When jugglers think of Soviet-era Russian jugglers, names like Alexander Kiss, Sergei Ignatov, Evgeni Biljauer, and Gregory Popovich most often come to mind. However, there was another incredible juggler who was similarly talented. His name was Eduard Abert. Born in 1937, he was the founder of the Five Aberts, a very well-known Soviet juggling troupe that also included his wife, son, and brother. He was the son of juggler Boris Abert and had joined his father’s juggling troupe at the age of 13. He later attended and graduated from the Moscow Circus School. He was the most revered Soviet juggler after Alexander Kiss and before Sergei Ignatov and Evgeni Biljauer debuted. Abert performed up to 10 rings, 5 clubs while heading a ball, 6 rings while heading a ball, 6 clubs, 5 club back crosses, and many other very high-level tricks. He was one of the biggest inspirations for Sergei Ignatov, who once wrote that “Abert didn’t work in the ring, he lived in it. He thought in juggling clubs and was their poet. He became a unity with them and each time he performed he was different. He could do it all: smile, move, stop and, of course, juggle like no one else.” Eduard Abert passed away in 1975.
Below you will find photos and videos that show Eduard Abert and the Abert Troupe performing. Be sure to watch the videos and see his incredible talent.
David Cain
David Cain is a professional juggler, juggling historian, and the owner of the world's only juggling museum, the Museum of Juggling History. He is a Guinness world record holder and 16 time IJA gold medalist. In addition to his juggling pursuits, David is a successful composer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and singer as well as the author of twenty-six books. He and his children live in Middletown, OH (USA).