Picaso Jr.

Juggler

By Dominique Jando

Born Francisco Tebar Honrubia in Valencia, Spain, Picaso, Jr. is the son of a legendary juggler, El Gran Picaso, who was a true juggling star in Europe in the 1960-1970s, and popularized "mouth juggling" with ping-pong balls. Although his father taught him how to juggle at an early age, Francisco believed that he was too shy to be a performer, and he chose to go instead to college and earn a degree in economics. He later spent some time in the military, and began honing his juggling skills in his spare time, as a hobby.

When a small circus owned by friends of his family came to play near the base where Francisco was stationed, he showed his juggling routine and was offered a job on the spot. Francisco realized that he couldn't escape his circus heritage, and embarked upon a brilliant career with an act reminiscent of his father's, but with a more contemporary touch.

Picaso, Jr., as Francisco has become known, has since been featured in Europe's major circuses and variety theaters, and in the United States at the Big Apple Circus in 2004-2005. He has been awarded a Silver Medal at the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris, and a Silver Clown at the International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo in 2002. He also appears in the Guiness Book of World Records for flashingIn juggling, the act of juggling objects in a move that is sustained for only a very short time. four ping-pong balls with his mouth.

See Also

• Video: Picaso, Jr., juggler, in the Big Apple Circus production of Picturesque (2004)