Pirouettes
We're getting into sequinned waistcoat territory now - this is a real performer's trick because it is very visual and the audience can understand exactly what the juggler is doing and appreciate that it is difficult.
Pirouettes can be done with one, two or all three clubs in the air, and you can turn through 180° or 360° (half- or full-pirouettes). Really the only way to get good at pirouettes is to do lots of them. When I first tried them, even with no juggling involved, it was an awkward movement - I got dizzy and never spun round far enough, it did get better though. The following hints helped me, so I'll pass them on:
- Don't turn until you have thrown all the objects, it is very tempting to start the pirouette as you throw the last club, but the time you save isn't worth the inaccurate throw that usually results.
- Make your head the last part of your body to start turning and the first to stop, if your head is moving it's a lot harder to spot the clubs coming down, or to make good catches. Keep looking to the front as long as you can, and when you absolutely have to turn your head move it the whole way round in one big blur, so you are looking forwards again, and then wait for your body to catch up.
- Focus on the first club that you throw, it will also be the first one you have to catch, so try to spot it as you come round.
Pirouetting with one club in the air is simple enough, just do a high throw to the opposite hand and turn. With two clubs in the air however, the trick looks a bit lop-sided if the throws cross over, a better effect can be achieved by throwing the clubs straight up in columns at the same time so that they go up and down in tandem. Three clubs are usually flashed in cascade throws so they cross over, or in three separate columns.
For extra points try:
- A series of consecutive pirouettes, each time you finish one, flash the clubs straight back up again.
- A three club start immediately followed by a pirouette, with a second pirouette after the first two clubs are caught.