Once you’ve mastered the standard balance on the Rola-Bola, play around with your stance (so you can get used to regaining your balance in all sorts of positions!). This will also help you quickly master many more tricks like. ..
First set of tricks to learn
Surf: This is where you balance on the roll ball so it looks like you’re surfing (i.e. both feet pointing in the same direction, along the board and in a slightly crouched position). The best advice is to work the standard balance tricks once again, but with your feet in the surf position!
Pause: This is where you’re rolling from side to side, and suddenly stop with the cylinder at one end of the ball-roller. This obviously all has to do with weight distribution! Slowly roll to one end of the board. Once the cylinder is near the end of the board, put all your weight on the foot on that side. Use the other foot simply to balance the board so it doesn’t rock back and forth. This is a useful pause trick for you to accept some applause from your audience!
Crouch/Squat: Slowly lower yourself into a squatting position and then rise back up to a standing position. As you descend, it can be easy to completely lose your balance because your center of gravity is also shifting, so take your time and be careful!
Standing on one foot: Your foot should be on top of the cylinder. The best advice would be to try to balance on the cylinder without the board on top in the first place.
Walk on Cylinder: Stand on the cylinder and try to move forward (similar to using a Walking Globe). Maybe this could be your opening trick where the cylinder is on the side of the room and the board is in the middle of the stage?
What accessories can I use while I’m in the Rola Bola?
If you’re already a juggler, then consider using the props you already use. Balls and clubs are relatively easy. Poi and Diabolo are not that simple! For my rola-bola routine, I use 2 juggling knives and a chicken! For whatever props you intend to use, make sure you have practiced with them many times without using the rola-bola. You won’t be able to move back and forth to catch props, so your juggling needs to be fluid!
Certain tricks are obviously not possible in the roll-ball (under the leg, for example, unless you keep both legs on the ground and do an “albert throw”!) Similarly, certain tricks that require sudden movements very fast (such as chops) are best avoided as they could throw you off balance. Swinging poi is the equivalent of patting yourself on the head and rubbing your stomach while trying to swing props one way and roll the other way, so it’s best avoided too!
advanced tricks
Another person! It is possible for 2 people to stand on the board facing each other while holding hands or hugging (to help each other stay on the board of course!). I’ve seen some performers jump into a rola-ball just as someone jumps. it’s. You should work on timing and make sure you go forward and not to the side in case the trick doesn’t work, as you’ll end up with a board flying at you! 2 People could also look the same way (one person climbs after the other person).
Basketball: Rola-Bola on top of a basketball or bowling ball
Jump/Turn: Practice jumping while balanced on the roller, then when you feel comfortable try doing a 180 degree turn (half turn), then finally build up to doing a 360 degree turn (full). Keep your jump as low as possible as you don’t want the board to start sliding to the side, so you want to land as fast as you can and with minimal impact!
Jump mount: Have someone hold the rollerball with the board horizontal and release it just as you’re about to land.
Hands and feet: Hands on one side of the rola-ball and feet on the other side! Or just use one hand and one foot on each side. Do not put your fingers under the board in case it stops and crushes them!
Leapfrog! I’ve seen Luke Burrage jump someone and land on a ground ball! Only to try if you are very brave or very dumb!
Picking up props from the ground: A fun trick that builds on the squat/crouch trick from earlier is to pick up props from the ground, one at a time! When you do it, make this trick look really hard by making the board wobble and look like you’re about to fall off, but it should be easy if you can get off!