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Table of Contents
Juggling is a skill where a person throws the ‘props’ or objects juggled through the air and catches them. Juggling can involve more than two props and can use different kinds, such as balls, clubs, rings, etc. Juggling also has two kinds: trick juggling, which involves an artful manipulation of the objects, and number juggling, which aims to juggle as many objects as possible.
See the fact file below for more information on Juggling, or you can download our 26-page Juggling worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
JUGGLING AS A CONCEPT
- Juggling is an artful skill that involves tossing of two or more objects in the air.
- The word juggling was derived from the Middle English jogelen which means “to perform and/or to entertain”. In its Old French translation, it jogler which means “to joke or jest”.
- Props is the term used to refer to the objects that the juggler throws through the air.
- Juggling can also be in different forms, but toss juggling is the most famous and most recognizable.
- Toss juggling is the most basic type of juggling, where the juggler throws the props through the air.
- There is also a common distinction when it comes to juggling: trick juggling and numbers juggling.
- Trick juggling is about aiming to perform skillful and spectacular manipulations of the props (objects being juggled.
- On the other hand, number juggling is a bit contrary to the first type of juggling as its goal is to have as many objects as possible.
HISTORY OF JUGGLING
- It was believed through the evidence gathered that juggling may have existed 4000 years ago. The practice of juggling can be traced back to different countries.
- The oldest traced historical account of juggling was found in the Beni-Hassan tombs from the middle kingdom of the ancient Egyptian civilization.
- In the murals at the 15th and 17th-century tombs, juggling women were depicted.
- These women jugglers were believed to be acrobats and dancers, as portrayed in one of the crypt’s wall paintings.
- However, after unearthing this evidence, there was a huge gap before other pieces of evidence were found.
- Another is in China, where there were references proving this activity’s existence between 771 and 476 BCE.
- The Chinese book of Lie Yi talks about Lan Zi juggling seven swords during the spring and autumn period.
- Another is from the story Tain Bo Challenge which describes the character Rabbi Shimon ben Gamaliel, “take eight flaming torches and throw them in the air, and catch one, and throw one, and they did not touch each other.”
- There was also evidence unearthed in Europe. In Greece, for instance, many jugglers, particularly women, can be seen in Greek art pieces such as pottery decorations, tomb reliefs, coins, and vases.
- Because of this evidence, it can be concluded that juggling activities occupied a significant space in their lives during this time.
- Roman writers also revealed that ancient monuments were adorned with men juggling five balls. Marcus Manilius even noted that there was an epitaph to Ursus, a legendary juggler.
- It was also believed that juggling was an acceptable diversion until the decline of the Roman Empire.
- The decline of the Roman Empire made juggling fall into disgrace, especially by the religious clerics.
- The jugglers, called gleemen, were frowned upon and considered as base morals and practicing witchcraft.
- Because of that, jugglers during this time were only given a chance to perform in marketplaces, streets, fairs, or drinking houses.
- Only when Philip Ashley opened his first modern circus in 1768 and eventually employed jugglers to perform acts along with horses and clowns, these jugglers were associated with circuses and began to earn respect.
OBJECTS USED IN JUGGLING
- The props in juggling are typically balls of different kinds such as acrylic, glass, rubber, etc. Among this kind of prop, the tennis ball is quite popular. Fruits and nuts were also believed to be used as props, evidenced by the Irish hero Cuchulain, “keeping nine apples, and his shield, and his sword in the air that none of them fell to the ground”.
- Apples were also juggled by L’incomparable Dupuis in the mid-1700s.
- Rings, clubs, and hats are also used as props.
- Even if knives and flaming torches seem dangerous, they are also used as juggling props, adding some more tricks in the movement of the objects or what is also called the juggling patterns.
OTHER FORMS OF JUGGLING
- The typical knowledge of juggling is throwing objects such as balls, clubs, and rings through the air in an entertaining manner.
- However, juggling also has other forms.
- The first one is plate spinning, considered an ancient type of juggling. This has been used in Chinese acrobatic performances for at least 2000 years since the Western Han Dynasty.
- In order to perform plate spinning, plates or bowls need to be balanced first on top of the sticks while they are spinning.
- Spinning more than one plate is difficult but has many engaging ways to perform.
- The next form is known as the diabolo, which uses a juggling prop that resembles an hourglass. This form of juggling was developed from the early Chinese yoyo.
- In order to perform this, the diabolo needs to be manipulated by two sticks connected to a string. This will be tossed in the air and can have more tricks and patterns.
- Another type is the devil sticks which also first appeared in China.
- In this form of juggling, the performer needs to use two smaller sticks in order to manipulate a larger baton. This mechanism also allows the juggler to play other tricks.
- Next is contact juggling, which does not involve tossing. This time, the objects, commonly crystal balls, stay in contact with the juggler, who moves the objects all across his body. This gives an illusion as if the objects are floating.
- There is also ball spinning which involves spinning the ball or balls through the performer’s finger as he manipulates them or plays other tricks.
- Another form is also hat juggling which involves the manipulation of hats.
- From the term itself, this form requires the juggler to manipulate hats by throwing them up in the air, spinning, balancing, and twisting them.
- The last form, fire dancing, is also considered juggling, although it offers other tricks while manipulating the props.
- Fire dancing involves fire while manipulating the props such as poi, batons, hoops, or fire fans.
OTHER INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT JUGGLING
- The Englishman John Bill Rickets performed the first juggling act in America’s first-ever circus. He rode on a horse while juggling.
- The greatest considered juggler is Enrico Rastelli. He was able to juggle ten balls at once. He was also the first juggler who juggled with large balls like leather footballs.
- Jugglers have a patron saint in the name of St. Julian the Hospitaller. It was believed that jugglers had prayed to him. St. Julian built a hospital after accidentally killing his parents through a pagan curse.
- Germans introduced the “gentleman juggler” style. This portrayed the jugglers in formal evening clothes while juggling dinner party items like plates, bottles, canes, and even chairs.
- Adolf Behrend (also known as Salerno), a German gentleman, built clubs with electric lights inside. These clubs changed colors as Behrend juggled them.
- It was believed that ancient warriors would juggle before their enemies before the battle.
- During the Battle of Hastings in 1066, Taillefer, a warrior-bard of William of Normandy, juggled before the enemy lines before he made his first kill.
- Charles Hoey was the first man who juggled four clubs.
Juggling Worksheets
This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Juggling across 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Juggling, a skill where a person tosses objects and then catches them in a repeating pattern.
Complete List of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Juggling Facts
- Juggling Crossword
- Juggling History
- Juggling Tutorial
- Juggling Truth Rings
- Juggling Literary Art
- In Relation to Juggling
- If I Were to Juggle
- The Things I Juggle
- Juggling Traits
Frequently Asked Questions
Who invented juggling?
For thousands of years, juggling has been celebrated as a captivating form of entertainment, with its origins attributed to Egypt circa 2000 B.C.
Who is the world’s best juggler?
Anthony Gatto astounded the world when he emerged as a professional juggler at only nine years of age. His skill earned him 10 Guinness World Records, including 15 minutes and 5 seconds with seven rings in 2011! To this day, Anthony continues to amaze his audience by setting more records through flawless juggling performances.
How many balls can a person juggle?
Even the most proficient jugglers can only handle seven or more balls simultaneously.
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Link will appear as Juggling Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, December 18, 2022
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.