Modern juggling culture

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Jay Gilligan and Jouni Temonen, each practicing 5 club backcrosses.

Since the late 1980s a large juggling sub-culture has developed, almost completely unknown and unrecognised by the general public. The scene revolves around local clubs and organisations, special events, shows, magazines, websites, Internet forums and, possibly most importantly, juggling conventions. In recent years there has also been a growing focus on juggling competitions.

Populating the scene are many "juggling celebrities". These people are notable (or notorious) for being good or creative jugglers, entertaining performers, convention organisers, experts in their field, having a strong presence online or just for having a curiously interesting personality, character or style. Of course, outside of the juggling world they are often completely unknown.

1 Local juggling clubs
2 Organizations
3 Magazines
4 Music
5 Events
- 5.1 Conventions/festivals
6 Competitions
7 Juggling and the Internet
8 Juggling "Celebrities"

[edit] Local juggling clubs

Most cities and large towns have juggling clubs where anyone is welcome to learn and share skills. Many universities and colleges have juggling or circus skills societies. There are also many community circus groups that usually aim to teach young people and put on shows. The Internet Juggling Database maintains a searchable database of most juggling clubs.

[edit] Organizations

The first organization that promotes juggling and helps jugglers was the International Jugglers' Association (IJA), based almost entirely in North America. The European Juggling Association facilitates the annual European Juggling Convention and promotes juggling in Europe. Various countries have national associations, including Italy, Spain and Switzerland. There is also the Christian Jugglers Association.

[edit] Magazines

Kaskade is the European juggling magazine, published in both English and German. Juggle is the official publication of the IJA and focuses on the North American scene. Juggling Magazine is published in Italy. Newton Las Pelotas is published in Argentina and Spain for the latin American readership.

[edit] Music

Acid Jazz is the main genera of music that jugglers will listen to at a Juggling convention. However other music such as Dance, Trance and Chillout are also appreciated.

[edit] Events

World Juggling Day - is the second or third Saturday in June. There are events organized world wide to teach people how to juggle, to promote juggling or for jugglers to get together, and celebrate.

[edit] Conventions/festivals

Manuel and Christoph Mitasch, world record holding club passers.

Main article: Juggling convention

Many countries, cities or juggling clubs hold their own annual juggling convention. These are the backbone of the juggling scene, the events that regularly bring jugglers from a wide area together to socialize. The attendance of a convention can be anything from a few dozen to a few thousand people.

The principle focus of most juggling conventions is the main hall - where everybody and anybody can share tricks, juggle to their heart's content and try out multi-person passing patterns. There will also be more formal "workshops" in which expert jugglers will work with small groups on specific skills and techniques. Most Juggling Conventions will also include a big show (open to the general public), competitions and juggling games. Many juggling conventions host some kind of Renegade Show, an open stage where anyone can, at short notice, get up and perform just about anything.

The Internet Juggling Database maintains a searchable database of all conventions in the past and future. See the main article (Juggling Conventions) for more information.