OUR STORY · PEOPLE & COLLABORATIONSPeople Behind
the Props.
Performers, inventors, engineers and historians. Meet the people whose ideas, experience and shared knowledge help shape ND Juggling.
01Founder · Design & developmentNiels Duinker
Dutch comedy juggler and educator Niels Duinker graduated in mechanical engineering from Delft University of Technology. He is an IJA lifetime member, former board member and recipient of its 2023 Excellence in Education Award.
Contribution to ND Juggling
Niels connects performing experience, engineering and collaborators’ knowledge to develop ND equipment and share juggling literature.
Background source
Read the original source ↗Jay Gilligan
Jay is a juggler, educator and prop designer. His performance work includes the theatrical production REFLEX.
Contribution to ND Juggling
Jay helped originate Cuphead through the Renegade Design Lab. He developed its next version with Drew Aslesen and Will Oltman, then partnered with Niels to bring Cuphead 2.0 into production.
Background source
Read the original source ↗Photo: Hideaway Circus · Reflex ↗Freddy Kenton
Dutch variety juggler Freddy Kenton received the IJA Historical Achievement Award in 2012.
Contribution to ND Juggling
Freddy mentored Niels and shared his shaker-cup experience. The Kenton Cup is named in his honour.
Background source
Read the original source ↗Photo: Image selected by Niels Duinker ↗John McPeak
John was the first juggler to throw and catch ten shaker cups, earning a Guinness World Record. In 1978, he and his brother developed some of the first shaker cups made specifically for juggling. He was also a professional performer and longtime teacher.
Contribution to ND Juggling
John shared insights from developing his own cups and gave Niels feedback on the Kenton Cup during its development.
Background source
Read the original source ↗Photo: IJA · John McPeak archive ↗Daniel Holzman
Daniel is a professional juggler, half of the famous Raspyni Brothers, and a prop inventor. He created Volcano Ball and developed tube-and-ball juggling through Tubenado.
Contribution to ND Juggling
Daniel collaborated with Niels on the TrickTube and provides instructional material. He also tested Kenton Cup samples and praised their clean separation.
Photo source
Photo: Image selected by Niels Duinker ↗Albert Lucas
Albert’s technical juggling achievements include a thirteen-ring flash in 2002, documented by Guinness World Records.
Contribution to ND Juggling
Albert provided regular feedback on the American Club. He also shared insights from his dad and the Los Gattos Trio for ND’s cigar-box development.
Background source
Read the original source ↗Photo: Image selected by Niels Duinker ↗Tommy Curtin
Tommy’s bottle-shaped clubs were originally made in fibreglass by prop maker Stu Raynolds.
Contribution to ND Juggling
With Tommy’s permission, Niels acquired the original Raynolds mould and brought the bottle-club design back to jugglers in a modern plastic version.
Background source
Read the original source ↗Photo: IJA · Time Traveling to See the Juggling Masters ↗Max Oddball
Max is a performer and longstanding juggling retailer and supplier. He is also the recipient of the IJA Extraordinary Service Award for his contributions to juggling.
Contribution to ND Juggling
Max supported ND Juggling and gave Niels Duinker the opportunity and infrastructure to grow the brand through his experience and network.
Background source
Read the original source ↗Photo: Photo supplied by Niels Duinker · edited portrait ↗David Cain
David is a professional juggler, author and juggling historian. His Museum of Juggling History in Middletown, Ohio, preserves rare and important props, making the equipment behind juggling’s history available for study.
Contribution to ND Juggling
Historical American clubs from the museum informed ND’s American Club development. David’s archives have also supplied photographs for Niels’ publishing projects.
Background source
Read the original source ↗Photo: David Cain · IJA author portrait ↗Will Oltman
Will worked with Jay Gilligan and Drew Aslesen on sketches and 3D modelling for Cuphead 2.0.
Contribution to ND Juggling
Will contributed 3D engineering to the American Club, TrickTube, ND spinning plate and cigar boxes, and helped develop Cuphead 2.0.
Background source
Read the original source ↗Photo: Funny Business Agency · Will Oltman ↗Karl-Heinz Ziethen
Karl-Heinz is the foremost juggling historian, author and collector whose books and photographic archive document performers and techniques across generations.
Contribution to ND Juggling
Niels has worked with Karl-Heinz to bring juggling literature to new readers. His archive photographs also contribute to ND’s historical publishing projects.
Photo source
Photo: IJA · Karl-Heinz Ziethen archive ↗Karen Holzman
Karen is responsible for the layouts of ND Juggling’s books, working with text, photographs, illustrations and historical material.
Contribution to ND Juggling
Karen has created the layouts for most of the books in the ND Juggling catalog.
13Juggling education · AuthorDave Finnigan
Dave Finnigan is a juggling educator and author of The Complete Juggler, The Joy of Juggling and The Zen of Juggling. His work includes books, instructional videos and the Juggling for Success teaching program.
Contribution to ND Juggling
Dave is the author of The Zen of Juggling, available in the ND Juggling book catalog. His writing explores learning, practice and the experience of juggling.
Background source
Read the original source ↗Photo: Archival portrait ↗Mikhail Rudenko
Mikhail is a Ukrainian juggler and inventor of semi-filled juggling balls. He developed the design in Ukraine during the Soviet era, using a hard plastic shell partially filled with loose material. Although widely known as “Russian balls,” the design originated in Ukraine. He also taught Viktor Kee during Kee’s final year at circus school.
Contribution to ND Juggling
Mikhail is working with Niels Duinker on a new Ukrainian juggling ball for ND Juggling. The project is currently in development. His work, Systematic Training for Juggling, is also included in ND’s Compendium of Soviet Juggling Wisdom.
Background source
Read the original source ↗Photo: IJA · Stanislav Vysotskyi’s profile of Mikhail Rudenko ↗ PART OF THE JUGGLING COMMUNITYSharing knowledge.
Supporting jugglers.
Niels Duinker is a lifetime member and former board member of the International Jugglers’ Association (IJA). In 2023, the IJA recognised his teaching and educational work with its Excellence in Education Award.
The IJA brings jugglers together through festivals, education and shared knowledge. Discover its community and resources.
Explore the IJA ↗ Lifetime memberInternational Jugglers’ Association
Former board memberService to the juggling community
Excellence in Education · 2023View the IJA award record ↗
ND Juggling is independently operated and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the IJA. These credentials recognise Niels’ individual membership, service and educational work.
