“Peter Pan” conquered the Manege – MK

Last weekend, the first International Festival “Artist” ended at the Nikulin Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard. Contrary to the sanctions policy, the international status (both among the jury and among the participants) was completely justified. From the final gala presentation – MK columnist.

In fact, the festival in the Nikulin circus is not the first, but after a long break caused primarily by the pandemic, it is the first in a new format. It was called “Artist,” and each of the participants ended their short speech from the screen with the words in Russian: “I am an artist.” This is what artists from Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Italy, France, Switzerland, China, Moldova, Peru, Mexico, Argentina, and naturally Russia said – in general, the representation is solid, as in pre-pandemic times.

Alexander Oleshko, who led the programs for two festival days and is no coincidence in the circus (his first education was a variety and circus school), announced the results together with the management on Sunday evening, and in anticipation of them a childhood celebration unfolded in the arena. After all, the circus sends us there.

The plastic overture is exclusively theatrical in nature. Actors in commedia dell’arte masks, all sorts of columbines, harlequins, brigellas, tartaglias, in an elegant parade-alley… and then it started. The acrobats from Ethiopia, who were not strong, but needed support, were put first – the guys still have to grow and grow. Or maybe the performance was influenced by the fact that during the festival one black acrobat disappeared somewhere. However, their uninspiring performance was helped by the public to forget the wonderful parrot trainer Oleg Khotim (Russia), whose obstinate birds humbly hung with their carcasses, grabbing the crossbars with their predatory beaks. Without much coercion, they rolled over the table and, as an achievement of training, rode around on small bicycles, spinning the pedals with their tenacious paws.

We admired the strong performances of the aerialists on the masts, especially Yegor Kovalenko, who represented the Belarusian circus at the festival. He could be called two-faced, since a gilded mask covered the back of his head, and in his flights, performed at speed, the artist simultaneously showed two images – a modern tough guy and a sad thinker.

Anastasia Demidova (Kazakhstan) demonstrated mind-blowing flights on aerial belts, on the mast were Peruvian Riveros Pacheco Ximena Elizabeth and a couple from Moldova Igor Tychinsky and Yulia Bezrukova, whose act could easily be called a free fall, which, fortunately, did not take place.

I was incredibly impressed by the unique performance “Diabolo”, presented by artists from France and Switzerland. Two performers danced at speed, easily and as if at ease, throwing out the reels, which they then took onto the ropes. And all this is easy, deft, with the most charming smiles on your face. And, of course, the Chinese women with the number “Feather” – Liu Hinkui and Hu Yangqiuian on the trapeze, working at heights without safety nets. Performing the most complex stunts that amazed with their strength and audacity, they also created the image of birds, which both the costumes and the sound design worked for. Argentines Ambiricha Pessanha Tobias and Martinez Vanesa demonstrated powerful balance with their balance on the perches. With such balance and rotation, you can safely become an astronaut.

These numbers, I was sure, would take prizes. However, imagine my surprise when my layout (and everyone has their own) flew past the cash register. The above-mentioned artists were consoled with special prizes from various circus companies, studios and even jury members. The prizes themselves were awarded in two age categories: “Junior” and “Artist”. The undisputed golden junior was the “Peter Pan” act of aerialists from the Donetsk circus “Cosmos”. No adjustments to the political situation or new regions are appropriate here – Arina Klyueva and Sergei Shumilo worked amazingly!

The adults were surprised by the bronze award given to acrobats on aerial masts from Yakutia, for whom something went wrong at the gala performance and who were not able to show their best side. But the “gold”, divided between the clowns and trapeze artists, was undeniable. The “No Socks” trio convincingly proved that a clown is someone who can do everything in the arena; and the three-parallel air flight under the direction of Stanislav Bogdanov (Moscow Nikulin Circus) was truly breathtaking – it was a real performance in the air.