Inspirations: Group Juggling

We thought it would be fun to share some of the acts that have inspired us along the way.

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Drogaleva and her Gentlemen

Based originally out of the Soviet Union with strong roots in group juggling, Elena and her troupe gained great recognition over the years. Almost 20 years later, she and her new troupe star on American stages in the Big Apple Circus’ Grandma goes to Hollywood.

Here is a recording of one of their performances from 2005. It is a spectacularly clean, refined, and well-choreographed juggling act. Look at how smooth and seemingly effortless those transitions are. Notice the elegance of their shifting formations and shapes. Imagine how wonderful it feels to be so in sync with the rhythm of yourself and with your partners.

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Gandini Juggling

Founded in 1992 by Sean Gandinni and Kati Yla-Hokkala and originally choreographed by British Gill Clarke, the Gandini Jugglers started as a troupe that sought to expand the possibilities of juggling. Over the last decade, they’ve performed at least 27 projects and are well-known for their contribution to contemporary circus. Although they originally represented what happens when juggling collides with post-modern dance, they’ve expanded their exploration to include various other dance styles.

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Here is the Bella Big Juggle from our show 2017 “Bay City Rhapsody” choreographed by local legend Judy Finelli.