L U T H E R    B A N G E R T

lutherbangert.com | +1 319 333 6434 | lutherbangert@gmail.com

J U G G L E R  |  D A N C E R  |  T E A C H E R

P R O F I L E 

CURRENT BASE Philadelphia, PA, USA

DOB 26 January 1986 | Burlington, Iowa, USA 

NATIONALITY American

DISCIPLINES + SKILLS Juggling (7 balls, 5 clubs, 6 rings) | Dance | Qi gong

G R A N T S  / A W A R D S

Illuminate the Arts Individual Artist Award | 2024 | Creative Philadelphia

Grant awarded to support current creative projects

Circus International Film Festival | 2023 | Online

Selection for Distillations short film

Iowa City Public Art Matching Grant |2021 | Iowa City Public Art Program

Grant awarded for two performances and community workshops in public parks of solo show ‘Distillations’

Iowa Arts & Culture Resilience Grant | 2021 |Iowa Arts Council & National Endowment for the Arts

Arts and culture grant for development, collaboration, and creation, and premiere of ‘Distillations’ contemporary juggling show

Juggling and Movement Grant | 2018 | Finlandia Foundation National

Artistic grant awarded for research and development project at Arteles Creative Center

Guinness World Record | 2013 | IOWA CITY, IA

“Most Things Juggled Whilst Sword Swallowing” - 5 balls for 11.72 seconds

E D U C A T I O N 

C O R E M O T I O N Certification Program with Daria Faïn | Sept 2017 - Present | NEW YORK CITY, NY 

Intensive study of Qi gong and five element theory as a creative foundation in movement practice and embodiment

Bachelor of Arts - Philosophy | 2004 - 2009 | University of Iowa | IOWA CITY, IOWA

Fall Semester 2008 | Studied abroad at the Vivekananda Institute of India Studies in Mysore, India  + Intensive studies of sitar with Saroj Mukherjee and yoga at Sri Sai Saraswati Vidyakendra

R E S I D E N C I E S  &  T R A I N I N G

Boundless Motion Artist Residency | Jan 2025 | 3AM Theatre | NYC, NY

One week technical and creative residency for “Hourglass” project

Circus Academy New York Artist in Residence | Oct 2024 | NYC, NY

One week residency in creation period for “Hourglass” project

Circadium School of Contemporary Circus | May 2024 | PHILADELPHIA, PA

One month residency in initial creation period for “Hourglass” project

BACK TO BASICS Residency | Aug 2018 | Arteles Creative Center | HAUKIJÄRVI, FINLAND 

One month creative residency and research, juggling and moving in a rural Finnish forest with no internet or phone

Fighting Monkey Intensive Workshop | May 2016 |Dansehallerne| COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

4 day workshop on training and movement principles of Fighting Monkey with founders Linda Kapetanea and Jozef Frucek 

Shona Jhuri Residency | Mar - Apr  2016 | SANTINIKETAN, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Trained for 2-months solo practice intensive in the goldendust trees, culminating in solo performance “Lilting Reveries”

Deltebre Dansa Festival | Jul 2014 + 2015 + 2016 |DELTEBRE, SPAIN

Trained with Fighting Monkey, David Zambrano, Rakesh Sukesh, Laura Aris, Jos Baker, Martin Kilvady, Anton Lachky

Juggler’s Catacombs | Nov - Dec 2013 | BERLIN, GERMANY

Studied organic juggling and contemporary dance in various workshops with Stefan Sing and Christiana Casadio + intensive personal practice

S H O W S  +  P E R F O R M A N C E   

CONTEMPORARY CIRCUS / ART / DANCE EVENTS

Michael C. Rockefeller Wing Reopening Festival | May 2025 - upcoming | Metropolitan Museum of Art | NYC, NY 

Three 30 minute solo shows

“what we have that’s enough” Performance Series | Feb 2025 | Studio 34 | PHILADELPHIA, PA

Group improvisation performance led by Jungwoong Kim

3AM Theatre | Jan 2025 | NYC, NY

Performed “Hourglass” work in progress 

Circus Academy New York | Oct 2024 | NYC, NY

Performed “Hourglass” work in progress

Hand to Hand Circus Festival| Jun 2024 | FringeArts | PHILADELPHIA, PA

Performed “Granule #1”

LUNG Festival | Apr 2024 | Losaida United Community Garden | NYC, NY 

Performed “Seed Bombs #1 / Upon Humans”show choreographed by Daria Faïn with dancer Samantha Lysaght

Kindling | Apr 2024 | Maas Building | PHILADELPHIA, PA 

Solo act “Shutter Speed”

Bindlestiff Open Stage | May 2024 | Voorhees Theater | NYC, NY 

Solo act“6 180”

Go Within Winter Series | Dec 2023 | Esalen Institute | BIG SUR, CA

45 minute juggling show “Into Soft Time.” Performed sitar for ‘Music for Morning Pages’ and ‘Sitar and Soak’

Metropolitan Museum of Art | Oct 2023 | METFest | NYC, NY

Solo juggling inside the museum as part of the biennial festival

Creston Arts | Jun 2023 | CRESTON, IA

“Distillations” show

Esalen Institute Summer Groove Series | Jun 2023 | BIG SUR, CA

Resident teacher (Exploring the Kinespheric Canvas) and performed one hour show “Ephemera”

Stanley Art Museum Opening | Aug 2022 | Stanley Museum | IOWA CITY, IA

Solo juggling act at museum opening event

‘Distillations’ Premiere | May 2022 | FilmScene | IOWA CITY, IA

Premiere of new solo contemporary juggling show outside of the local independent cinema and in two public parks

Iowa Dance Festival | October 2020 | IOWA CITY, IA

Movement and juggling piece “Still Life (Priority Express)”

Westfest Dance Festival | April 2019 | Westbeth Artists Residence | NYC, NY

Juggling and movement performance

Never Before, Never Again Improvisation Festival | Jan 2019 | Triskelion Arts | NYC, NY

“in soft time” performance. Festival curated by Rachel Mckinstry

Deltebre Dansa Festival |  2014 + 2015 + 2016 | DELTEBRE, SPAIN

• Solo stage show “Objects’ End”  

• Performed in a collaborative dance show under directors Erick Jimenez + Will Menter   

• Performed in a collaborative circus show under director Roberto Magro                        

Melaka Art and Performance Festival | 2015 | MELAKA, MALAYSIA Performed both in a solo stage show and a collaborative creation in butoh and ritualism festival

Depth of Field by Chunky Move | 2015 | MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

Juggled as accompaniment for contemporary dance show

CIRCUS + VARIETY PERFORMANCES / FESTIVALS / COMPANIES

Airplay Entertainment | Sept 2023 - present | PHILADELPHIA, USA

Performing at corporate functions and circus events around Philadelphia and New Jersey

Greenwood Cemetery Gala | Jun 2024 | NYC, NY

Performed solo act as cast of gala show

Circadium School of Contemporary Circus Annual Gala Fundraiser | Nov 2023 | PHILADELPHIA, PA

Performed solo act ‘Cloud Passade’ as cast of gala show

Fabrika Cabaret Club | Mar 2023 - present | PHILADELPHIA, PA

Performing  solo act “no. 7” as cast member of dinner theater show

Flying Carpet Children Festival | Sept 2023 | MARDIN, TURKEY and surrounding

Joined show creation with members of Sirkhane Circus and a cast of 30 performers from around the world and performed solo and group acts as part of the mobile festival over 10 days

International Jugglers’ Association Festival | Jul 2023 | SOUTH BEND, IN

Performed solo act in “Planting the Juggling Seed” show at local library

Chicago Circus and Performing Arts Festival| Mar 2023 | CHICAGO, IL

Performed solo show “Distillations”

Rochester Institute of Technology Juggle - In | Mar 2023 | ROCHESTER, NY

Performed solo act 'Crossing' at regional juggling festival

Poconos Juggling Festival | Mar 2023 | LANSFORD, PA

Performed solo act 'Crossing' at regional juggling festival

Madison Juggling Festival | Jan 2023 | MADISON, WI

Performed solo act 'Crossing' at regional juggling festival

International Juggling Association Festival Welcome Show | Jul 2022 | CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA

Solo juggling act

Kleinkunstfestival Insel Usedom “Varieté am Meer” | Jun 2022 | HERINGSDORF, GERMANY

Solo juggling act

Night of Philosophy and Ideas | Feb 2020 | NYC, NY

Created and performed a group juggling act with Jérôme Thomas, Jörg Müller, and Martin Schwietzke

Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Gardens | Nov 2019 - Jan 2020 | BRONX, NY

Performed solo juggling act in American Circus Theater company production.

The Muse Circus | 2016 - 2020, 2022 - present | NYC, NY

Performing with ABCirque for various corporate events + shows in The Muse resident location and around the greater NYC area

Bindlestiff Circus | 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022 - present | NYC, NY

Performing for variety nights and various events

Clowns Without Borders | 2016 | SAN ANTONIO, TX

Performed in group show and taught juggling and physical theater workshops at St. PJ’s Children’s Home

Portland Juggling Festival | 2012 + 2016 | PORTLAND, OR

Performed in gala show + led workshop “Increasing the Kinespheric Canvas”

Freedom Family Circus | 2012 + 2014 | EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

Performed daily in children’s shows and adult sideshows as a juggler and sword swallower

Moisture Festival | 2013 | SEATTLE, WA

Variety Performer

Wanderlust Circus | Sept 2011 - July 2012 | PORTLAND, OR

Juggler + sword swallower + character in multiple physical theatre productions

Great Bombay Circus | Nov 2010 + March - April 2011 | MYSORE + MANDYA + MANGALORE, INDIA 

Juggler + unicyclist + sword swallower 

Cirque Stupendo | June 2008 - Sept 2011 | IOWA CITY, IOWA

Co-founder, director, and performer (various disciplines)

STREET PERFORMING 

Solo Street Performer | 2012 - Present | 20+ countries 

Performing my street show on streets, stages, and at festivals around the world

Delaware Waterfront Street Performance Series | May - Aug 2023 | PHILADELPHIA, USA

Performing solo juggling shows during weekly events

Linz Pflasterspektakel | Jul 2022 | LINZ, AUSTRIA

Accredited street performer

Festival Internazionale Artisti di Strada | Aug 2019 | MOIO DELLA CIVITELLA 

Accredited street performer

San Marino International Arts Festival | Aug 2019 | SAN MARINO, SAN MARINO

“Pandora and the Afterthought” abstract performance art show with Cole Highnam

Inart Festival of Street Performers | Aug 2019 | TIVAT, MONTENEGRO

Accredited street performer

Internationales Kleinkunstfestival | June 2019 + 2022 | USEDOM, GERMANY

Street and Stage Performance

Izmir International Fair | Sept 2018 | IZMIR, TURKEY

Street and Stage Performance

Ferrara Buskers Festival | Sept 2017 | FERRARA, ITALY

Accredited street performer

Dubai Marina Street Performer Festival | March 2015 | DUBAI, U.A.E.

Accredited Street Performer

Edinburgh Fringe Festival | Annually  2012-2017 | EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

Street and stage performance throughout the festival

T E A C H I N G   E X P E R I E N C E

Circadium School of Contemporary Circus | Sep 2022 - Present |PHILADELPHIA, PA

Juggling Teacher, artistic coach, and lecturer at first higher education program for circus in the USA 

Philadelphia School of Circus Arts | Sep 2022 - Present | PHILADELPHIA, PA

Juggling and Balance Coach for weekly youth and adult classes

Cheltenham Township Adult School | Mar - May 2024 |PHILADELPHIA, PA

Teaching five week Intro to Juggling course at community adult learning center

Jefferson University | Oct 2022/2023/2024 |PHILADELPHIA, PA

Co-taught five ‘Success and Failure in Circus’ seminars for the Creative Making Workshop Program

Esalen Institute | Jun + Dec 2023 | BIG SUR, CA

Teacher in residence (workshops: “Kinespheric Canvas” and “The Art of Practice”) for summer and winter series

American Youth Circus Organization Philadelphia Regional Festival | Apr 2023 |PHILADELPHIA, PA

“Juggling and Movement” and “Creative and Accessible Juggling for All Levels and Abilities” workshops

Waldorf School of Philadelphia | Mar - May 2023/2024 | PHILADELPHIA, PA

Five week juggling course to grades 1 - 5 as part of their physical education programming

Inwood Movement Studio | Oct 2019 - Apr 2020 | NYC, NY

7 month movement focused class series  “Juggling for Coordination” for adults of mixed juggling experience (beginner - advanced)