Bravo Juggling presents: Stick Heroes / 2011. 02.

Paul Rozaire, also known as Polostick, is a fast and technical stick juggler from Nancy, France. He enjoys live performances and is passionate about cinema. Currently, he is creating a light juggling show with Extense Arts and a devilstick-dance collaboration with a dancer.

Name:

Paul Rozaire - Polostick

Age:

23

Nationality:

French

Place of living:

Nancy, North-East France

Education:

Third-year journalism student. I aim to promote juggling through conventions and shows. To support myself, I work with companies and perform regularly.

Achievements:

• Performed at the Strasbourg Convention gala
• Featured in a full article in the newspaper East Republican
• Performed as a clown in hospitals for children—an extremely formative experience

Years juggling sticks:

About 7 years. I practice approximately 2 hours per day.

Number of juggling sticks:

7

Team/Group Membership:

Member of Extense Arts (performances and lectures) and the small circus school in Nancy, where I teach regularly.

Why choose devilsticks?

They are versatile: usable in conventional juggling, as contact sticks, and for specific devilstick tricks.

Where did you start playing?

In my room (and broke quite a few light bulbs!)

Most difficult trick:

Controlling multiple sticks—starting with two, then three. The challenge increases with more objects, but it never demotivates me.

Tricks you discovered:

I’m proud of the contact trick passing a baton from leg to ankle to foot. See here.

Favorite tricks:

Contact tricks and two-stick siteswaps.

Most difficult tricks you can do:

Pirouette with three devilsticks and the 7531 pattern with two sticks on stage. Currently working on two-stick variations of the fish trick.

Style and characteristics:

Both hard and fluid. Combines technical moves (pirouettes, siteswaps) with soft body contacts and swings. Influenced by Markus Furtner and Florent Lestage.

Other styles you admire:

Fab (Bankale Company) — slow-motion, balancing-focused, visually impressive style.

Do you play with fire sticks?

Occasionally, mostly for outdoor performances.

Where do you train?

Weekdays at home, weekends in a gym to practice high throws.

Special methods:

Master the basics perfectly: tic-toc, helicopter, propeller, bicycle, and butterfly. Repetition while mentally occupied improves technique and endurance.

Other juggling tools:

Balls and clubs.

Why you like devilsticks:

They have enormous potential for exploration. Any juggling style can be practiced with them.

Strengths and weaknesses:

Strengths: excellent control of double sticks. Weaknesses: balancing.

Juggling life in France:

Active community, especially in diabolo. Devilsticks are less widespread than other tools.

Goals related to devilsticks:

Polish a performance and present it in Paris cabarets.

Advice for beginners and advanced players:

Beginners: practice the basics thoroughly.
Experienced jugglers: watch many juggling videos to discover new moves.