Ignatov's philosophy-practice, think, practice

 

 By Dennis Soldati. IJA Historian Rego Park, NY

 

It was almost 11 a.m. by the time we reached the hotel lobby. Sergei Ignatov was waiting for us, holding a shopping bag full of his workout clothes: an old pair of pants and faded orange t-shirt. Dick Franco, who came with me, had a suitcase full of props. I had my note pad and pen. Within a few minutes we were backstage at the Felt Forum in Madison Square Garden and preparing for a long day's practice.

 

As the overhead lights flooded the area before us, Ignatov was already warming up with three clubs. He juggled as smoothly as if he were performing. It was a juggler's delight to see. Franco had flown in from Ohio through a killer snow storm just for this opportunity. He brought only props and film with him. Wearing a borrowed t-shirt, Franco, too, began warming up.

 

We practiced for at least six hours. Ignatov did his five club routine and eleven rings for us. He explained the practice routine he used in learning five club back crosses and the precise way of holding and releasing the clubs. By the end of the day, Franco had achieved a run of 25 throws with this trick--his best to date.

 

All of this took place over two years ago in December 1977. At that time, Ignatov was with the Moscow Circus, which  was completing its American tour at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The previous evening, Franco and I had presented Ignatov with an honorary IJA membership in the center ring at the conclusion of the nightly performance. For the past several years, films of Ignatov's act have been shown at IJA conventions. Even on film, his act is received with a mixture of reverence, wonder and great applause.

 

The Facts

 

Ignatov is 29-years old, born on August 23, 1950. He has been juggling since he was 16. Some of his personal records include doing 11 rings and finishing by pulling them all down over his head; doing 9 rings for 140 throws; 7 rings with a pirouette between each tempo (7 throws) 3 times in a row; 5 balls in one hand for 15 throws; 5 clubs for 16 minutes 20 seconds.

 

Clubs

 

Ignatov begins his act with 5 clubs. At the performance I witnessed, he began juggling 5 clubs backstage until the curtain opened. Then he ran across the ring to the far curb and backed up slowly to the center of the ring. At this point, he began throwing every club from the right hand under his left arm and alternated throws under his left arm and behind his back. This led into back crosses while slowly turning in a circle. He says the best way to learn 5 club back crosses (which is much easier for him than 11 rings) is to practice 4 club back crosses every day for an hour.

 

His act also included routines with 3 and 4 clubs. With 3 clubs, he did beautiful solid throws under his legs from the front or back with single turns. With 4 clubs, he jumped up on the ring curb and did very fast and low triple turns, then jumped down and did very slow single turns while running slowly backwards. After the fast tums, the single turns seemed to float. It created a nice effect, as though the juggler had suddenly gone into slow motion.

 

Of course, there was more to his club routine that I have noted here, like juggling 4 clubs, throwing 2 up together with one hand while catching one in each hand. One could go on and on. Ignatov makes his own European-style clubs, measuring 21 3/4 inches long.

 

Rings

Ignatov said he had practiced 11 rings for 5 years. Although 8 and 10 rings are not difficult for him, he prefers the pattern with odd numbers. He hadn't practiced 11 rings too much in 1977, however, occasionally he attempted them in a performance because he said the technique was good. But, pointing to his head, he added, "Too nervous!" He did 9 rings in every performance, usually for 50 or 60 throws and seldom for less than 25. His act also included routines with 5, 6 and 7 rings. However, everything he does with 5 rings in his act, he can do with 7 backstage (including throwing them end­over-end, in a pattern some describe as 'butterfly' or 'flapjack' throws. His rings measure 13 1/2 inches in diameter with a one-and-a-hall inch handle. Most interestingly, they are made of fiberglass and are only 1/16 inch thick.

 

Balls

 

Ignatov used non-inflatable, very pliable, hollow rubber balls measuring 5 1/2 inches in diameter. In his act, he juggled 7 of those while running around the ring, then threw 2 in mid­juggle to an assistant to continue with a 5 ball routine. He can also juggle 9 of these by starting with 7 and grabbing 2 from his assistant. Although he did not regularly practice 5 in one hand, he was able to easily flash 5 in one hand during a standard 5 ball, 2 hand juggle. Incidentally, Ignatov bought these light red rubber balls in Japan and decorated them himself with decals of cherubs.