Juggling

1. Juggling A talk by Dave Thomas 23rd June 2007

2. What we will cover • Toss Juggling in General • What is Toss Juggling? • History • Explanation • Demonstration(s) • Balls • Clubs • Consternation(s) • Why juggle? • What Juggling Means to Me (and Why) • Breakfast!

3. Toss Juggling • is the form of juggling which is most recognisable as 'juggling‘ • is at once: a performance art, a sport, a form of exercise and meditation, a recreational pursuit, and often simply child's play • for some devoted jugglers, it may even verge on being a religious experience.

4. History of Juggling • An old art\skill • Egypt (1994 – 1781BC) • Also recorded in Chinese, Aztec, Indian, Polynesian and Greek civilisations • ‘Quiet’ in Europe after the fall of Rome • 1768 – Phillip Astley’s first modern circus included jugglers • Vaudeville to modern day • juggling common • even amongst commoners

5. Explanation • What juggling is (in my view) • A ‘cascade’ like this • And this • Or even a reverse cascade • What juggling isn’t (in my view) • A ‘shower’, like this • Or this • The difference between ‘tricks’ and ‘numbers’

6. Demonstration(s) and Consternation(s) • Demonstrations • Balls • Clubs • (Not on) Fire Sticks • Consternation(s)

7. What Juggling Means to Me • Allegory for learning • Looks much harder than it is • Meditative • ‘Autopilot’ demonstration • Leap of faith and trust • Partnership and teamwork • A very personal thing