KALININ TROUPE

Anatoly Egorovitch KALININ - "Honoured Artiste of Russia"- is the creator of the "Skateboard Acrobatic Act" and he is descended from a Russian family with no artistic background. Already in his childhood he had a notable affection for the circus, and had a very strong wish to ever become an artist. In his teenage years he practiced acrobatic-gymnastics at a competitive level.

In 1970, when he passed his exams successfully in the area of specialisation: "Artist-Acrobat" with an act of "Equilibristic and Balance on Rola-Rola", and was then engaged at the Russian State-Circus SOJOUSGOSZIRK in Moscow.

Between the years 1970-82 he accomplished several different tours in Russia and abroad, with the MOSCOW BOLSHOI CIRCUS. In 1976, at that time touring in the Benelux-countries, he discovered for the first time a "skateboard" in an advertising-magazine. Fascinated of this gear, as a consequence of curiosity, he assembles a similar apparatus by himself, and then makes his first attempts. By this time in Russia, the skateboard was a completely unknown item.

In 1982, he decided to desist from his Rola-Rola act, and sacrificed all his time to make reality of his vision of a skateboard act.

The year was 1983, finally, after a hard struggle against the leading people of circus, when he got the allowance and the help to carry the skateboard act into effect. In 1985, in Thula, the performance was for the first time presented in a circus and it had been successfully honoured by a very pleased audience. At present, Anatoly's daughter Marianna takes part in the act as artist and also his wife Ljoudmila who contributes by helping as assistant.

Between 1986-96, the troupe has been accomplishing a number of tours with the MOSCOW BOLSHOI CIRCUS in Australia, Japan, Hong-Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay etc. The first appearances of the troupe in Europe were with the "FANTA FANTASY SCANDINAVIAN TOUR" at "SKANDINAVIUM" Sportpalast in Gothenburg, at "GLOBEN" Sport/Show-Arena in Stockholm, Sweden and at "SPECTRUM" Show/Concert-Hall in Oslo, Norway (1994), at AHOY' Sport Palace in Rotterdam, Holland (Dec. 1996), at Sport Palace in Antwerp, Belgium (Jan. 1997) and at the XXth INTERNATIONAL CIRCUS-FESTIVAL OF MONTE-CARLO (Jan./Feb. 1997).

At the moment, the act is unique In its form and presentation, and by its actuality and originality Anatoly and his team can be very satisfied with the positive reaction of the spectators and Its cause of great interest to the experts In the field of show-business (circus directors, TV/show-producers and agents), which confirm their previous and future engagements/appearances: TIVOLI COPENHAGEN (Summer 1997) MTS 97 DEUTSCHLANDHALLE In Berlin (Dec. 1997) CIRCUS KRONE-BAU in Munich (Feb. 1998) CIRCUS KNIE in Switzerland (Season 1998).

In Ivanovo city a new circus act within January, 15, 1999 to January, 10, 2000 has been prepared by A.Kalinine. ("Acrobats on the Roller-skates") - "Rollers").

On September, 2000 the act was invited to Warsow to the Mrs Zalevskya circus Festival. The act was awarded many prizes:

• Spectators sympathy prize.
• For the great achievements in the circus art prize.
• The first prize "The Golden Clown".

The act has an offer to take part in the International Circus competition in Korea "The Golden Autumn", and for Christmas 2000-2001 in Royal Circus in Brussels.