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 Circus, tells Feby Imthias that juggling 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 balance 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.