Cirque Du Soleil: CORTEO Artist Teaches Us Juggling Tricks

What's up, guys? Leslie Robbins here for Young Hollywood backstage at the latest Cirque du Soleil show to land in Los Angeles. It's called Corteo, and to my right, the man who knows how to juggle just about anything in this show. Pretty much you juggle everything imaginable.

Yeah, I mean, uh I do ball juggling, ring juggling, prop juggling, and diablo, so yeah, I'll I'll juggle all the different props in the show, yes.

You have been with Corteo since 2018, which is actually the start of your Cirque career. Before we get into the magic behind your talent, tell me a little bit about how you joined the show.

Yes. So, how everything started is I'm juggling now for 21 years. And like this summer it's actually going to be it was like 22 years. So, I saw Cirque du Soleil on TV when I was 10 years old. And the juggler in the show was just amazing. And I was like, wow, I'm going to start juggling. And when the show was done, I went to my backyard with three tennis balls. I started practicing and here I am. After, yeah, a long time of practice.

Okay, so you say the word practice and juggling. So, I've tried myself and I fail. It doesn't work. So, give me some tips on how to basically juggle from like point A to B to C, all the way to Z.

Well, uh the way everything starts is like, let's say, if you want to be able to juggle with multiple objects at the same time, you start with one, then you go to two and three and so on and then just like, just lots of practice. That's that's all all what it takes. And like if you get good advice, like I'm going to teach you how to do some basic stuff. So, if you get some good advice, I think you're going to learn pretty quickly.

Okay, we are in your domain right now. We're backstage. Your cabinet, closet of goodies is right over here, so show me your stuff.

Yes. Okay, for it.

Okay. Okay, I see a lot of fun stuff below.

Yes. There, yeah, there's a lot of stuff. Okay. So if we going to start with the really like basic basics, we're going to pick up one one of the juggling balls. So you can please pick one one.

Okay. One.

So, the way it's going to work is that you're going to put it in your right hand. Yeah. And we put your elbows to the side like this. Okay. Toes pointing forward. Okay. And then you're going to throw butt through the the height of your forehead and across to the other hand like this. So, from right to left, just across, across like this. So, this is already like one ball juggling. So, you're doing really, really good, I would say.

Nice. Nice. But it gets a bit more complicated.

Exactly, because now we're going to pick up the second ball. So, now you can choose another color if you want. Okay. And what's going to happen now is pretty much the same thing. But when the first ball comes up in there and it's coming down, then you're going to throw the second ball underneath and across and it's going to do the same thing. So, watch. This is what's going to happen. So, you can see the first ball is uh silver, the second one is blue. Yeah. So you can see like silver, blue, like this. So, when I throw the first one and it's coming down, then I throw underneath and across the second one the same way as the first one. So, you can try it just like throw, throw across. Yeah. You can go a little higher like.

One, two. One, two.

Exactly, perfect. Exactly. It just takes a lot of practice and back with that. Yes.

Okay. Yeah. So, one more time. One, two, one, two. Oh, perfect. Okay, you know what? This is going really, really well. Let's try three balls.

Okay. So, now you can choose either pink or silver. Okay. And what's going to happen is now the first one goes up, the second is the same way as you did, and now when the second one is in the air, then the third one is going to go underneath and across. So, it's going to look like this. So, exactly the same thing with one more throw. So, it's going to be one, two, three. So, you throw one, two, three. Let's start super simple. We're going to throw them and they're going to land on the floor next to your feet. So, it's going to look like this. One, two, three. And just let them drop next to your feet and it's going to drop. Boo.

Okay. Perfect. So, now you understand the rhythm of like one, two, three.

Sure. So, now you're going to try to catch them. So, when the first one goes up in the air, coming down, then you're going to try to catch with your left hand and so on. So, it's going to be one, two, three. Catch, catch, catch. Try to catch them.

One, two, three. Catch, catch, catch. Almost, almost. A little bit higher and a tiny bit faster. Then it's going to be good. Do it again. Wait. So, it's like one, two, three.

I'm going to show super slow what it looks like. So, if you see the pattern it's like when it's super slow, it's always like one ball in the air like throw, next one, next one, next one. Always fun. The previous coming down, then you throw the next one. Next one, next one, next one. So, this is what a three, it's called a three ball cascade. So, this is what a cascade looks like. As soon as the first ball is coming down, then you already throw the second one. So, there's always like when the ball is coming down, then you throw the first one.

Oh, did you see that? Did you get all the three? No. Okay. Two. Oh, perfect. But I caught them. Okay, good, good, good. What do I do with the third one?

As soon as the second is coming down, then you throw the third one. Okay. Yeah. So, try to do one, two, three, all three.

One, two, three. Oh. Oh. Three. Okay, that's very close. But you know what?

What? It's uh like it's working really well, so I would say with a little practice, you're going to get there for sure. That's very close. Close, close, close. Okay.

Okay, but you know what? Let's skip the balls for now. Yeah. Okay. And let's try some other prop. It's called the juggling club. Oh.

So, this works pretty much the same way as the ball. Like you're going to throw across and you can take multiple props and so on. But the only difference here is that the club spins around its own axle like this, and you already did some good throws. So, try to do the same as with the ball, go across and across like from hand to hand. Exactly. And one thing that you can do to make it easier for catching is that when you throw it to the side, you can point it a little bit in diagonal. So, it's easier to catch. Okay. Try too straight. It's uh to not to not make the knob hit your forearm. It's uh it's easier if you put it more diagonally.

Nice. Oh. This works very, very well too. Okay, you know what? Let's give a small challenge. Try to do a double. So, when you throw it higher in the air, make it spin two times around its own axle. Tiny bit more spin. That was one and a half, so it was really good. So, two times. One, two. Oh. Wow. That's amazing. One more time. Both hands. Two. Two or three? It was two. Wow. So, do one more time. It felt like three. It was up there. It was two, it was two. Yeah. Nice. Oh. What was that? Amazing. That was double. That was two. Yes. Nice.

Okay, you know what? This is this is usually like a hard thing like to get on the first try because now you did like a double like easily. And usually that's a really big step for a lot of people when they try it the first time.

Really? So, you're doing amazing. That's great. Okay. Now they're just going to spin on their own axle for a one, two. Boom. Catch, catch. Exactly. Exactly. Boom. Yes, yes, yes, yes. Try just to the rings quickly. Oh, this is fun. Okay.

Yeah. So, actually, in the show, I I also juggle rings and stuff, but in the show what I'm doing with these rings are my two partners, they have uh they have 12 rings each, so it's 24. And they just throw them like first slow and then they go faster and faster. And I'm like catching them with my hands and putting them around my neck. Yes. So,

It's unbelievable. Do you want to try that? Yes. We're going to go super, super slow. Am I throwing or catching?

Uh, you're going to be catching. Just just as a little slow demonstration of like, so you're going to you're going to put your hands like this, and then you're going to catch you're going to catch like the rings this way, and then you're going to put them on your neck and slap them down like this. And then you take the next one. Okay. You ready?

So, I catch it and put it on. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just I'm going to go super slow one at a time. Boom. And then you put your around your neck. The left hand. Boom. What are you thinking about to stay focused? Or what are you not thinking about? How does that work?

Sometimes I think about what I should eat for dinner, but

Really?

Yeah, it's it comes and goes. It's like it really depends on the situation. Sometimes I'm like super focused and I don't have to think about anything. And sometimes it's like, let's say I'm more tired or I'm feeling more more like uh nervous if there's someone I know in the audience, for example. Yeah, yeah.

Okay, I focus on what I'm doing, but it it it kind of comes and goes. So, I think about everything.

Okay, cool. Okay, let's go to the last prop, which is the diablo. Oh. My favorite and my main discipline. This is amazing stuff. This is an this is an unbelievable trick.

So, what we're going to do is going to put it down on the ground. Okay. Your right side like this. And then you're going to pull it on the ground, so it starts rolling to the left and you're going to lift it up in the air and then you're going to start doing this movement with your right hand to make it spin. Okay. You know what? We're going to make it even easier. I'm going to help you. Of course, I did that. I'm going to assist you. So, I'm going to hold. And you're like throwing it in the air and flipping. So, I'm going to put it down on the ground. And I'm going to hold on to the sticks for you here. I'm going to help you roll like this. And then you see like this kind of movement. So, the right hand controls the whole thing, and the left one follows. And like this spinning. That's perfect. And if you want to try, you can try to tighten the string, so it flies up in the air and you can try to catch it. Yeah. Throw. It was a good throw. Just a little bit too much forward. You ready? Here we go. And catch. Oh, and throw. Yes. Yes. Okay, okay. Yeah. Throw and go. Boom. And go. Perfect. Yes. Nice.

Can I see you do some fancy stuff right now? Let me see.

Yeah. Let's do it. Okay. There we go. Go. And it spins.

Incredible. So, the cool thing about Corteo is it's Cirque du Soleil. Yeah. But it's so different than most Cirque du Soleil shows I have ever seen. It it's more theatrical, different story, heavy at times.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I would say like the biggest difference is that we are humans in the in the show, and like we we're speaking like human language. So, that makes like a big difference compared to some shows where there are like bugs or like.

Last year it was bugs in this theater.

Yeah, yeah. Or like if there are like fantasy characters who use like a made up language. So, that makes already like a huge difference that people can really relate to a lot of the characters on stage because they possibly have like met something like this in real life. Right. So, that's the that's one of the biggest difference with the other shows I would say.

Yeah, but what makes it of course Cirque-esque is all of the tricks and and flips and dips. That is just quintessential Cirque.

Yeah, we have like acrobats that are hanging in the air. We have acrobats doing crazy flips and stuff. We have like everything you can imagine. The special thing about Corteo is it's an adult-themed show, which is quite unique for Cirque du Soleil. But it has stuff for everybody and kids can enjoy the storylines, sometimes just go over their heads.

Yeah.

So like if let's say if the kids don't understand the storyline, at least they understand the tricks. And we have two really beautiful horses in the show. And I'm playing the horse every now and then. And, you know what? I'm going to show you the horse costume if you want to see it.

I would love to see it.

Okay. Let's go. Yeah. Let's do it. These guys are so cute and the kids love it.

Yes, they do.

So, we have the female one here. Oh, it's like the girls are the patient who's playing the female and so on. And then we have my head that I'm if you're playing the or sometimes I'm the butt and sometimes I'm the front, but we always have two people doing the horse. And this is I I dressed this uh I put this on my head almost every night.

Cirque du Soleil is is spreading life lessons. Sometimes you're the butt, sometimes you're the head, like you right? Right?

Yeah, yeah. But these are like people, people love the horses. They're they're like super cute horses. We're in the quick change area. And how how quick is a quick change? Usually because you guys are wearing a lot of costumes.

Yeah. Actually, like now, for example, with uh your outfit, do you want to do a quick change into an angel?

I would love to be an angel. So, here you have your angel wing. So, during the shows, we have a lot of angels. Of course. Yes. Yes. And they put on these wings and then they become angels. Oh. Okay. Perfect. And that's how quickly you become an angel.

What I find amazing about Corteo is they're still thinking outside the box. Using beds. I won't give it away. The beds, the balloons, the chandeliers. Everyday things that you would think, Yes. Well, yeah, they're doing they they thought of it.

Yeah, they they thought of it. And I would say like it's nice for the audience to get these kind of surprises, oh, that's like I know what this object is and they're using it in a different kind of way. So, I would say it's it's working really well.

So, if you could wrap up Corteo, how would you describe it?

It's a celebration of life. Every like every moment of your life is enjoyable. That's that's what it is. We're happy on stage and we want the audience to feel the same way.

Well, you succeed because that is what the audience feels. It's pure joy.