On 11 September, as part of the 4th International Circus Festival Without Borders and the Circus section roundtable at the XI St. Petersburg International United Cultures Forum, a plenary session titled Return to Culture was held. Moderator Tatyana Solomina, Head of the Press Service at Rosgoscircus, discussed with speakers the new opportunities for contemporary circus and cooperation with foreign partners.
The speakers examined ways to strengthen circus culture and the potential for collaboration with countries around the world.
Participants in the discussion included: Edgard Zapashny, General Director of the Bolshoi Moscow State Circus on Vernadsky Prospekt; Sergey Belyakov, General Director of Rosgoscircus; Askold Zapashny, Artistic Director of the Bolshoi Moscow State Circus on Vernadsky Prospekt; Tatyana Zapashnaya, Deputy General Director of the Bolshoi Moscow State Circus on Vernadsky Prospekt; Gia Eradze, Director and Artistic Director of the Royal Circus of Gia Eradze production center; Elena Petrikova, Chief Director of the Russian State Circus Company; Odette Bouglione, General Director of Cirque Bouglione; Tong Toan Thang, Director of the Vietnam Circus Federation; Maksat Zhaikov, Director of the State Circus of Almaty; Julian, Merited Artist of Russia; theater and film actor Alexey Maklakov; and circus artist Gabriella Popova. The roundtable curator was Tatyana Solomina, Head of the Press Service at Rosgoscircus.
During the discussion, experts highlighted the significance of the Without Borders festival. International performers from 20 countries take part. From 11 to 14 September the jury will evaluate the artists and select the winners. The festival helps to strengthen circus culture.
Tatyana Zapashnaya, General Director of the Bolshoi Moscow State Circus on Vernadsky Prospekt and a member of the jury, emphasized the striking changes at the St. Petersburg Circus: It keeps getting better and more beautiful. Every time I come, I think this cannot be. Only a year has passed, yet it has become much better. I feel we are on the threshold of something miraculous. This is another festival that will probably reveal the most beautiful acts by the most beautiful and talented people from all over the world. Twenty countries that have come today is a lot. As a jury member, I will try to approach the evaluation of each act and each artist as honestly as possible.
Theater and film actor Alexey Maklakov noted that circus as an art form never fails to inspire audiences and make them feel part of it: This is a meeting of the 21st century, we should watch, we should marvel. That is why new technologies may emerge, perhaps to attract new genres and audiences. It seems to me that circus will remain pure in its essence. It is an admiration for human capabilities. Everything related to technical and external design will become brighter and more engaging.
Answering reporters questions, Edgard Zapashny, General Director of the Bolshoi Moscow State Circus on Vernadsky Prospekt, noted the strengthening of relations with Chinese colleagues: I am very pleased that our relations with the People’s Republic of China are developing very well. Large delegations from the Chinese circus regularly come to our country, and large delegations from the Russian circus take part in international circus festivals in China.