What term describes the art of deception often utilized in performances?

The term that best describes the art of deception often utilized in performances is sleight of hand. This refers to the skillful manipulation of objects, typically involving quick movement and precision to create the illusion of something magical or deceptive happening. It is commonly seen in magic performances where the magician appears to perform impossible feats, such as making objects disappear or change places, relying on their mastery of hand movements to mislead the audience's perception.

Sleight of hand specifically focuses on the dexterity involved in trickery, whereas juggling involves the art of throwing and catching objects but does not inherently involve deception. Illusion refers to a broader category of tricks that can include visual phenomena but does not pinpoint the specific hand movements that create the deception. Mime, although theatrical and expressive, primarily relies on gesture and facial expression without involving traditional deceptive techniques like those found in sleight of hand.