Guide Note

The term juggling can be applied to any action in which dexterity is used to manipulate various objects, but is most often used in reference to "toss juggling." Toss juggling involves throwing a minimum of three items into the air and, in a cyclical pattern, repeatedly tossing and catching the objects so that they are virtually in constant motion.

Fast Facts

1. Earliest evidence of juggling is an Egyptian cave painting which dates to 1781 B.C.
2. Juggling was popularized by performers during the Middle Ages
3. Common circus act
4. Thrown objects are called "props"
5. Common props include rubber balls, beanbags, clubs and rings

Although juggling is usually a one-person activity, jugglers may perform in pairs or groups by passing various objects to each other while each also juggling individually. While using rubber balls or other elastic objects, some jugglers include bouncing the props as part of their juggling routine. Some more daring jugglers use potentially dangerous items such as lit torches, knives, swords or chainsaws as juggling props. Some jugglers include comedy in their acts or use costumes and specific props as part of a juggling theme.