Ringling Bros. Jugglers Give Local Kids A Lesson In Dexterity, Showmanship

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Clowns from the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus juggled their schedule to meet with kids from the "juggling club" at Quaker Valley Middle School Friday morning.

"Everybody's good with one, right?" asks longtime clown Dean Kelley. "If you have trouble with the ball going forward, practice against the wall."

"Clown Boss" Taylor Albin says juggling is a combination of physical dexterity and showmanship.

"You connect with the audience, and you make sure they're right there with you. That you have fun. That you enjoy what you're doing, having a wonderful time. That's so important," said Albin.

Next, the young jugglers try with two and finally three balls in the air.

They learn that jugglers don't just perform for the first couple rows of audience.

"I learned how to show people who are close to you and far away, to show different tricks" says eighth grader Elise Truchan.

Young hockey goalie Sam Scott, a seventh grader, thinks juggling may help him snag pucks out of the air.

"I would really like to learn how to juggle," he says, "because in sports it's really important with hand-eye coordination."

The circus continues through Sunday, at Consol Energy Center. For more information, click here!

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