i, me, myself

Catch all ristian Kristof believes in pushing the boundaries of his skill. The Hungarian juggler, who was in Abu Dhabi to perform at the Big Apple , tells Feby Imthias that is K not just about throwing balls in the air.

Kristian Kristof was once speeding at the Yas Island Rotana Hotel. Kristof to finish his schooling before he step down a highway in Budapest when is in Abu Dhabi to perform at the Big into the circus ring. the inevitable happened: a patrol car Apple Circus, part of the Summer “The first time I got an opportunity flagged him down for speeding. in Abu Dhabi festival, organised by [to show off my skills] was when I was “Why are you driving so fast?” the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, 14 and I performed during a charity one of the policemen asked him. he took time off for an exclusive gala at the Budapest State Circus,” “I’m a juggler and I’m late for my interview with Friday. Belonging to says Kristof. show. Please sir, would you let me the fourth generation of a famous Keen to hone his skills, he enrolled go?” he pleaded. “A juggler?” they Hungarian circus family, he says he in the Hungarian State Performing asked, looking at him disbelievingly. has been travelling with the circus Arts Institute from where he “Yes,” he reiterated, then taking since he was six months old. Both his graduated in 1987. The next year out the tools from his juggling kit, parents, Istvan and Ilona, were highly he obtained a diploma from the he started demonstrating his skills respected acrobats. Hungarian State Circus Academy on the roadside. His skills and “My parents always in 1988. He hasn’t performance were so impressive that took me along with “Without looked back since. they let him go with just a warning: them while on tour. Kristof has been with “Don’t speed again.’’ My father still works balancing your the Hungarian State This, of course, was not the first as the director of the accounts or Circus, Moscow State time that Kristof has been able to Hungarian State Circus. Circus, Circus Tihany impress people with his talent. This One of my grandfathers relations or time, of Mexico, Shrine is a man who can hold his audience was a strongman who Circus of Florida, in thrall juggling just about anything later became an elephant your life would be Hanneford Circus of – top hats, cigar boxes, balls, chairs, trainer and the other in a shambles,” Florida, Circo Moira tables and candle stands. “[However] grandfather was Orfei in Italy, Krones one thing I would never juggle a gymnast,” he says. says Kristof. in Germany and Royal with is fire,’’ he says, “which is one Kristof was seven Canadian Circus. reason I revived the most elegant and years old when he saw He has also clean style of juggling in the world a show by Rudi Schweitzer, a master won several medals at prestigious Kristian Kristof... ”If I were – ‘Gentleman Juggling’.” juggler who was then performing international circus festivals, including not juggling, I would have with his parents in Australia. He was the Performer of the Year award at been an acrobat or aerial All in the family so overwhelmed by the performance the Hungarian State Circus; golden gymnast like my parents” Kristof, 41, is extremely approachable that he immediately made up his award at the Performing Art Festival and down to earth. Dressed in a T- mind and wanted to become a in Pyongyang, Korea; silver medal shirt and utility shorts, he could have juggler. However, his parents were at the Festival du Cirque de Demain passed off as a tourist when I met him determined that he return to Hungary in Paris; silver medal at the Wuqiao supplied photo 84 Friday Friday 85 i, me, myself

Circus Festival in Beijing, China and I can never forget the magic of a The Gentleman Juggler’s skills reflexes. Observing the tricks and special award at the Circus Festival in performance, when I’ve awed an have earned him a place in skills at a very young age makes you Budapest for the technical direction of audience into disbelief. One incident The Guinness Book adept at absorbing and imbibing the event. which I’ll never forget happened of World Records them. You need to have some sort That’s not all. He has juggled his last year in Moscow. Usually at Below: With daughter of and loads of patience to way into the Guinness Book of World competitions, one person gets the Noella, 6... “I want my repeat and perfect an act. You have Records releasing three cigar boxes in accolades and becomes popular after daughter to choose what to train your brain to register the the air and catching them perfectly a performance. But here, I was given she wants to do” position of balls when juggling with just the way he released them after the title ‘Best of the best’ before the them and act reflexively. Before you they completed four full spins – a show. I was under pressure but it learn to juggle, you drop and pick world record. “As a juggler, balance worked in a positive way and the the objects numerous times – it can is a very basic need for me,’’ he says. adrenaline rush made me give my actually give you a backache before “Onstage, it is what keeps my best. The almost tangible collective you master the skill. acts intact and appealing. Offstage, [expectation] of the audience How many objects can I juggle? I believe that without balancing transformed into a kind of energy for I would probably be able to juggle your accounts or relations or time, me. When an audience is worked up up to nine objects. One of the most your life would be in a shambles. It that way and you connect with them, difficult things for me to do is an act is crucial that you it creates a beautiful called the spin and the catch. In the balance all your “I have memory. It’s like magic, 1960s, somebody was able to do two acts in the long and you can bank on spins and a catch and then in the late run.’’ In addition to broken those moments to derive 1970s, someone else was able to do a pushing the limits numerous your strength triple spin and a catch. In 1994, I was of his juggling skills, and inspiration. able to do four spins and a catch. This Kristof had the objects in my feat was recorded in the Guinness honour of directing I am able to live my childhood Book of World Records. several editions of mother’s kitchen dream. I have been very I was 25 when I made the record and the International to perfect the art fortunate because I’ve I still continue performing this feat at Circus Festival of travelled with my parents all stages. I am amazed and extremely Budapest including of juggling.” all over the world – India, alex westcott/gulf news proud that this record still holds. the innovative and Italy, Austria, Australia, for it and if it makes her as happy as Nureyev, a famous Russian classical modern circus production called New Zealand, Russia to name a it has made me. Watching me travel ballet dancer. But at the end of it all, I What is your definition of balance? Circus Odyssey and Rhythm Circus. few countries. I grew up in a big to new places would probably be the love juggling and my heart is set on it. Balance for me is the fulcrum of “I have also directed the first variety wonderful world of entertainment biggest inspiration for my daughter life. It is the key aspect of life, like show of the reopened Moulin Rouge and arts. Rudi Schweitzer, my mentor, to be “like daddy’’. Me and the time I missed an act balancing the yin and the yang. Theatre in Budapest,” says Kristof. was able to grab the attention of the Once I was part of a group which put I understand balance in its very “My experiences have taught me audience and create a very successful Me and my audience up a performance for a black tie affair physical sense like when I stack a that there is so much potential in act with just three simple objects. I have great respect for my audience for around 20 very important CEOs. candle stand on a coffee table on show business that one lifetime is This was my ambition too. His and real life. Even though I’m the The theme of the dinner party was three chairs (one of them being a barely enough to live it,” says Kristof. elegance and personality in the ring one in the spotlight, I am always based on an Agatha Christie mystery. three-legged chair) on the tip of a really impressed me. I fell in love aware and grateful for the fact that I was supposed to bring in a tray full cigar held in my mouth. I am able I, ME, MYSELF with this career and I am living without the audience who put me on of glasses with beverages balanced to balance the entire weight of my dream. a pedestal and admire me, I wouldn’t atop a bottle. this furniture perfectly on a few I have broken numerous objects be there. It is when the economy I had rehearsed the act several millimetres. – plates, eggs and cups in my mother’s I had the chance to learn different experiences a boom that people take times and had perfected it but kitchen in my attempt to perfect the languages and travel a lot because time off and come and enjoy the arts. somehow during the dinner there was Is juggling perceived as less of an art art of juggling. In fact my parents had of my skills in juggling. Today I So it’s those ordinary people who so much excitement and tension in than dancing or painting or music? a tough time mending the roof of my can speak six languages – Russian, work hard every day to sustain the the air that I broke into a sweat and We, those in the circus business, room while renovating our family Hungarian, English, Italian, Spanish supplied photo economy and bring in the finance that upended the tray on the guests. The have been struggling to raise circus home in Budapest. It was pitted with and German. if she wants new toys and dresses, give me a chance to perform. I am goof-up pretty much killed the theme arts to the same level as theatre or holes from my attempts to keep I have to go to work. She then says, supported by these real people and and its the sort of stuff my nightmares classical ballet. Circus has a history of several things up in the air at the I, ME, MYSELF “Well, then I don’t want them. Please real life. Without them and their are made of. thousands of years and it is embedded same time. I was constantly practising stay with me.” But she adores the hard work, performers like me in almost all cultures of the world. at the expense of my schoolwork, Me and my family circus performances and aspires to wouldn’t exist. I, ME, MYSELF The best part of circus arts is that it much to the disdain of my mother. My wife, Anette Dezamits, is a retired be a part of it. She is extremely proud addresses many different generations. gymnast. We have a daughter Noella of both her father and mother. Me and my other passions Do you think that one’s ability to keep several Everyone can find something in a I would never juggle with fire. I respect who is six years old and wants to be If you are successful [in the world If I were not juggling, I would have things in the air has something to do with circus that makes them think, as well people who use dangerous objects, an aerial gymnast. The part that of performing arts] you could lead been an acrobat or aerial gymnast the way one’s brain is wired? as laugh. I truly believe it is an art but it is beyond my comprehension to I hate the most about my job is being a very fulfilling life and never feel like my parents. I also love scuba- It could be a special talent, but form and it should always have a place endanger any living being for fun or separated from my family for long like you’ve worked a single day of diving and I am an instructor. I love I believe it has more to do with within the world of cultural arts. otherwise. Juggling, to me, is not just periods of time. Sometimes, it is your life, because you would simply photography and have freelanced for training and practice. The fact that In one way, juggling could be about throwing a lot of balls in the air. difficult to make such choices. Often be doing what you loved every day. I newspapers in Hungary. I have also my childhood was within the world considered a sport since it involves It is the performance and its elegance Noella tells me, “Papa, please don’t would let my daughter be a circus art done some part roles in movies and of entertainment must also have skills and performance. But on the which matter to me. go away.” I have to explain to her that performer, if she has the same passion in theatre. I have worked with Rudolf contributed to me developing quick other hand, when you juggle in the

86 Friday Friday 87 I, ME, MYSELF circus ring or on a stage and you Kristof performs in the juggle to entertain the audience, Big Apple Circus show it becomes an art form. in Abu Dhabi... “To me I dream about making a difference balance is the fulcrum to circus arts because it’s part of of life” human heritage. I am organising the international circus festival of Budapest, a competition which is an expo for the highest level of performances. I have created Maciva Master Studio, a workshop for the most talented Hungarian performers. 83722)) I hope to promote and create a special place for circus arts.

What kind of show are you putting on in Abu Dhabi? The theme of the Big Apple Circus show, which is being organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority is a classic circus. We have 16 world- famous performers putting on acts. We open with a folkloric fast number which is neither Hungarian nor Russian. The opening of the show has two beautiful aerial gymnasts followed by a hand balancer. The script of my show is that of a gentleman in a hotel lobby. We have a wonderful , a rolla bola that swings from a and ends with the Wheel of Death, which is very dangerous. We follow a classic theme without the use of animals and fully dazzle the audience. alex westcott/gulf news anybody. Sometimes it’s good to be like to be a performer, I would help and What is the reaction of people when you everybody else and lead a quiet life. guide her. introduce yourself as a juggler? A lot of people keep asking me what What is the best piece of advice your Where do you see yourself in ten years? my real job is. They wonder if parents gave you and what would you advise I’m a 41-year-old guy who juggles I can make a living out of juggling. your daughter? ordinary everyday objects. I want Years ago, this question used to upset Practice, practice and practice is to be a 52-year-old guy who does me because I did not understand why what my parents have told me. They the same. Rudi was over 60 when people couldn’t believe that you could have always been perfectionists. I saw him performing. Some of the make a living by performing. Today No matter what you do, do it to disciplines you perform in circus the way the world economy is, it perfection, with passion and love. are based on your physical ability. seems like a legitimate question. There Ordinary things are boring. It is when Fortunately my performance is not are only a few people who can really it becomes extraordinary that you can only based on the physical skills but claim they are full-time performers. amaze others. I want my daughter to also on training and disciplining You have to be at a very high level choose what she loves to do. But she the mind. Probably in my career, of performance in any kind of art to should make her choice only when everything that has to do with the maintain a good quality of life. she is sure. Circus performance is a physical skills will diminish in a few wonderful life, of course, but it is also years if I gain a few more pounds or Are you expected to be the life of the party? very tough and full of ups and downs. get a littler slower in my speed. *HWXSWRRIIRQDZLGHUDQJH On the contrary, many times, The competition requires discipline Last year, I started taking an RIKRPHIXUQLWXUH KRPHDFFHVVRULHV I have been quite disappointed that and dedication. interest in the other side of circus, nobody has asked me to perform. If My choice to be a juggler was direction and talent search. I work for 1HZFROOHFWLRQLQFOXGHGLQ6$/( DIIRUGDEOHOX[XU \ anyone requested me to perform, almost predestined. I didn’t think the Hungarian State Circus and I help I would gladly do so. I am not a very about it consciously, because I was my father in directing the state circus, reserved person but neither do a child, I thought juggling things so maybe in ten years I will be doing 'XEDL6KRZURRP 'XEDL6KRZURRP I have the desire to be the centre of was playful. By the time I came to a the same. attention. Juggling is my profession decision-making point, the path was – Feby Imthias is an Abu Dhabi-based =DEHHO5RDG.DUDPD 6KHLNK=D\HG5RDG and I probably wouldn’t force it on already chosen. If my daughter wants freelancer /LYLQJ 'LQLQJ %HGURRP .LGV 1XUVHU\ $FFHVVRULHV 7HO %HWZHHQ7R\RWD6KRZURRP 88 Friday  2DVLV&HQWHU 7HO

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