Jugglingworld News No.6 -
Have you Tried these Circus Skills Props?
April 2007
Welcome to my latest newsletter and
hello to all the latest signups! I hope that the
main article gives you some ideas for new props
to try out, and that you all enjoy a great EASTER
time! Next newsletter will most likely be after
the busy summer season!
MAIN ARTICLE - Have you Tried these Circus Skills
Props?
I have used these props listed below
in my Circus Skills workshops over the years (and
performed with some of them also), but some of these
props aren't widely known about, so please have
a read below, and find out more!
Beach
Flingo
This is basically a bib that you put round your
neck. There are 2 yellow fingerholes to enable
you to pull the fabric tight, and this tightness
creates a trampoline like effect for a ball
to bounce off! Each set of flingo comes with
2 bibs and one ball. I use this in workshops
when all the participants have a bib and we
have one massive game of keepy uppys! Beach
Flingo Tricks Page.
Chista
This
game was invented by Jean-Charles Hery and won
the gold medal in France's Concours Lepine inventors
competition. The Chista racket lets you cushion
and stop the chista ball (a mini tennis ball)
and then send it flying through the air once
again by lobbing/throwing it out of the top
of the racket. You could throw the ball against
a wall or to another player. Lots of possibilities!
It takes only a few minutes to master this game,
and all you need is a bit of space to play!
If you are used to handling a racket of any
type, they you will be at an even greater advantage,
and if you have enough rackets and a net, then
you could even play a volleyball type version
of Chista! Chista
Tricks Page
Flashcups
(also known as Speed Stacking Cups)
This
sport has been in existence for over 20 years
and has now became the fastest growing sport
in America! It is now also played in thousands
of schools across the UK. This product is so
simple that a young child can do it, yet so
contagious that people of all ages are hooked!
You can play on an individual or team basis.
The aim is to stack and unstack 12 specially
designed plastic cups (race cups) in predetermined
sequences. Can you break the world record which
currently stands at 2.47 seconds for stacking
and unstacking 12 cups?! The set includes 12
plastic cups, race mat, electronic timer, carry
bag and full instructions. I use this product
in my Circus Skills Workshops and it is every
bit as addictive as diabolo, devilstick and
all the other props, so go on, give it a try!
Gyro
Ring (aka Jitter Ring or Chatter Ring)
A
metal ring with 5 small discs attached loosely.
Just hold the metal ring and strike the smaller
coloured discs. As you rotate the ring, the
discs begin spinning faster and faster, like
mini gyroscopes! At first, the challenge is
to keep all the discs spinning. Once you can
do this, there are several tricks and stunts
to master! Gyro
Ring Tricks Page
Astrojax
This
is what you get when you cross a yoyo with juggling
balls! Astrojax is simply 3 weighted balls attached
by a piece of string with the middle ball freely
moving. The first few tricks are incredibly
easy to learn, which is what makes it a good
prop to teach others. The only reason why I
do not currently use this item in my workshops
is that it tangles easily unless you teach people
to put the Astrojax back in its docking station
(supplied with each astrojax)! Astrojax
Tricks page
Shaker
Cups
These
are also called nesting cups, as they are cups
that are designed in such a way so as you can
catch (nest) one inside the other. They are
designed in such a way as not to stick or wedge
themselves together when caught, so that the
inside cup is ready for release again. This
is possibly the noisiest prop in a jugglers
bag, as these shaker cups tend to be made from
metal and make a huge noise when they clatter
together or fall on the floor (which of course
is part of the fun of this prop!) Shaker
Cups Tricks page
All of the above props (and many others)
are available to purchase on the Misc
page of my Juggling Store(UK only).
You can click on the Juggling Misc Drop down links
below:
I would suggest of course that if
you were to add these items to your workshops, that
you are able to do at least a few tricks with the
item so that you can demonstrate to your participants.
Beach Flingo and Flashcups are two of the most favourite
props I use in all my workshops!
Scottish Juggling Convention 2007
reviews and photos section link is below. Good to
catch up with some of you! Scottish
Juggling Convention.
Due to other commitments, I won't
be at the British Juggling Convention in Nottingham
next week, or at the European Juggling Convention
in Greece this summer, but I hope to meet more of
you sometime so keep in touch!
Juggling Store News
The Novelty
Items section of this store has been revamped
and products are now much easier to find! I have
also added many more new products that are well
worth a look.
3 new ball products (babache skwoshball, babache
silicone skwoshball, henrys superior ball) BALL
PRODUCTS
3 new club products (henrys delphin, henrys pirouette
trainer, henrys albatross euro) CLUB
PRODUCTS
Glow Rings, Supersoky (glow poi) and Propellor
Poi (wind powered glow poi!) GLOW
PRODUCTS
Huge range of Lunastix Devilsticks and Instructional
DVD now available. LUNASTIX
PRODUCTS
Retro Space Hopper coming soon!
Juggling Songs
I am trying to gather a list of songs which
contain lyrics which could describe juggling
moves! For example, Kylie's song called "Spinning
Around" has some lyrics which would fit
well with poi spinning, and A Tribe Called
Quest's song called "Can I Kick It?"
fits in well with some body bounce tricks
while ball juggling.
The lyric doesn't have to be in the song
title, as long as the words match whatever
juggling move you can think of! If you can
work out any other songs, then please get
in touch as I would appreciate any further
help!
Juggling News
I look forward to seeing many of you
at various festivals and Gala Days over the Easter
and Summer periods. I am enjoying an increased amount
of schools work this year so far. Thanks to those
who have hired me, and for those who may be interested,
you can check out my performances
section.
More Online Games!
In my second
newsletter, I published a list of all the
online juggling games I could find. I found
a couple more which I published in my 5th
newsletter, and now there is another one
for you to enjoy!
then please forward it to other
people or send them to my mailing list page
and encourage them to sign up! Many thanks!
Have a Happy Easter and Summer
break!
God bless
Steve Thomson
Professional Juggler and Retailer
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