THE WAY OF PARADOXES. RUSSIAN CIRCUS IN SEARCH OF THE ACTUAL IMAGERY. 1970-2000th
The article, which concludes the trilogy of publications on the history of the Russian circus, examines the late period - from the late 1970s of the last century to the present day. The author associates a significant increase in the professional level of circus artists and directors with the activities of the State School of Circus and Variety Arts and the opening of a special faculty of GITIS, which has produced a number of outstanding performers and directors. The circus, as a special art, absorbed all modern trends in various stage genres. So, in the 1970s and 80s, the musical design of the performances changed, in which vocal and instrumental ensembles popular among young people were attracted, the choreography was enriched thanks to the gaining popularity of the music hall, following the dramatic theatres, the circus minimized the scenery on the arena, replacing bright carpet decorated with patterns on functional minimalistic coverings, technical and lighting equipment was complicated. The art of carpet clowns was enriched under the influence of pantomime. Many new genres appeared thanks to the active searches of this period: among them the "Russian swing" by Venedikt Belyakov, the "Russian stick" invented by Boris Isaev, "Merry Ropes" by Valery Akishin, the new genre "flying corde de peril" by Vladimir Burakov. The invention of a new props for juggling - the cube - belongs to the clown Valeriy Matorin. All these findings have become firmly established in the practice of the world circus.