For fantastic historical reasons Tony Duncan is a legendary name in the world of ball contact. He has teamed up with Jennifer Slaw to create a slightly ambiguously named performance duo: Jentony.com.

Their promo video is here: video html page. It’s quite long, but there are some great moments that make it well worth watching. I found that my browser sits there for ages waiting to download this doing nothing, if you get the same problem, then this direct link to the video will help: Right click and save as: promoweb.mov

Jennifer Slaw seems groovy, and her website jenniferslaw.com says that she has degrees in art & engineering…That sounds very familiar.

Tony Duncan:

Great stuff,

Smiles,Drew

There were many highlights of EJC 2006 for me, I will write about those in future posts, this video shows one of the the on-stage highlights:Filmed at EJC 2006 in Ireland, thanks to Bruno* for this video

Los Repugneros video
A fun, skillful, dancing, juggling and flirting performance with an extra large portion of prince

I’m missing a couple of names (help anyone?): here are 4 of the 6: Audrey (FR), Matiasse (GR), Morgan (FR), Mintam (FR)

Enjoy, Drew.
(*Bruno was another highlight of EJC both on and off stage, it’s amazing to see how much is technique and his movement style with 1 ball contact has improved over the last 2 years. Inspirational.)

A student of dance, mime and manipulation at the Lido school in France, Jive is one of the artists featured on the In Isolation DVD. Patchwork is a collection of his material, featuring new manipulation with clubs, a stick, a broom and a book.

View the promo here

From Jive’s notes on juggling, translated by Babelfish:

The singularity of my juggling rests on a whole of components such as traditional juggling, atypical juggling, choreographic work and the work of actor. My research is based on the juggling of yesterday and today. …

The technique developed with these objects rises directly from the techniques of traditional jugglings, but, the singularity of the object itself brings to create new images and propels the juggler in various universes “the skilful diversion of the object to the service of a new poetic language…” …

My report/ratio with juggling is very graphic. The inspiration comes from Michael MOSCHEN, American juggler, who in the Eighties revolutionized juggling by his geometrical work around the fixed point and of the graphic insulation. This work is close to the illusion by some with dimensions. It gives a life specific to the object, personifies it. The whole of these research orientations is related to my own history of juggler and my universe of creator. In this creation, I want to propose a language located between the art of the juggler, the dancer and the MIME.

An excellent clip of dance and ball contact from Simon Chen. Classic contact integrated nicely with the music and movement.

Youtube Link.

The Italian Manipulators and jugglers have a great online community here: http://www.giocoleria.org/Forums,file-index.htm

With active discussion on all areas of manipulation, swinging, juggling and contact, all in one bullitin board.
With not just one, but FOUR different pages od threads with links to videos, a lot of videos of juggling and manipulation. I found a lot of groovy clips I’d never seen in the “italian style” videos section.

I think you’ll have to register on their forum to get the links to work.

Big hello to our Italian friends.
Drew

Playpoi.com is the site of Nick/Meenik. Who is, in our opinion, one of the best teachers of poi in the world. Years of Tai chi, influence his refined and controlled technique. Which can be seen on numerous videos on his site: “Nickwithfire” (an oldie but still a goodie) and “Dervish yers” to name 2 examples.
While you’re there, whether you’re into poi or not, you’ll love the photography Especially the glow photography.

This year, Playpoi completed their first instructional Poi DVD – “The Scales of Poi”. The Ministry are glad to say they played a small part in this production, with some recommendations made to improve a draft version. If you are at all interesting in poi swinging, at any ability the Playpoi DVD is an essential. While it’s not perfect, it is THE BEST poi teaching aid available today. We recommend it to all poi spinners of all abilities (Beginners my find it a little confusing at times, as it isn’t an elementary level video, but will still gain a great deal from it.)
If you are into any kind of manipulation of juggling, check out this section of the DVD availiable free online. Nick consulted a physio. to get professional advice on: Skill Toys and your Health.

And if you’re into poi, then a a new online tutorial secret of flowers. Posted this week is essential viewing.

Smiles

Drew

VIEW THE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

Rube Goldberg was a creator of ‘perpetual motion’ machines; collections of objects that create a domino like effect as each action gives the impulse for the next section of the machine.

I stumbled across this video of a lovely one by Jesse Ferguson created from natural objects.

For more machines, see this ,this or this one I made with my friend Mark Weston

from Grand Illusions

The ‘Hurricane Balls’ consist of two ball bearings welded together – no easy task! If you spin the Hurricane Balls on a smooth surface, you can use the plastic pipe to blow at one side of the Hurricane Balls. Not only does this keeps them spinning, you can accelerate them up to incredible speeds. Speeds of 12,000 rpm have been recorded for the Hurricane Balls using a laboratory strobe light.

download the video

this one’s a real treat. Many thanks to Colin for passing this along to the Ministry.

Admittedly, this isnt really manipulation. at least not with props. But it is illusion…

One of the most beautifully done popping/illusion style ensemble dance routines i’ve seen yet… this one is excecuted with such amazing precision and skill. The opening botting and puppet-styles are breathtaking… the 2nd part of the video loses a bit for me (im not a madonna fan)

The British Contact Juggling Convention 2003
chat/footage with Mr. Om, Pich, Andy Wilson, Daniel Kerr, Mr. Crystal and more…