Plate spinning
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Plate spinning is a circus manipulation art where a person spins plates, bowls and other flat objects on poles, without them falling over. Plate spinning relies on the gyroscopic effect, like it also applies for a spinning top. This makes balancing easier.
Most professional plate spinning plates are gimmicked, having an indentation in the center to help keep the plates on the poles.
The Sabre Dance is often played in the background. This was a popular act on The Ed Sullivan Show and other variety and talent shows. In an episode of the Simpsons, at the Springfield Retirement Castle talent show one participant, Abe Simpson, does a similar act, but uses the dentures of several of housemates. Plate spinning was often seen in HBO's prison drama OZ, where an unnamed prisoner would often be seen spinning a book on the tip of a pen.
[edit] Plate Spinning Skills
In alphabetical order:
- Australian catch
- Balance Spinning Plate on your Finger/Hand/Chin/Foot
- Behind the back toss
- Bunch of Flowers (4 or more spinning plates in one hand)
- Hand Spin start
- Hand Spin speed-up
- Juggle 3 Spinning Plates (cascade)
- Over shoulder throws
- Reverse over shoulder throws
- Spin a Single Plate Spinning while doing basic acrobatics
- Stick Spin Start
- Stick Spin-up
- Table Act (keeping a table full of plates spinning)
- Throw/catch to and from a partner simultaneously
- Throw from stick to finger then back onto stick.
- Throw One on top of the other while spinning
- Throw up, full pirouette and catch
- Toss and catch a spinning plate
- Transfer spinning plate to another object
- Two plate stick spin start (one in each hand)
- Two Plate Spin-up (one in each hand)
- Under the leg toss
