SASHA VOSK  PRODUCER-DIRECTOR   LENA VOSK PRODUCER  Sasha Vosk was born in Kiev, and has been involved in show business since age 11, learning the art of mime from his uncle.  Moving to Moscow at 14, he performed and studied mime, stand-up comedy, and acting throughout his teens. Enrolling at The Moscow College of Architecture, Sasha continued performing, adding the circus arts to his act.  Graduating with a degree in architecture, Sasha spent the next two years in the Air Force, where his job was entertaining the troops throughout the former Soviet Union.  Being released from service, and deciding that the circus was his love, Sasha was accepted to The Moscow College of the Circus and Variety Arts, home of the famed Moscow Circus. After performing for the last 15 years, and seeking a wider audience, more freedom, and greater opportunities, Sasha emigrated to the United States in 1981. In 1990, he created and co-produced the Emmy award-winning HBO feature film Billy Crystal- Midnight Train to Moscow.  Its historical and cultural impact made it a highlight of HBO’s programming for years. This was followed by the circus/song/dance spectacular Moscow Nights, which he created and produced with the State Circus of Ukraine, and had a two year run in Moscow.  For its 125th anniversary, the State Circus of Ukraine honored Sasha for this particular production and for “making a substantial contribution to the development of the Art of Circus.” Sasha, along with his wife and partner Lena (another former Moscow Circus performer) produced one of the largest ethnic Russian festivals in New York City.  Located in Battery Park, the show drew more than 300,000 people over its Labor Day Weekend run.  One of the highlights of this festival was the official return of the Moscow Circus to the United States for the first time since the break-up of the Soviet Union. Since 1998 Sasha and Lena Vosk begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting have created and produced successful American tours and other international tours of the MOSCOW CIRCUS.

 The Moscow Circus® is proud to announce that it joined entertainment forces with one of the best American theme parks in the industry – “Dollywood” of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The following Moscow Circus® performers will acrobatically and otherwise enhance the “Dollywood’s” award winning show:   “Sha Kon O Hey”.

STATIC TRAPEZE and MIXED ACROBATIC DUO         MYKHAYLO PAVLOV and NATALIYA   PIONTEK Mr. PAVLOV was born in 1975 in Donetsk, Ukraine. At 6 years of age he started a rigorous training in gymnastics, practicing 4 hours a day throughout his childhood. He then went on to study at the Donetsk Institute of Physical Culture and Sports. After winning the all-around Junior Championship of the USSR, he became a member of the Junior National Teams of both USSR and Ukraine. His remarkable athletic achievements led to participation in international gymnastics showcases in France, Great Britain and the USA. A native of Donetsk, NATALIYA PIONTEK was born in 1978. 4 years later she started her daily training as a rhythmic gymnast. Several years later she made the Junior Championship Teams of USSR and Ukraine, and from 1986 until 1991 she participated in the most important international gymnastics competitions. She switched disciplines in 1991 to Sports Acrobatics, and won a bronze medal at the 1995 World Championship in Poland. After another switch to Sports Aerobics, she entered the world of entertainment. As a dancer, she toured Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, Oman and Syria. The couple met while studying at the Donetsk Institute of Physical Culture and Sports; they went on to become partners in life and circus business. Together they created STATIC TRAPEZE and MIXED ACROBATIC DUO acts. Representing the best traditions of the Moscow Circus, Mykhaylo and Nataliya worked for highly regarded British company Stageworks World Wide Productions in their shows: "Eclipse" and "Forbidden". During their 9 years touring around Great Brittan they were also involved in the special projects for The Sir Elton John AIDS Foundation. In 2008 Mr. Pavlov and Ms. Piontek rejoined the Moscow Circus and the Odessa State Circus.

GYMNAST   OLGA KARABANOVA born in Donetsk, Ukraine, had a perfect athletic start as a child, taking up gymnastics and swimming, which gave her discipline, strength, flexibility and grace. By 2006, she reached the high level of the Master of Sports and became a member of the competition team of Ukraine. As a member of the country’s best team, she took gold and silver medals in a number of international competitions. In the midst of a very promising athletic career at the age of 15, Ms. Karabanova switched her professional focus to the field of circus and dance. As a result, in 2008 she won a special award in the Circus Arts at the Second World Delphic Games, where she established herself as one of the most promising young performers with the Moscow Circus.

CLOWN - ACROBAT   LEONID SOROKIN was born in Boyarka, Ukraine. Mr. Sorikin has been in sports since the age of 7, trying different disciplines and focusing on acrobatics relatively late at the age of 12. This didn’t prevent him from reaching the highest level in tumbling, representing the city of Kiev in the major competitions. But then he drastically changed his profession “running away with the Moscow Circus” as… a clown, his long time dream. He learned the craft at the “Merry Clowns” studio in Kiev. Having an exceptional acrobatic background makes Mr. Sorokin stand out in the Clowns’ field and puts him very much in demand both in Ukraine and Russia. He combines his clown’s career and studies at the Slavic University of Kiev.

VOLTIJ DUO   VALERIYA SAVELYEVA was born in Doneck. At 10 years of age she made the Olympic Reserve Team of Gymnastics and 2 years later she graduated into the All Ukrainian Team. As a member of this world leading team she participated in number of international competitions, including 2 in the United States, in 2006 and 2008, where she was awarded 4 Bronze medals. Other award- winning competitions were in Czechoslovakia, Belgium, England and Spain. 2007 was a remarkable year for Ms. Savelyeva: she became Ukraine’s Champion, and later that year she was chosen to lead the country’s gymnastics team to the European Youth Festival (EYOF), where her team took the gold. Ms. Savelyeva’s other passions are: circus and dance. By 2009 jointly with Mr. Novitskyi Ms. Savelyeva developed a “voltij” act. This rare act is based on precision acrobatics, gymnastics and sheer physical power. Her wide range of dance training, which vary from classical to hip-hop, notably enhances her act’s performance. Although they started to perform together in 2009, having outstanding acrobatic and gymnastic background puts their act in high demand.

AERIEL STRAPS   ROMAN NOVITSKYI, a native of Donetsk, Ukraine, Mr. Novitskyi was born in 1990. In 1999 he started his training in acrobatics and by 2003 he had achieved a Master of Sports degree in acrobatics. Starting with 2007 for several years he kept the title of an Absolute Champion of Ukraine’s largest province and at the same time, securing his “after the sports” future, he had developed an Aerial Straps and a Voltij Duo circus acts. In 2009 he joined the Circus organization and started his performing career. Audiences in the key Ukrainian and Russian cities enthusiastically receive his performances and many, who knew him as an athlete, find his “stage performing” as impressive as his award winning acrobatic routines.

 

ACROBATIC TEAM   SERGII POSTEMSKYI and TETIANA POSTEMSKA Mr. Postemskyi was born in Vinnica, Ukraine. He started his training in acrobatics at the age of 4 and by 1999 he had reached the highest athletic rank – Master of Sports of International Level. His remarkable athletic career and natural artistic talent unsurprisingly lead him to the Moscow Circus in 2003. With ease and much success he has worked in different circus genres such as “Russian swing”, “Russian pole” and trampoline. The highest of his circus festivals’ trophies is the Special Award from the world’s top circus competition in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Tetiana Postemska, a native of Pavlograd, Ukraine, was born in 1987. 6 years later she was in the gymnastics gym practicing daily. Her tenacity, which became even stronger with years, led her to becoming a well rounded person in athletics, circus arts and academics. A high achiever by nature, Ms. Postemska got the high “Master of Sports” rank first in gymnastics and then in acrobatics. She also managed to combine 2 athletic careers, circus studies, and earning 2 college degrees: first, from Harkov State College of Culture, and the second from Kharkov State University of Education.                                                                                                   Mr. Postemsky and Ms. Postemska truly blossomed as performers when they focused their artistic energy on creating their own acrobatic duo act in 2007. Audiences and critics at home, as well as in Spain, Germany, Poland and France have admired the couple’s striking performances.

 

 

GYMNAST & AERIEL SILKS     TETYANA VALOVA born in Pavlograd, Ukraine. Ms. Valova has been in gymnastics since age of 2. 7-year old Tetyana added sports Rock’n Roll and contemporary dance to her athletic and performing careers. At 11 years of age, Ms. Valova made the team of Olympic Reserve and in 2005 she became a member of the elite Ukrainian competition team, where she represented the state of Ukraine for 4 years taking an active part in many European and World competitions, some of them are: The European Olympic Youth Games and the World Gymnastics Cup. Starting with 2009 she concentrated on her career with the Moscow Circus, performing as a lead in the group gymnastics teams and developing her aerial silks act. Her recent tours included France and Spain.

HAND BALANCING   SERGEY TOROPOV was born in Arhangelsk and began his professional career with the Moscow Circus in 1995, after graduating from the State College of Circus in Moscow. He performed his gravity defying hand-balancing act all over Russia, appearing at some of the best known Russian venues, such as St. Petersburg’ Music Hall, and Nikulin’s Old Moscow Circus. His foreign engagements include a 3-year contract with Las Vegas’ “Circus-Circus Hotel and Casino”, US theatrical tours in 2005-2010 and extended tours of South Korea, Belgium and Canada.

 

The Moscow Circus®

thanks the following performers for terrifically successful and memorable US tour 2010!

CONTORTIONIST   ELENA ZAVYALOVA was born in Chelyabinsk, Russia, and had a perfect athletic start as a child, taking up rhythmic gymnastics, which gave her discipline, strength, flexibility and grace. But in the midst of a very promising athletic career at the age of 15 Ms. Zavyalova switched her professional focus to the field of Circus. At first she concentrated on hand-balancing work, but then in 2001 she established herself as a remarkable contortionist with the Moscow Circus. Audiences and critics at home, as well as in the USA, Brazil, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Turkey and England have admired Ms. Zavyalova’s extraordinary and striking performances.

STATIC TRAPEZE and MIXED ACROBATIC DUO        MYKHAYLO PAVLOV and NATALIYA PIONTEK.   MYKHAYLO PAVLOV and NATALIYA PIONTEK Mr. PAVLOV was born in 1975 in Donetsk, Ukraine. At 6 years of age he started a rigorous training in gymnastics, practicing 4 hours a day throughout his childhood. He then went on to study at the Donetsk Institute of Physical Culture and Sports. After winning the all-around Junior Championship of the USSR, he became a member of the Junior National Teams of both USSR and Ukraine. His remarkable athletic achievements led to participation in international gymnastics showcases in France, Great Britain and the USA. A native of Donetsk, NATALIYA PIONTEK was born in 1978. 4 years later she started her daily training as a rhythmic gymnast. Several years later she made the Junior Championship Teams of USSR and Ukraine, and from 1986 until 1991 she participated in the most important international gymnastics competitions. She switched disciplines in 1991 to Sports Acrobatics, and won a bronze medal at the 1995 World Championship in Poland. After another switch to Sports Aerobics, she entered the world of entertainment. As a dancer, she toured Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, Oman and Syria. The couple met while studying at the Donetsk Institute of Physical Culture and Sports; they went on to become partners in life and circus business. Together they created STATIC TRAPEZE and MIXED ACROBATIC DUO acts. Representing the best traditions of the Moscow Circus, Mykhaylo and Nataliya worked for highly regarded British company Stageworks World Wide Productions in their shows: "Eclipse" and "Forbidden". During their 9 years touring around Great Brittan they were also involved in the special projects for The Sir Elton John AIDS Foundation. In 2008 Mr. Pavlov and Ms. Piontek rejoined the Moscow Circus and the Odessa State Circus.

CLOWNS   VLADIMIR and IRINA PLUGATAR A native of Kursk, Mr. PLUGATAR has been in the circus business since age 12, using in his act the art of juggling, musical parody, equilibr, magic and acrobatics. A graduate of the State College of Circus and Variety Arts, Moscow, he began his professional career in the Moscow Circus in 1986 as a clown and a musical acrobat. He has participated in tours across England, Finland, Cypress, South Korea, Czechoslovakia and Italy. IRINA PLUGATAR – Born in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Russia, Ms. Pluhatar graduated from the Institute of Foreign Languages in Pyategorsk, and worked as a language teacher at a high school before graduating again - this time into a circus team of “Musical eccentrics” with Vladimir Plugatar. Vladimir & Irina are a multi genre clown team, and have performed in front of numerous audiences around the world, amusing for both children and adults.

AERIEL STRAPS   NIKOLAY DANILIV was born near Odessa, Ukraine. In 1990, he began his professional career within the Russian State Circus system. In 1993, Mr. Daniliv created his award winning Aerial Straps act, which was enthusiastically received by national and international audiences and the press alike. In 1999, he was awarded a Bronze title at the All Russian Circus Festival-Competition – the most respected competition among Russian professionals. With this act he amazed the audiences on Moscow Circus tours in Denmark, Germany, Arab Emirates, China, Switzerland, Holland, Italy, Singapore and the United States in 2005, 2006, and 2008.

ACROBAT-DOG TRAINER     ANDREY LOSHKIN – A Candidate for a Master of Sports degree in acrobatics, Mr. Loshkin started his professional career in the Moscow Circus in 1987. A native of Yaroslavl, Russia, he has worked in different genres such as acrobatics, gymnastics, equilibrist arts and juggling, but he truly blossomed as a performer when he focused his artistic energy on dog training. His dog partner: KIRYA is 5-year old, and known as “Smart Mutt”. In the development of this highly unusual act, Mr. Loshkin has had to use much of his previous training, and as a result audiences in many countries find this duo – to be one of the show’s favorite acts. With the Moscow Circus Andrei has toured China (1991), Germany (1992), Taiwan (1993), Poland (1995), Japan (1996,1998), France (2001) and United States (1998, 2002, 2005, 2008).

HAND BALANCING   SERGEY TOROPOV was born in Arhangelsk and began his professional career with the Moscow Circus in 1995, after graduating from the State College of Circus in Moscow. He performed his gravity defying hand-balancing act all over Russia, appearing at some of the best known Russian venues, such as St. Petersburg’ Music Hall, and Nikulin’s Old Moscow Circus. His foreign engagements include a 3-year contract with Las Vegas’ “Circus-Circus Hotel and Casino”, US theatrical tours in 2005-2008 and extended tours of South Korea, Belgium and Canada.

JUGGLER     PAVEL YEUSIUKEVICH was born in Orsha, Byelorussia. Juggling became his passion as a child, and he has turned a hobby into a successful career. Skills acquired at the State College of Circus (2005 – 2009) made him a well-rounded circus performer and one of the best in his field. According to Mr. Yeusiukevich, there is only one other juggler in the world who can perform some of his tricks. He has toured around Russia, performed in Arab Emirates, Canary Island, Italy and Spain.

HOOLA-HOOPS   KRISTINA BUYNYAKOVA was born in Penza, Russia. In 1997, at the age of 7, she started her circus education at a local circus school, where she developed strong juggling skills. Her talent, drive and efforts paid off four years later, when she took the first prize at a circus festival in Basel, Switzerland. More prestige awards for this act followed in Russia and abroad. In the same year, 2001, she joined the Moscow Circus organization. Since then, she has explored other genres (hula-hoops being one of them). Ms. Buynyakova spent 2003 and 2004 touring Germany mainly as a hula-hoop performer. In 2006 she turned her attention to modeling, but after 2 busy years as a fashion model, Ms. Buynyakova decided to continue her career as a circus performer and enrolled in the State College of Circus in Moscow. She successfully combined her studies and a busy touring schedule, performing in Russia, France, Austria, Slovenia and Monaco.

VOLTIJ ACROBATS   PAVEL KOLYBIN and KONSTANTIN ZIMIN           are partners in this rare act based on precision acrobatics and sheer physical power. Mr. Kolybin was born in the suburb of Moscow, Russia. He started his acrobatic jumping training when he was 6 years old. Mr. Zimin was born in Volgograd, Russia and also started his career in acrobatics early in life. Both Kolybin and Zimin decided to end their athletic careers after reaching and enjoying the high level of the Master of Sports in 1999. The Circus opened a new professional venue for these two gifted athletes. They teamed up, joined the Moscow Circus Studio in 2001, and created their act – “Sailors”. This act was awarded the highest trophies at the international festivals in Moscow and Saratov, Russia. Audiences in Italy, Sweden, Singapore and Thailand gave the duo their high praises by rewarding them with remarkable warmth and applause.

IZBA FOLK TRIO   The band leader, RUDOLF SMIRNOV is a St. Peter sbu rg-based folk musician, instrumentalist, composer, arranger and vocalist. Mr. Smirnov was  born in Perm, Russia. In graduated from the Leningrad Conservatory, Class of Bayan (Russian accordion). In 1990, he completed studies at the Creative Studio as a vocalist and jazz piano player. His musical accomplishments include mastery of instruments such as the bayan, trumpet, piano, guitar and balalaika-contrabass. Mr. Smirnov has been conductor of several symphony orchestras and was winner of the Andreev’s All Russian State Competition of Folk Instruments. He is also a laureate of an International competition of bards, has released two CD albums and toured Germany, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Israel, Indonesia and the United States. KAROKHINA ELINA – One of Russia’s few female balalaika players, Ms. Karokhina was born in Leningrad. She graduated the local College of Music and the Leningrad Conservatory, Class of Balalaika in 1997, and in the same year entered its postgraduate program. In 2003 she became a laureate of an International competition of the folk orchestras “Cup of the North”. A former member of the State Concert Orchestra of St. Petersburg, she currently performs with Russia’s premier Orchestra of Folk Instruments of Andreev. She has toured Germany, Spain, Austria, Indonesia and North America. MAXIM ANUKHIN was born in Belomorsk, Russia. In 2005, he graduated from the St. Petersburg State University of Culture and Arts, Class of Goosly (a millennium-old instrument), and in the same year was offered a teaching position at the University. In 2001, Mr. Anukhin founded the band “Obereg”, specializing in performing ancient Slavic music. Before joining the Moscow Circus for the US tour in 2006, he toured Germany and France.

JUGGLING TEAM     DERGACHEV brothers DENIS and DMITRY started their circus training at an amateur circus studio in Taldi-Kurgan, Kazakhstan in 1990 at the age of 11. In 1994 they moved to Saratov, Russia and joined a local creative circus studio “Facets of Diamond”. The training, which they received there in a number of disciplines, made them skilled, versatile and confident performers. It was here where they met their juggling partner, a young veteran of the studio named LIUBOV KLIMOVA, their contemporary and native of Saratov, with whom they created an impressive act, full of energy and charisma, which combines juggling with gymnastics. In 1997 they began their professional carriers with the Moscow Circus. They have toured Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Ukraine, Byelorussia, France and in 2008 – the United States.

	SKIPPING ROPES   Group number in which most of the Company participates.

PRODUCTION/STAGE MANAGER   Joseph Sharp is familiar with many aspects of theatre. He began performing at the age of twelve in his hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee. He participated in many productions throughout his primary and secondary education. During his college years at the University Of Tennessee, he studied acting, as well as technical applications in the theatre. He started with Herschend Family Entertainment in 1993 and has since worked as a FOH Engineer, Deck Hand, Rigger, Stage Manager, Carpenter and Performer at Dollywood and The Dixie Stampede Dinner attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It was at Dollywood, in 2005, that he began his association with The Moscow Circus, eventually becoming the Production/Stage Manager for the 2008 winter tour of The Moscow Circus.

LIGHTING DESIGNER   Michael Doctor (Doc as he's known), originally from Dayton, Ohio, began training for a technical entertainment career after graduating high school. While completing coursework in recording engineering, he worked for several production companies, handling audio and lighting for a wide variety of artists. From 1995 - 2004, Doc worked at the E.J.Nutter Center in Dayton, a 14,000 seat arena, where he joined the I.A.T.S.E. local. Then he relocated to Pigeon Forge, TN, where he was responsible for lighting dozens of national and international productions at Dollywood. In 2006, Doc began working with the Moscow Circus at Dollywood. In 2009, as a full-time freelancer, he worked as the Lighting Designer for a run in Santiago, Chile with Fercos Brothers Magic.