O Malabarista! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Rings

Annuli is a term most often seen in mathematics and is the plural of the Latin word, annulus (little ring). Mathematically, an annulus is a flat ring but there is of course no law restricting your juggling endeavours to two-dimensional rings! Most sane juggling involves safe objects such as balls, rings and fruit; for some however, there is no thrill in juggling tangerines.

Answer: Chainsaws

If juggling rings and nectarines doesn't provide enough of a thrill then objects such as chainsaws and torches can be used (strictly for professionals). Extreme juggling can be seen at the circus and on TV shows featuring attempts to break world records. It goes without saying but extreme juggling is absolutely not safe to try - don't do it kids!

Leatherface was the chainsaw enthusiast in 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' film franchise.

Answer: Gentleman Juggler

In order to keep people interested in the art of juggling, which is not an easy task in an era of so many competing forms of entertainment, themed performances are often put on for circus and variety show audiences. One such theme is that of the gentleman juggler, where aristocratic items, such as the elegant top hat and bottles of champagne, are repeatedly thrown into the air with sophistication. Videos of Gaston Palmer, gentleman juggler extraordinaire, are available on online streaming websites where he proudly shares with us his art form.

Answer: Passing

Juggling is not just a solo pursuit and some of the most impressive displays of hand-eye coordination involve groups of artists. The simplest version of team juggling is "passing" performed by two individuals stood a few feet apart and facing each other.

In an impressive show of timing, dexterity and coordination, a large number of items are tossed which creates a big loop between the two participants. As the number of participants increases, the more complex the pattern becomes.

Answer: Combat

It is human to want to compete and juggling has its own set of competitions for those who wish to prove how good they are. "Combat" is one of the most popular examples of competitive juggling and the basic variation is where two or more participants seek to keep three clubs in the air whilst trying to get their opponents to drop theirs. Players are eliminated if they drop one of their clubs, or if they have a club pilfered by a fellow juggler.

In "combat" the victor is the last player standing.

Answer: Joggling

If chessboxing is legitimate then why not joggling? Despite autocorrect trying to deny the existence of this hybrid activity, joggling does indeed exist and is the combination of juggling and jogging. For somebody like me who cannot even nail the basics, I cannot begin to imagine how you keep objects aloft whilst on the move. Owen Morse, who has appeared on 'America's Got Talent', broke one of the many joggling world records back in 1989 and it demonstrates the level of athleticism required to be the best. Far from jogging, Morse sprinted 100m, whilst juggling three props, in just 11.68 seconds!

Answer: Yes

Depending on your world view, the fact there is a theorem and an equation that describes juggling will either enthral you or make you despair that mathematics sucks the fun out of everything! Claude Shannon was in the former camp, and he is the man responsible for the juggling theorem.

The equation (F+D)H = (V+D)N seeks to describe the relationship between the time a ball spends in the air (F), the time a ball spends in a hand (D), the time a hand spends empty (V), the number of balls (N) and the number of hands (H). Shannon was serious about juggling, he even invented a juggling robot!

Answer: Anthony Gatto

Anthony Gatto, real name Anthony Commarota, started juggling at a young age; before he had reached his teenage years he was already amongst the very best. His career would see him perform sets in Vegas, flaunt his skills in Cirque du Soleil shows and pick up a Golden Clown award at a prestigious festival in Monte Carlo. He broke a few records along the way including tossing eight balls for 73 seconds.

If you were wondering about all the cat nonsense, 'gatto' is the Italian word for 'cat'.

Answer: Yes

Juggling, both as a solo endeavour and as part of a team, has been performed in lower gravity (and zero gravity) environments. NASA astronaut, Don Williams, juggled fruit whilst aboard Space Shuttle Discovery back in 1985. Williams outlined some of the difficulties of juggling in zero gravity, he remarked "you have to toss objects much more easily, on the order of 1/4 as hard, to keep them under control. Quick hand movement is not at all an asset as on Earth.

As a matter of fact, the slower I moved the better off I was".

Answer: Flair Bartending

This relative of juggling is well known and featured memorably in 'Cocktail' (1988) where Tom Cruise's character, Brian Flanagan, performed for a raucous crowd of partygoers. Flair bartending entertains patrons through the theatrical, flamboyant mixing of spirits, tonics and fruit juices to create cocktails, mocktails and the like. The activity is also referred to as "extreme bartending" and by the rather obscure portmanteau, "flairtending".

Back in 1991, TGI Fridays set up the World Bartender Championship (yes, really!), where the winners from regional tournaments would compete for the world title and a cash prize.