How to Perform the Balducci Levitation
Amaze someone by gently rising about 4 inches off the ground.
[edit] Steps
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Stand in front of the person, facing away, with your body positioned at about a 45-degree angle to the person's point of view.
About 10 feet from the spectator
- Turn so that they can see your left foot and heel, and the back of your right heel.
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Use your hidden right toes to slowly push yourself up a few inches, keeping your heels together.
- Remember to keep the heel of the foot closest to the person level with the ground, to provide a sense of level levitation.
- Hold the position for 2 or 3 seconds, then let yourself down quickly, avoiding sudden moves or shudders.
[edit] Tips
- This trick is best done in the evening when there are shadows to hide your right foot, also, try to position yourself so that the shadow is concealing your foot in relations with where your audience is.
- Angle is everything. Practice this in front of a mirror or another person. Lack of practice will surely give you away.
- Turn so that they can see your left foot and heel, and the back of your right heel. If they see your right toes they will see how it's done.
- Try to be subtle when doing this. Don't just say, "I'm going to float now." Say instead something like "Now watch my feet closely" to make the person focus on the illusion. Make sure every one is on one side of you.
- Levitation is powerful magic indeed. Appearing weakened and out of breath after settling back down is one way to illustrate how powerful and difficult levitation is.
- There's a good video called "The Self-Levitation Video" starring Michael Maxwell and Paul Harris, which is dedicated to the Balducci Levitation, and contains lots of psychological subtleties which help to sell this effect.
- Bend your knees when coming down or act like you fall down after "stopping levitating while in mid air"
- Cut a hole in one of your shoes letting your foot out, this will increase your view-area (people can look from more places)
[edit] Warnings
- Don't go up too high or they will see your toes.
- Don't stand too close or far away; it could reveal the trick.
- Don't show the spectators this trick twice.
[edit] Sources and Citations
- 5min - Video on how to do the Balducci levitation. 5min is a videopedia for instructional videos. Source of images in this article, shared with permission.
