Anthony Gatto
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- This article is about the juggler. For the composer, see Anthony Gatto (composer).
Anthony Gatto is an American juggler who holds several juggling world records and is widely renowned as one of the most skilled technical jugglers of all time. While many jugglers are quick to call Gatto the best juggler alive, and loudly praise his talent and technical ability, Gatto's juggling is often considered much more performance-driven than many of his contemporaries, a fact which has alienated him from some other jugglers, notably Jason Garfield and several members of the World Juggling Federation. Gatto, for example, rarely enters any formalized juggling competitions. Instead, he performs on stage as a member of the Cirque du Soleil. He noted in a public forum that, "It really wasn't until I was in my 20's that I made a decision to concentrate more on performing and less on juggling," a shift which he called, "the best decision I ever made for my career." [1]
Born in Manhattan in 1973, but growing up in Maryland, he was a child prodigy, and has been considered a world class juggler since the age of 9. [1] He made his first television appearance at the age of 8 on the program, That's Incredible! Gatto's early exposure to juggling, and much of his initial act, can be credited to his father, Nick Gatto--a longtime performer. [2] At an early age, Anthony performed with his father as a member of the juggling troupe Los Gattos [2].
On March 31, 2008, Gatto released the first Gattocast 3000--a video podcast devoted to his life on tour with Cirque du Soleil as a professional juggler. He is an active member and administrator of the Juggling Talk internet forum--which his commercial incarnation, Gatto Entertainment, sponsors.
Gatto is also the only juggler to have ever been awarded the highly prestigious Golden Clown of Monte Carlo.
Gatto is currently with the Cirque du Soleil, performing in the touring show "Kooza". In the performance, Gatto plays 2 characters in addition to performing his juggling act--a policeman and a delivery man.
According to commentary in a recent podcast, he has declined three invitations to appear on the television program America's Got Talent in recent years.
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[edit] Skills
He currently shares the record for most rings juggled and caught at least twice and holds the record for most clubs juggled. [3] In all these cases he holds the record for longest run: [4]
- Rings
- 7 rings for 15 minutes 5 seconds in 2006 at Friedrichsbau Variete.
- 8 rings for 1 minute 17 seconds in 1989.
- 9 rings for 235 catches in 2005.
- 10 rings for 47 catches in 2005.
- 11 rings for 17 catches in 2006.
- 12 rings for 12 catches in 1993 (tied).
- Clubs
- 6 clubs for 7 minutes 38 seconds in 2005.
- 7 clubs for 4 minutes 23 seconds in 2005.
- 8 clubs for 16 catches in 2006.
- Balls
- 7 balls for 10 minutes 12 seconds in 2005.
- 8 balls for 1 minute 13 seconds in 2006.
- 9 balls for 54 seconds in 2006.
Gatto also does some of the most difficult juggling tricks ever accomplished, such as the 7 club seven-up pirouette. He does not apparently have a strong preference for any particular juggling prop, combining clubs, balls and rings in his performances.
[edit] Personal best records
Although not officially recognized, these records were posted on www.anthonygatto.com.[citation needed]
- Balls
- 9 balls for 348 catches
- 10 balls for 20 catches
- Clubs
- 8 clubs for 21 catches
- Rings
- 9 rings for 272 catches
- 10 rings for 64 catches
- 11 rings for 22 catches
- 12 rings for 15 catches
[edit] External links
- AnthonyGatto.com, Anthony Gatto's commercial page
- [5] Some of Anthony Gatto's videos.
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[edit] References
- ^ Gatto, Anthony. "History of Gatto Ent?" 5 May 2008. Juggling Talk. <http://www.anthonygatto.forumco.com>.
- ^ Gatto, Anthony. "History of Gatto Ent?" 5 May 2008. Juggling Talk. <http://www.anthonygatto.forumco.com>.
