Paris the “Hip Hop Juggler” has been a guest performer at the White House, the Big Apple Circus, and the WeFree Festival in San Patrignano, Italy.

 

Born and raised in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, Paris was a premier student of the Big Apple Circus’ “Beyond the Ring” program, an outreach program based in Harlem that gave underprivileged youth top-quality circus training. As a 9-year old who excelled quickly in acrobatics and trapeze, he quickly began representing the program on television, earning his first TV appearance and interview on Good Day New York. At age 12, Paris began training as a juggler under the guidance of Russell Davis, an instructor for the Big Apple Circus program.

 

In 1997, Paris performed live on The Today Show. Quickly identifying Paris’ unique style that included juggling choreographed to Hip Hop music, Al Roker gave him the nickname the “Hip Hop Juggler,” which eventually became Paris’ official stage name. Paris’ other television credits include juggling appearances on Sesame Street, What Not to Wear, New York Live, and a commercial for Morning Joe.

 

Paris has been a guest performer twice at the Big Apple Circus’ big top tent in New York City, and at the Universoul Circus. He has performed at the US Open tennis event for 3 straight years, the World Science Fair 2 years in a row, and New York’s SummerStage three straight years, where he has made 8 appearances.  Other venues include the International Jugglers Association Youth Showcase and the Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia.

 

Paris has been booked as an entertainer for corporations such as Google, American Express, Sony, Kaplan, 3M, and Verizon. He performed for Katy Perry when she launched her beauty products business at a promotional event in New York, and Hollywood director M. Night Shyamalan booked Paris two straight years for his annual fundraising auction. For his televised showcase entitled “Electrified” in New York, world famous illusionist David Blaine enlisted Paris to train him in juggling for the show. He has performed at various colleges and universities including Columbia University, MIT,  Northeastern University, Pratt Institute, and University of Iowa. He is set to host the Philadelphia Jugglers Festival in October of 2016.

 

Years after completing his training at the Big Apple Circus’ youth programs, Paris returned to the programs as an instructor in Harlem, a post that he held for 6 years, including 3 years as a head instructor and his final year as program coordinator. Paris also taught at Cirque du Monde, Cirque du Soleil’s social circus program in the Bronx, for 2 years. He is currently the director of JugglingClasses.com. Top students who have trained under Paris’s program include Sam Schiff (featured performer at Late Night with David Letterman), Bennett Santora (2016 International Jugglers Association Juniors competition bronze medalist), and Aaron Schondorf (two-time Circus Smirkus tour cast member).

 

Articles about Paris’ work as a performer and instructor have been published in Black Enterprise, Time Out New York, and the Associated Press.