By: Esteban Vélez. The women of the Ayala family have the “hair-hang” technique in their culture: hanging by the hair and performing acrobatic movements while suspended. The history of the hair-hang in the Ayala family dates back to around 1916 when Francisca Vásquez, a young Mexican circus artist, attended a performance by the Barnum & Bailey circus, which was touring …
The Diaz Sisters
By: Esteban Vélez. The Diaz Sisters had a great artistic career in America. They managed to perform in one of the most important circuses in Mexico and in several highly reputable circuses in the United States. The group was made up of 5 sisters, all born in Mexico: Sara, Graciela, Marina, Yamili and Judy Diaz. They performed together and performed …
Rogge Sisters
By Esteban Velez The Rogge Sisters created a balancing act that became a hit in Europe and the United States. They toured major circuses, theaters, and television shows beginning in the 1950s. The Rogge Sisters consisted of sisters Dora, Gerda, and Vera. All three were born in Germany. They came from a circus family. Their grandmother, Leopoldine Lange (1873-1956), was …
Valentin Dikul – Juggler, strongman and therapist
By Esteban Velez Valentin Dikul. Photo: Ruscircus.ru. Valentin Dikul’s life took a momentous turn after an accident unexpectedly opened up a path for him. Valentin Ivanovich Dikul was born on April 3, 1948, in Kaunas, Lithuania. He was orphaned at the age of 7. His father, Ivan Grigorievich Dikul (1920-1950) was a Ukrainian soldier who died in the line of …
An Interview with Kent
By Esteban Velez Kentaro Oi, known as Kent, is a Japanese juggler who specializes in hoops, specifically in the technique known as “Grinds”: spinning a ring around the inner edge of another ring. His Instagram videos, which reach thousands of views, have amazed the juggling community. Tell us about yourself. I am 20 years old and a college student. I …
Juggling in the Time of Kublai Khan
Editor’s Note: The following article mentions slavery and military conquest. It is presented for educational value without any political endorsement. By Esteban Velez. Kublai Khan (1215-1294) was a Mongol emperor and founder of the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368). He was the grandson of Genghis Khan. He is known as the Emperor of the Seas for his naval campaigns to conquer …
Brinn – the Battleship Juggler
By Esteban Velez The “strongman jugglers” of the 20th century fascinated the entertainment world with each of their performances. Their incredible displays of strength captivated audiences eager to discover the limits of human power. Today, this technique has declined in popularity. Karl Rappo is considered the first “power” juggler. He was followed by jugglers such as Paul Cinquevalli, Paul Conchas, …
The Tragic Robbery of Karl Rappo
By Esteban Velez Karl Rappo is considered one of the first modern jugglers (one of the first jugglers since Philip Astley created the modern circus around 1770). He was born Karl Von Rapp on May 14, 1800 in Innsbruck, Austria. He trained in gymnastics in his youth, which gave him great strength. His artistic career began when he joined …
Herr Troba – The Second Cinquevalli
By Esteban Velez Herr Troba was a German juggler and strongman who achieved many of the feats of Paul Cinquevalli. The European press of the time called him “the second Cinquevalli”. Not much is known about his life, except that in his childhood he practiced acrobatics, which helped him perform strength juggling acts. The following article, published in Leslie’s …