My name is Cyril Rabbath.
Although in my youth, my stage name was Basile Dragon to emancipate myself from my father, double bass Maestro François Rabbath. Nowadays, I go by Maurice La Pierre when I perform my nonchalant one-man show.
I like making things simple 😁
I was born in Paris, France and grew up until my twenties in Montmartre, next to the Moulin Rouge. As a kid I felt like I was getting away with some special privileges walking around this risqué neighborhood.
I fell in love with the circus lifestyle when I was a teen spending my summers with the Cirque Ephémère in the French Alps.
That’s where I discovered my lifelong vocation: mastering the art of juggling.
My goal is not to become the best juggler in the world (what would the comparing factor be anyway?). Instead, I am pursuing the intimate mastery of juggling in my body, mind, and soul. Much like a craftsman working with wood or pottery with finesse over an entire lifetime and perfecting their savoir-faire.
That sounds great, but how do I make a living, you might ask? (That was my mom’s question when I dropped out of high school without any degree in anything.)
Well,
First, I don’t have any student debt.
Second, I perform as an entertainer in the circus industry and on many stages, including theater, opera, TV shows, cruise ships, and my first love, impromptu street busking.
Here’s what I keep myself busy with:
I teach in my online juggling school, Juggle Groove Academy, to students from around the world. After 30 years of practice, it is my privilege to share my knowledge and continuous discoveries on body biomechanics and healthy daily juggling practice.
I give talks as an inspirational speaker to audiences interested in the unusual creativity and ambidextrous practice of juggling. I call my talk “Dancing with Gravity”. It often inspires people to think outside of the box.
I post on Substack to offer a space where you can find my thoughts and research around anything juggling. I want to redirect my efforts towards this Substack space I feel safe in, unlike social media platforms that tend to bring me anxiety.
I guide other circus performers in the creation of their own acts. I have developed my eye as an artistic director over the years and the thousands of shows I partake in. For that matter it helps a lot to be exceedingly critical (aka Parisian).
I compete in International Circus Festivals and Got Talent shows to showcase my skills. I won 11 awards, including 3 gold medals in France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, Belarus, and China. I did not win any TV show competitions, but I got a good laugh and some slick-looking professional videos for free.
On a more personal note,
My biggest accomplishment was reaching my goal of working for Cirque du Soleil as a solo juggler at 32 years old, after 16 years of hard work, proving to myself that anything’s possible.
My unexpected accomplishment was becoming a dad at 26, not knowing what I was getting into, while falling unconditionally in love with both my daughter and my son.
I am twice divorced, and despite the drama, I am still a romantic at heart. Call it a cliché, I will always believe in falling in Love and French kisses.
My core values are:
Creativity, Growth, and above all, Truth.
Well, by now, you might have a more nuanced idea of who I am. If you have something on your mind, hit me up!
May gravity be kind to you,
Cyril
