A roundup of street performance ideas to liven up year-end and New Year parties

shaker cup

Shaker Cup Techniques Collection

“Shaker cups” are a form of juggling where you hold one cup in each hand and toss and catch them between your hands.

There are various tricks such as inside circles, outside circles, cup releases, and cascades—give them a try! There are many flashy moves, like throwing two cups at the same time or adding a spin before catching, so you’re sure to bring the house down at parties.

Start by finding a set of juggling cups that feel comfortable in your hands.

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sasashina

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Diavolo

The 7th All Japan Diabolo Championships AJDC 2018

In street performances, one act that’s popular in China as well is the diabolo, also known as the Chinese yo-yo.

The performer throws it up into the air and catches it with a string stretched between two sticks.

They showcase tricks while moving energetically to music.

Let’s captivate the audience with a rapid-fire display of flashy, well-paced techniques.

yo-yo

[Start Here] 10 Recommended Tricks for Yo-Yo Beginners, Explained! [Yo-Yo Tricks]

We’re introducing yo-yo tricks that are easy for beginners to try.

If you can show off some cool moves with a portable yo-yo, you’ll be the center of attention at parties.

Men in particular might feel a wave of nostalgia.

The featured set includes 10 tricks, such as Gravity Pull, Long Sleeper, Around the World, Tower, and Inside Loop.

They’re presented in order from easiest to harder, so practice and master them one by one.

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sasashina

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Dice stacking

Let’s Learn a Party Trick! A Dice-Stacking Pro Explains the Basics

This is a performance you can do on a tabletop using a cup and dice.

The classic routine involves quickly scooping up dice placed on the table with a shaken cup, and when you lift the cup, the dice are stacked.

Techniques like how you catch the dice and how you move your wrist are important, and a key point is that anyone can do it with practice.

There are also variations, such as tossing the dice in one by one or stacking them on unstable surfaces, so why not look up some examples and give it a try?

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kappamaki

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roller balance

Speaking of street performance, this is it! How to ride a rola bola [balance]

Would you like to try a classic street-performer skill: the roller balance? You stack a flat board on a cylindrical roller and stand on top while keeping your balance.

Since losing balance can be dangerous, practice in a wide, uncrowded area.

First, hold onto a handrail and step on one foot at a time to find your balance.

It’s easier if you open your knees and lean slightly forward.

Once you’ve got the feel for it, remove the handrail and try again, this time pressing down on the board with both hands as you ride.

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sasashina

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Umbrella spinning

Umbrella Spinning: Daikagura Performing Art by Hōraike Tamanosuke

Let me introduce kasa-mawashi, the umbrella-spinning performance you often see on TV around New Year’s.

Tracing its roots back, this act is said to have originated as one of the dance pieces used in Shinto rituals.

The items used are relatively inexpensive and easy to obtain, so it’s a fairly approachable art to try.

Put on a kimono, spin various flashy objects, and let’s hope your luck will spin upward in the coming year!

Juggling

[Juggling for Beginners] 3-Ball Cascade [Beginner Level]

How about livening up the venue with some juggling? Watching balls dance through the air will captivate everyone’s eyes.

It may look easy, but it actually takes patience and practice.

That’s why the sense of accomplishment when you show your results is incredible! The higher the balls soar, the more the audience will respond with amazement and applause—no doubt about it.

Give it a try!