Bravo Juggling presents: Stick Heroes / 2011. 09.

Bálint Turai first met to devilsticks almost a decade ago and altough recently he just plays in his free time but this tool introduced him the world of juggling which become his profession. With his team, Almost Trio, he performed at many festivals and circuses - such as in the Capital Circus of Budapest.

Name:

Bálint Turai

Age:

29

Nationality:

Hungarian

Place of living:

Budapest

Job:

Juggler

How many years have you been juggling with devilsticks?

I started 9 years ago, and approximetly for 3 years now those are not my main tools, and for this reason since then I use them less often.

Number of devilsticks you have:

As I often teach children I have many. I use 4 on a performance.

Your juggling achievements (prize / performance / trick that you are proud of / etc.):

- This year Almost Trio won the Special Prize of the Kiev Circus Academy at the Kiev Circus Festival.
- At the beginning of this year we worked for two months at the Capital Circus of Budapest, which was an old dream came true. (these has nothing to do with devilsticks :-)) [We saw that Bálint played the devilstick on the stage in the intro part of the show! - the editor]
- There are a few tricks as well with one and two sticks that I found out and I'm proud of them, but seeing what others do these days my tricks may not worth mentioning.
- I made up combinations with clubs which I have not seen from anybody else, but what I am the most proud of is our 4 club "take out" trick and the 7 clubs passing routines with Rike (the other member of the Almost Trio). Those are also our own designs.

Other juggling equipments you play with:

I use clubs mainly, but I can move all the common juggling tools at a basic level.

Are you a member of any team/group/club/association?

I am a proud half of the only two-member trio of the world, called Almost Trio.

Please write some sentences of yourself in general:

I was born very young ;-) in Budapest. I attended school diligently and as a result I almost became a traffic engineer... Thank God I came across a devilstick just in time, which radically has change my life. I have tried different ways to get by as a juggling performer, and the current form of it is our previously mentioned "company". In the receint years we had works in circuses and theaters. Now I am spending most of my time for preparing to the birth of my daughter, which can happen at any time.

Where did you first meet to devilsticks?

When I was a student at the university, I borrowed a devilstick from a guy at the dorm. That day I couldn't take it down for about 8 hours.

Where did you learn playing with devilsticks?

Next to the university, on the shore of Danube.

Which trick did you find the most difficult to learn?

I cannot remember. I think none needed extremly much time and energy but on the other side none came easily. As I usually practiced and discovered the possibilities of the tool alone, I had to experience all the moves for myself.

What are you practicing at the moment?

As I mentioned, I don't practice the devilstick very intensively. I just try to maintain the level of the old tricks. Sometimes I try out contact moves which I haven't done before.

Do you have tricks that you found out?

As first I practiced alone, I invented a lot of tricks which it later turned out already existed. A few others remained that I have not seen yet done by others, although I have not seen many devilstickers.

Which are your favorite tricks?

I have many. I like that bicycle variation when I spin once the devilstick on the outer ends of the handsticks. (link)
I also like when I hold both ends of the handstick while moving the devilstick on it. (link)

Which is the most difficult trick you can do?

It's a double-stick trick. I throw one of the devilsticks with the handstick to the other hand and put the other handstick with the other devilstick on it to the first hand.

What juggling styles do you like?

I like the slow, lightsome, airy style with contact tricks and dancing elements.

Do you play with firestick as well?

Sometimes.

Where do you perform?

Circuses, theatres, festivals, events of cities and companies.

Why do you like devilsticks?

Those relax me. Kind of active meditation.

What kind of devilsticks do you prefer to use?

I like the slow flowersticks.

Can you imagine not juggle devilsticks any more?

No.

What do you advice to beginner devilstick players?

Be persistent, patient. Never be mad when the stick falls.

What do you advice to advanced devilstick players?

Find yourself in the game, let your imagination work and let the unexpected happen.