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 solo act.
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.
I am not the best juggler in the world, nor do I have the desire to become so (too much competition). What I am pursuing is the intimate mastery of juggling in my body, mind, and soul. Much like a craftsman working 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 off high school without any degrees in anything (at least I don’t have any student debt)].
Well,
I perform as an entertainer in the circus industry and all the stages that’ll have me, like theater, opera, TV shows, and my first love affair, impromptu street busking.
I teach in my online juggling school, Gravity Juggling Arts, to students from around the world. After 30 years of practice, I 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 (and pays very well).
I have a podcast of the same name (Dancing with Gravity) where you can hear me ramble and geek about juggling on Spotify and Apple Podcast.
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. 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 to reach my goal to work for Cirque du Soleil as a solo juggler at 32 years old, after 14 years of hard work, showing myself that anything’s possible.
My unexpected accomplishment was to become a dad at 26 years old, not knowing at all what I was getting into while falling unconditionally in love with both my daughter and my son.
I already got married and divorced twice, and despite the drama, I am still a romantic at heart. Call it a cliché, I will always believe in Love and French kisses.
My core values are:
Growth, Truth, and Creativity.
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
Cyril Rabbath 