Michael Moschen Performs with One Crystal Ball 

He was the first to use this form of juggling. It was so unique it was featured in Labyrinth as Jarath's magic.

Us contact jugglers should never forget what this man brought to our art. Genius.

"I've brought you....a gift."

I've loved this performance since I first saw it on PBS's Great Performances back in 1991. Even today, it's amazing!

James Ernest coined the term "contact juggling" giving Moschen credit as his main inspiration. Moschen is credited for inventing Palm circle isolations, Snakes or trains, 7 ball "moschen transfers, Isolating 1 ball through 4 ball pyramid manipulations, and the butterfly. So, ok. He invented many modern moves which are a staple of contact juggling. Maybe he didn't come up with the idea of moving a ball around your body, but he did make it what it is today. That's enough to make him "a founder".

His moves are so silky it's hypnotizing...

Big Lebowski‘s landlord stepping up his game

when I first saw Michael Moschen, live, put the ball in one hand and watch it move across his upper chest and end up in his other hand in a second, I thought that I had seen an act of God. Bless you Mr. M...you are the King. We just live in your world.

This video is just simply beautiful. Michael is an artistic genius!

Ladies and gentlemen the man behind david Bowie in labyrinth whenever he produces a crystal ball Michael's ability is amazing

true and i agree with you, although it could be argued that he was so influential that he could be said to have formalized elements into what we now think of as contact juggling

Simply beautiful and graceful. a true artist at his work.

This is one of the most beautiful things I've seen in a while.

You can really tell that he's the inventor of contact juggling... his moves are what have become standard, yes, but its so much smoother than any other contact juggler I've ever seen... Sure, other juggler's have branched out and innovated with new tricks and whatnot, but Michael Moschen is so, so much more smooth and hypnotic...

1:50..... the reason we are all here... YOU'RE WELCOME!

The inventor of contact juggling, Michael Mochen is a genius!!!!

Im going through a really rough time right now and watching micheal perform has always helped as a kind of relaxation therapy so a big thank you x

He's the one who re-created it, and you can see it! Even if today technique in contact juggling went so far away, this for me reamains one of the most charming juggling pieces of all times, consistent and full of grace.

What amazing eye to hand coordination… simply magical…!

Its so weird but also so captivating the way the ball moves elegantly

thank you for uploading this

3:25 holy moly

Beautiful. Simply beautiful. I look forward to continuing learning this art form as soon as I get my first ball! I always thought it looked so difficult and that I wouldn't be able to do it, until someone at a festival taught me some basics - apparently knitting is good training for manual dexterity!

This is amazing talent! What kind of luddite would ever downvote it?!

Came here from the triangle video

Very relaxing, like something you can listen to or watch while falling asleep instead of netflix

Moschen is and will forever be the king of contact and triangle juggling

You can just tell that's years and years of dedication to an amazing craft

He's the one who re-created it ...and you can see it!!! Even if today technique in contact juggling went so far away, this remains for me one of the most charming juggling pieces of all times, consistent and full of grace.

Breathtaking

I didn't know it was this man who invented contact juggling. It's quite something to see him perform

After Labyrinth I had to check this out!! So hypnotizing

I wish my wife looked at me how he looks at that ball

stunning performance. 5 starz! 2 Thumbs.

One Crystal Ball is all he needs, so hypnotic

That is not a fushigi ball. fushigi is a brand name refering to the specific ball with the steel core that is advertised. Acrylic balls like the ones hes using here have been around for decades. In fact a lot of contact jugglers are angry with the makers of fushigi because their ads suggest that it is the prop that makes it seem like its floating not the hours of work taken to develop the skill.

This video gives me asmr so much

Amazing performance! Wouldn't change a thing! 3 / 5 stars.

pure poetry..

this amuses me a lot more than it should

amazing...simply beautiful and no its not fake...he's the one who did the crystal ball manipulation in the movie the Labyrinth...its all real and all done by him

The force is with you

So mesmerizing

This is from PBS' "Great Performances" which aired in 1991. He also was the "hand double" for David Bowie in the movie "Labyrinth." I consider Mr. Moschen a true artist. I'm curious to know what he's been working on in the meantime.

This video is like 11 yrs old yet there’s comments from like an hour ago, why is this coming up in the reccommended, but still impressive

I've just started learning contact juggling. Now I feel inadequate... but also inspired! :)

Absolutely hypnotising. Thank you for sharing!

He makes it look so easy too!

it's mesmerising :) it's beautiful I've been trying for so long to learn how to do the labyrinth part its this guy that did the arm of Bowie in the film :)

He'd be insane at the martial art of Aikido, which is based on fluidity, balance, redirection of force, and requires exquisite control, seamless transitions, and a perfect sense of spatial awareness,

If this guy was on America’s Got Talent, he’d still end up losing to some 8 year old singing crappy songs, but he’d have a hell of a run

Acabo de venir del video de las bolas en el triángulo y no deja de sorprenderme, este genio maneja su cuerpo como quiere, pareciera que le cambiara la densidad a la esfera. Es un reverendo capo

I think there should have been one added word to my original statement. Michael Moschen is the inventor of "modern" contact juggling. Or what he personally called "dynamic juggling". Do you have a link to any of these photos? I'd like to see them.

I was most impressed with the back and forth from backhands to palms bridging movement. Probably why it was featured on film.

Absolutely beautiful... very inspiring as a form of performance art.

Therapeutic! But if it were live, I'd be really tense, hoping he wouldn't drop the ball I'm becoming a fan of this magician.

Up until I discovered contact juggling about a week ago, I thought the scene in Labyrinth was done with some sort of special effects. Now I am trying to learn it myself.

0:52 holy crap this is some serious and quality orb pondering.

So far ahead ofnhis time. I remember seeing him on Letterman a couple times in the 80s.

I once saw Michael Moschen drop a ball once in a presentation and my heart fucking stopped... I consider it one of the greatest jumpscares of my life! X_X I felt so bad that he dropped it though.

my precioussss

I agree with tallie7487. How did someone click dislike? That is just awesome skills!! Give credit were credit is DUE !! (**Bravo**)

exactly..not being able to see made even harder...but he pulled it off...he's brilliant..

Does anyone know this majestic music this majestic man is performing to?

Flawless butterflies.

I saw this guy on a video tape of Phil Donahue one morning after I had taken 14 hits of stale acid while drunk(It seemed like a good idea at the time).I'd never seen a person manipulating gravity like that.He's totally in tune with the forces of nature and blew my mind,especially in the state of mind I was in that day.

u can get or order those acrylic balls at most juggling stores if im not mistaken.

he was the one standing behind david bowie in the movie "the labrynth." produced in 1986 26 years ago, he was brought on because he was the only one doing it at the time... so yes, he did invent it, hes a performance artist and he also invented many other styles of juggling, look up his half hour seminar on youtube where he explains technique skill and thought process behind his ideas...

HYPNOTIZING...

@DaVegasAlchemist It helps, if you think about it. Less fabric means less to get caught up on and it helps the ball roll smoothly.

@haappy411 And Moschen named this Dynamic Manipulation and Ernest named it Contact Juggling. Body rolling has been around for so long, it's just Moschen altered it and gave it a name of his own.

@Dragslo you can grab one from Dube or countless other juggling stores/sites. i would reccomend a stage ball for beggining. they have ones called silex that are a bit heavier, but still nice and soft and also dont break when you drop them. 4" silex is probably your best bet when learning, they come in any color, have patience and have fun.

The real goblin king magic!

I love the art, I love the man, but I haaaate the choice of music for these performances!

@Dravenswraith fushigi is not weighted or anything. it is just an attempt by a company to "own" contact juggling. it is exactly the same thing.

@SageOwl77 And to think! He did it pretty much blind when he did it for Bowie!

Soo smooth

...is this music an actual cover of Harold Budd and Brian Eno? works so good for this.

Smoother than a James Bond pick-up line

He did these tricks in the labyrinth!

Wow that was beautiful.

Thanks rec

That was beautiful!

i don't care if it is or not. This guy has some amazing dexterity.

I remember him in 80s hes badass

-What's your talent? -Yes.

Michael Moschen, Human Bard, 20th level Str: 12 Dex: 19 Con: 13 Int: 19 Wis: 16 Cha: 18

Such a beautiful, dreamy skill... It's hypnotizing @_@!

that is not a fushigi ball. fushigi is a brand name referring to one specific product. They work be the subtle movements and balance of the juggler to make it seem like its floating

Michael Moschen is amazing regardless...

I really think this guy is a genius

In some parts it doesn't even look like the ball is MOVING. Amazing my friend. I'ma hunt them 10 people down that don't like this.

OMFG I just had a meltdown watching this... Seeing something so amazing is just too much it's like having someone melt your face with a little crystal ball..

beautiful. amazing. dynamic. powerful.

Wow. That's well impressive. Making anyone else want to take a nap?

It´s awesome... is really hypnotizing!!

Thank you for this moment to dream and work extraodinaire sensitivity and accuracy in space! Chris Wilson

He was Bowies hands in the film, Labyrinth (1986)

it's so beautiful i'm trying to learn now. i got the butterfly down

wow!!! iwant to know how to do that!!