Richard Hartnell is one of the most distinguished American contact jugglers. His graceful performances showcase the art form's ethereal fluidity, mystifying audiences on stages and streets between Bourbon Street and Black Rock City, Bristol and Berlin. He currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
A co-founder of the Bellingham Circus Guild in northwest Washington State; in 2009, relocated to Vulcan Studios, a collective of prop performers in East Oakland; had a video go viral in the global circus community ("The Meaning of Flow"); currently enjoying an artist-in-residence position at Flowtoys in Berkeley. Has performed with troupes including the Dream Science Circus, Sweet Can Circus, Hellzapoppin Revue, and the New Old Time Chautauqua.
From the fundamentals to the far reaches, Richard has a grasp of contact juggling technique that brings him repeatedly to juggling conventions worldwide. In the past year, Richard has been invited to teach contact juggling in California, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, Texas, Florida, Canada, the UK, and Germany.