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Anthony Gatto Grows Stronger Every Day

by Bill Giduz & Tripp Holmgrain

Anthony Gatto has come a long way to get from Nick's pipe shop in Ellicott City to the big stage of the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. But no one who has watched him along the way is a bit surprised at his success. The first time most IJA members first met him as an eight-year-old at the 34th IJA festival in Cleveland in 1981, they knew he was special. After watching Gatto win the Juniors competition that year, the elderly and venerable Bobby May annointed the new champ by telling the crowd, "This young man will be the next Enrico Rastelli!"

Gatto had stepped onto the stage shyly and confidently to juggle six rings and balls, and do four rings while spinning one on his foot and balancing a long pole on his head.

His extraordinary skill and sure-handedness marked him then as a "phenom," an instant celebrity.

He began traveling around the world to appear in circuses, TV shows and competitions, bringing home medals and trophies from Rome, Australia and Brussels. And to the delight of IJA members, he and Nick kept returning to annual lJA festivals.

Though not even a teenager, he wasn't afraid to compete against the big boys. Gatto finished second in the U.S. Nationals to Peter Davison in 1982, third behind Allan Jacobs and Edward Jackman in 1983 (but he won five clubs with a 2:49 run), and won in 1986 in San Jose at age 13.

He hasn't competed in stage competitions since, but is always ready for the individual numbers challenge. The only real competition he's faced there are his. own old records, since he owns them all (Balls - 9, 60 catches 1991) (Clubs - 7, 230 catches 1991) (Rings-9, 43 catches 1991).

The IJA honored Gatto with its first Award of Excellence in 1989, and continues to be honored by him every time he attends a festival. People who have followed his career have been delighted to find that

their early concerns about his future career have proved groundless. To those who said, "Yes, but he might burn out and quit... " we can confidently report that he now says he enjoys juggling more than ever.

And to those who predicted "But he'll never develop any personality on stage," we ask that they watch the videotape of his electric performance at the St. Louis Cascade of Stars show, or any of his twice - nightly shows at the Sands. His ease of movement, broad smiles and flawless, rapid execution of an incredible variety of tricks leave audiences in happy awe. Gatto the child has grown up, and he's juggling just fine, thank you!

Juggler's World reporters visited Gatto in Las Vegas recently. We saw a practice session with he and Nick in a racquetball court at the local YMCA, a show at the Sands and interviewed him in his apartment. Here's our report on that visit:

THE SHOW

A largey silent stage presentation to upbeat music

Begins with 5 balls juggled one way behind the back, half shower, bouncing one off the head while doing four. Solid back crosses with 5, pirouettes under 3, 5 overhead cascade. Five over the head in multiplex and half shower. Multiplex and shower 5, finishing with one high flourish. Seven balls in a half shower and cascade, then pitched backwards into a net that Nick holds.

Five rings with color change, half-pirouettes, 5 high pirouette, half shower, side throws and pancakes, side throws over the head, all pancake throws, catch on the arms.

Olympic trick. Balancing a pole on his head, he juggles 5 rings and a ball, tossing the rings up onto hooks on the pole to form an Olympic logo, and the ball up to rest on top of the central post.

Seven ring cascade with a breakdown, taking rings out of the pattern one-by-one and holding them under arms and between legs, to 3. Then pulls them out one by one back to 7. Seven caught over the head to finish.

Nine ring cascade.

Balances on his head a pole with baskets on the side. Five ball cascade, throwing balls up into the baskets and into a coffee pot on top of the pole.

He calls out to the audience, "Is everyone having a good time? Good, I'm going to juggle 3 cannon balls. They're heavy and dangerous." Does 3 with a neck catch and head roll, then clacks two together as he gets hit in the head with a fake third one. Birdies tweet on the sound track as he gives away the gag and says "I got lucky!"

Five torches in cascade, back crosses, under the leg, kneeling.

Three clubs with numerous tricks, side throws, leg throws, chin rolls, helicopter spins, solid kickups on both sides, 3 over head, columns, 3-high pirouettes.

Three clubs and a ball with the ball bouncing on his head, columns with 4 objects, back throws, shower pattern. Kickups, chin rolls, chin balance, shower.

Five clubs, starting with 4 and one balanced on forehead. Three-high pirouette, half turn, back throws to one side and other side, then double back crosses. Half turn.

Seven club cascade finale.

THE PRACTICE

8:20 a.m., a YMCA racketball court...Practice lasts 1 hour, 10 minutes.