The best clown is no longer Polunin

When they say that something Russian is the best in the world, it smacks of bragging. Unless, of course, this “Russian” concerns space, ballet and some sports. However, now the series can rightfully be continued with the word “circus”.

Firstly, today it is important to speak in enthusiastic terms about the ring attendants due to the fact that the best clown in the world, Vyacheslav Polunin, brought his “SNOW show” to Moscow. So he decided to celebrate the anniversary of the world-famous act, and this is truly an event, since over the past 10 years Polunin has performed in Russia only twice, but here there are 11 performances at once, all with constant sell-outs.
Secondly, the other day the organizing committee of the 27th International Festival of Circus Arts in Monte Carlo awarded our artists first place. The Grand Prix - the circus Oscar, as the competition is called throughout the world - "Golden Clown" was awarded to Honored Artist of Russia Vladimir Puzanov, director of the "Flip Boards" act. Oleg Popov and Yuri Kuklachev have exactly the same prize.
The initiator of the festival, the head of Monaco, Prince Rainier III, personally selects the competition acts every year by watching videotapes with recordings of performances. And only Russia, by the decision of Prince Rainier, was represented by as many as four acts of the Russian State Circus artists.
It became clear right away who would win: during the performance of our acrobats in the arena, the entire audience, including the jury and members of the princely Grimaldi family, stood up twice and greeted the artists with an ovation.
“13 participants in the act perform in Russian folk costumes,” Vladimir Puzanov tries to explain in words what is better to see once. “But it was not with this, of course, that we won over the jury, but with tricks of exceptional complexity in circus art.”
The award ceremony took place on January 21, and the prize was presented to our artists personally by Prince Rainier and his youngest daughter Princess Stephanie.
“And then we were invited to a gala dinner held in honor of the winners in a narrow royal circle,” shares Puzanov. “I can’t say that I was very worried.” Now, if I had to sit at the same table with Putin, yes.
Lena Goryacheva.