MINSK, 19 September (BelTA) – The Belarusian capital is hosting the 2nd Minsk International Festival of Circus Arts featuring over 100 performers from 18 countries, Director of the Belarusian State Circus Vladimir Shaban told the media, BelTA has learned.
“Taking part in the festival are more than 100 circus performers from Brazil, China, the United States, Australia, Israel, Germany, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Romania, Moldova, Mexico, Hungary, Italy, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Russia and, of course, Belarus, who will showcase 27 acts of different genres in two programs,” the director said.
The festival will feature amazing acrobatics, juggling, clowning, balancing acts, tricks, animals and athletics.
According to Vladimir Shaban, some countries will bring two or three acts. “Russia will be represented by the Russian State Circus, Great Moscow State Circus, and Nikulin Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard that boast a world-class performing level. The Russians will present girls in ball dresses on Meeting Swings. Sergei Nesterov will bring his white tigers. Israel will display two great acts, too. We tried to choose as many group acts as possible and one of them will be from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The act named Rope celebrates the unbelievable things that the human body can do. Belarus will present a number of acts as well,” the director of the Belarusian State Circus said.
The circus forum will also feature clowns Bella Chervotkina and Alex Chervotkin and clown from Brazil Pepe Jardim.
“We hope that the festival will be even better than the first one. We are planning the presentation of Belarus in the prologue and a parade of the participants with their national flags. The script was developed by art director of the Belarusian State Circus Vytautas Grigaliunas and principal director Alla Nikolayeva-Aliyeva,” Vladimir Shaban said.
The participants of the circus forum will compete for the following awards: Grand Prix, Gold, Silver, Bronze, People's Choice Award, Children's Jury Award and a number of special awards from the jury. The panel of judges will comprise ten people: Urs Pils (Monaco), Erik Zholzhaksynov (Kazakhstan), Genis Matabosch (Spain), Peter Fekete (Italy), Lyudmila Shevchenko (Ukraine), Valentina Savina and Giya Eradze (Russia), Fabio Montico (Italy), Peter Dubinsky (United States) and Vladimir Shaban. Performers will be assessed in skills and choreography according to a 10-point system.
Fifteen best acts of the festival will make up a new program, Bravo, which will run from 27 September to 8 December at the Belarusian State Circus.
The 2nd Minsk International Festival of Circus Arts is due at the Belarusian State Circus on 19-22 September.
