cups. It bears some resemblance to the basic cup and ball recreation but is substantially a lot more difficult!

Parasol – The rolling of an item these as a ball, coin, juggling ring or box on an Oriental parasol (which seems like a quite fragile umbrella).

Pedal Racers / Exciting Wheels – Pleasurable toys with wheels that are excellent for mastering harmony.

Pen Spinning – If you have at any time been bored at do the job/college & started out turning a pen (or pencil) in between your fingers, then you have been pen spinning! Plenty of skilful tips can be figured out. This is a type of make contact with juggling, as the object stays in speak to with your system at all occasions.

Plate Manipulation – the manipulation of plates all all around the system with fingers, arms, ft and physique.

Plate Spinning – The artwork of spinning a plate (or bowl) on a stick (or pole).

Poi Spinning – Poi is a weighted object (this kind of as a ball or beanbag) suspended from a rope or chain. You keep the other stop of the rope/chain and can swing the poi in many unique directions. This originates from the Maori folks of New Zealand in which “poi” simply indicates ball.

Rings (Juggling) – Flat circles of Plastic with a gap in the center. A common item to juggle with and is regarded less complicated than club juggling when it comes to understanding with a lot more than 3 as the rings are so skinny that they are significantly less very likely to collide with each other and they are a lot easier to stack/keep in your palms.

Rola Bola (aka Stability Board, teeter board, bongo board, rolla-bolla etc) – This is made up of a spherical tube (this kind of as a PVC pipe) and a board that is powerful adequate to maintain your fat when put on prime of the tube for you to harmony on. It is like a a single person see-noticed! Once you grasp the essentials, then you can master to juggle on top rated of the rola-bola to include a bit of hazard and pleasure to your general performance!

Scarves (Juggling) – A square of fabric (these as chiffon). This can be the perfect way for a little one/beginner to understand the fundamental methods if they are acquiring complications discovering employing juggling balls. This is since the scarves float gently in the air, and you have additional time to put your fingers in the correct put to capture them (and you can capture any component of the scarf)! Basic tricks include things like blowing the scarf back up in the air, permitting the scarf land carefully about your head!

Shaker Cups – Shaker cups are also referred to as nesting cups, as they are cups that are built in these types of a way so as you can catch (nest) them inside of each and every other. They are made in these a way as not to stick or wedge on their own alongside one another when caught, so the inside cup is prepared for launch all over again. This is possibly the noisiest prop in a jugglers effectiveness bag, as they are designed from steel and make a large noise when they clatter with each other!

Speedcups (aka Flashcups) – 12 brightly coloured cups which can be stacked in a range of distinctive styles and sequences. There are Sport Stacking competitions the place people today compete against the clock or a different particular person. The styles are generally with pyramids of 3, 6 or 10 cups.

Toothbrush Twirling – Applying a rubber/silicone devilstick handstick, you can dangle the toothbrush from the stick and twirl it spherical. You can use numerous toothbrushes on one adhere and have a adhere in each and every hand. A wonderful & particularly foolish action that is a great warm-up at the starting of a Circus Competencies workshop. A toothbrush with an angled head is greatest! Toothbrush can also be spun on the finger, but it is most effective to wet your finger and the toothbrush to start with to give it a little bit additional grip!

Unicycle – Seems like a bicycle but with only a person wheel and no handlebars! Most probable heckle if you are riding a unicycle will be “where’s the other wheel”. You can often reply “it really is on again purchase” unless you are two tyred of this sort of puns!

Walking/Balancing Ladder – An excess extensive ladder which you can harmony on, and then master to stroll together the floor going the toes of the ladder (one stage at a time)! You can also equilibrium on the major rung (one leg at just about every aspect of the ladder) and start off juggling whilst going for walks together.

Walking World – Massive ball that a performer balances on best of. Several gymnastic and juggling stunts can be performed though the ball is retained relocating. You have to stroll backwards to roll the ball forwards!

Yo-yo – Pocket-dimensions toy that is composed of a size of string attached to a flat spool. The spool moves up and down the string allowing you to attempt several effectively regarded tips these kinds of as “walking the pet dog” and “cat’s cradle”. The yo-yo has been about since the time of the Historical Greeks.