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Juggler joins month-long Shanghai street performance trial

Month-long programme tests feasibility of licensing street performers in metropolis

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Lu Xinyi says Shanghai wants to be a world-class city; it's a nice dream.
Mandy Zuoin Shanghai

Lu Xinyi, 33, loves to captivate a roadside audience with his juggling skills, but until the end of last month it was illegal in Shanghai. Now Lu can busk - in certain places at set times - thanks to a pilot programme allowing him and seven others to ply their trade in the Anyi Road district as licensed street performers in a month-long trial.

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I've been doing this on and off for several years, first in Malaysia in 2012 and [again] last year. I performed contact juggling routines around Sungei Wang Plaza in Kuala Lumpur whenever I had time. This form of juggling, in which I manipulate crystal balls to run around my body or make them appear suspended in the air, is quite suited to street performance. There's no special venue requirements and it can be performed right in front of the audience. I used to love performing magic tricks and started learning this art six years ago. I thought it was beautiful and have been obsessed with it ever since - I taught myself by researching online. It was just a hobby in the beginning, but as time went by I started thinking of making some money from it.

I have kept contact with the city's Performance Trade Association, which manages and regulates the city's performers and cultural troupes, and let them know previously that I wanted to be a street performer … Suddenly they came up with this project and asked me if I wanted to participate, so I jumped at the chance.

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