Vyacheslav Ivanovich Polunin

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Vyacheslav Polunin

Vyacheslav Ivanovich "Slawa" Polunin (Russian: Вячеслав Иванович (Слава) Полунин; born June 12, 1950 in Novosil , Oryol Oblast , Russian SFSR , Soviet Union , today Russia ) is a Russian clown visionary. He achieved international fame and the reputation of being the world's best clown , primarily through shows such as Asisyai-revue , Diabolo and, above all, Slava's Snowshow .

biography

Vyacheslav Polunin had started to study engineering in Leningrad before he later graduated from the Leningrad Institute of Soviet Culture. In 1979 Polunin founded a clown school. His first appearance on television, on the New Year's 1981 program, made him a national celebrity. In 1985 he called a clown conference in Moscow. In 1987, Polunin organized a street theater festival in the USSR.

Another high point in Slava's career was the organization of a peace caravan in 1989. Artists from all over the world traveled from Moscow to Paris through many European cities to create street performances. In order to raise money for the academy of fools he founded , Polunin decided to do some commercial shows in the West: the most famous of which became Slava's Snowshow . Since the premiere in Russia in 1993, the show has been shown in 50 countries. In 1994, then-director of Cirque du Soleil , Gilles Ste-Croix , saw the show and then invited Slawa to incorporate parts of the show into the Cirque du Soleil show Alegría , which it did in 1995.

Prices (selection)

  • 1999 - Triumph Lifetime Achievement Award, Moscow
  • 1998 - Best Entertainment, Laurence Olivier Award, London
  • 1998 - Best Comedian, Gold Ostapt, St. Petersburg
  • 1996 - Liverpool Echo Best Touring Production Award, Liverpool
  • 1996 - Festival Critics Award, Edinburgh
  • 1996 - The Herald Angel Award, Glasgow
  • 1995 - International Clown Festival Golden Nose Prize, Barcelona
  • 1994 - Time Out Award, London

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Polunin, Vyacheslav Ivanovich
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Polunin, Slava; Полунин, Вячеслав Иванович (Russian); Полунин, Слава (Russian)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Russian clown
DATE OF BIRTH June 12, 1950
PLACE OF BIRTH Novosil