Cascade Workshop - The Pillar Page

The Columns Pattern¶

Source: Cascade 001

Dr. P. Luftiko (see image)

Okay, you can now juggle 2 balls in one hand, equally well with your left as with your right. You might be tempted to try 4 now. But wait a bit longer! There are hundreds of ways to use this skill with 3 balls in the "Columns" pattern that would amaze your friends and have your audience roaring with laughter.

The basic "Columns" pattern: 2 balls are thrown in the right hand parallel to each other (meaning not in a circle), while the left hand throws the 3rd ball up in the same rhythm as the right hand throws the outer ball.

With this basic rhythm, you can infinitely vary this theme through small changes. You can alter the trajectories and switch the hand you're using to juggle the two balls.

In the following descriptions, the terms "single (ball)" and "double (balls)" refer to the trajectories, not the number of balls in each hand. For the basic pattern, this means the single ball bounces in the middle and the double balls bounce on the outside.

Tennis¶

Initially, the single ball is thrown high to the far right,

then it flies in a high arc to the left and back again, always back and forth. The trajectories look like this:

The double balls form the "net" (you could perhaps make tennis racket sounds or imitate John McEnroe while doing this!)

Hurdles¶

The start is similar to tennis, only this time the single ball makes a brief stop in the middle.

Each of the two double balls represents a hurdle. (If you say "boing" with each landing of the single ball, the audience will get the impression that the ball is bouncing.)

Crossing¶

Of course, you can also do tricks with the double balls. Here, they cross each other.

Although you've taken the precaution of throwing one double ball slightly higher than the other, you'll all too often find that they collide in the middle and fly off uncontrollably. Don't worry! With practice, you'll manage this collision intentionally without the two balls escaping in different directions out of your reach.

The higher the collision, the more enthusiastic the audience.

Crossed Arms¶

Try to catch the right double ball with your left hand and simultaneously the left double ball with your right hand. Catching is usually not that difficult, but then throwing them straight up...!! Practice only with the double balls until this works before you add the single ball back in.

Shoulder Throws¶

(for advanced jugglers!)

Instead of simply throwing the double balls straight up, toss them over your shoulders from behind, the right hand over the right shoulder and the left over the left. If you haven't warmed up properly, you'll dislocate your shoulders. If the double balls cross above your head against your will, then you seem to have the same problem as I do!