Valentin Gneushev
Encyclopedia
Valentin Gneushev is a Russia
n circus
director
and choreographer.
Gneushev was born in the city of Nizhny Tagil
in the Serdlovsk region
.
He studied to be a clown
at the Moscow
State Circus School and later graduated from the Russian Academy of Theatrical Arts as an artistic director.
The first circus act he worked on, the aerial group performance “Cranes” (1985), was an instant success. It was on tour in many countries and received various awards.
In 1986, Gneushev’s "The Red Harlequin", performed by Vladimir Tsarkov http://www.veress.se/tsarkov.htm, was awarded the Gold Medal at the International Circus Festival in Paris
.
In 1989, he created an aerial act for Vladimir Kekhaial, who went on to work in Cirque du Soleil
's Nouvelle Expérience
show and later became a star in Las Vegas
.
In 1991 his show Cirk Valentin was performed at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway
. The circus show, which used no animals and was designed for a theatrical stage, consisted entirely of acts created by Gneushev. An original music score for the show was written by composer
Bobby Previte
.
Many of Valentin Gneushev’s acts have been used in different circuses, including the Moscow State Circus
, which often toured the United States
, the Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard
, Cirque du Soleil, which adopted them to their style, and in Las Vegas.
His unique approach to creating circus acts has made him over the years one of the most influential directors in the contemporary circus and a regular invited guest of the prestigious annual International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo
.
In the 1990s Gneushev worked with the famous Russian clown Yuri Nikulin
and was the artistic director of Nikulin’s Circus
in Moscow.
Valentin Gneushev worked with prominent Russian film directors, such as Andrey Konchalovsky, and theatre directors such as Roman Viktyuk and Konstantin Raikin
.
He also played in the 1977 Soviet children's fairy tale
film
The Scarlet Flower
(Alenkiy Tsvetochek).
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
director
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
and choreographer.
Gneushev was born in the city of Nizhny Tagil
Nizhny Tagil
Nizhny Tagil is a city in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia, situated east of the virtual border between Europe and Asia. Population: -History:...
in the Serdlovsk region
Sverdlovsk Oblast
Sverdlovsk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia located in the Urals Federal District. Its administrative center is the city of Yekaterinburg formerly known as Sverdlovsk. Population: -Geography:...
.
He studied to be a clown
Clown
Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by the grotesque image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, unusually large footwear, and red nose, which evolved to project their actions to large audiences. Other less grotesque styles have also...
at the Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
State Circus School and later graduated from the Russian Academy of Theatrical Arts as an artistic director.
The first circus act he worked on, the aerial group performance “Cranes” (1985), was an instant success. It was on tour in many countries and received various awards.
In 1986, Gneushev’s "The Red Harlequin", performed by Vladimir Tsarkov http://www.veress.se/tsarkov.htm, was awarded the Gold Medal at the International Circus Festival in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
In 1989, he created an aerial act for Vladimir Kekhaial, who went on to work in Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...
's Nouvelle Expérience
Nouvelle Experience
Nouvelle Expérience was Cirque du Soleil's fourth touring circus show, which premiered in 1990. The show's tour ended in 1993 in The Mirage parking lot in Las Vegas, Nevada. Over 1.3 million people saw the production during its 3½-year run.-Cast:...
show and later became a star in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
.
In 1991 his show Cirk Valentin was performed at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
. The circus show, which used no animals and was designed for a theatrical stage, consisted entirely of acts created by Gneushev. An original music score for the show was written by composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
Bobby Previte
Bobby Previte
Robert "Bobby" Previte is a drummer, composer and bandleader. Previte earned a B.A. in Economics at the University at Buffalo, where he also studied percussion. He moved to New York City in 1979, and became active in the city's thriving jazz and experimental music scenes...
.
Moscow State Circus
The title “Moscow State Circus” is used for a variety of circuses. Most commonly, it refers to one of the two circus buildings in Moscow, the “” and the “Bolshoi Circus” , or to traveling shows which may or may not be directly related to Russia.The Russian Circus rose to world acclaim during the...
, which often toured the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard
Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard
Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoi Boulevard was the only circus in Moscow between 1926 and 1971 and still remains the most popular one. The circus building was opened on 20 October 1880 as the Solomonsky Circus. Known by a variety of names during the Soviet period, the troupe was awarded the Order of Lenin...
, Cirque du Soleil, which adopted them to their style, and in Las Vegas.
His unique approach to creating circus acts has made him over the years one of the most influential directors in the contemporary circus and a regular invited guest of the prestigious annual International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo
International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo
The International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo, known as Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo in French, is an annual festival held since 1974 in Monte Carlo, Monaco. The festival includes the awarding of the Clown d'Or award as well as awards for other circus skills...
.
In the 1990s Gneushev worked with the famous Russian clown Yuri Nikulin
Yuri Nikulin
Yuri Vladimirovich Nikulin was a well-known Soviet and Russian actor and clown who starred in many popular films.He was awarded the title of People's Artist of the USSR in 1973 and Hero of Socialist Labour in 1990...
and was the artistic director of Nikulin’s Circus
Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard
Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoi Boulevard was the only circus in Moscow between 1926 and 1971 and still remains the most popular one. The circus building was opened on 20 October 1880 as the Solomonsky Circus. Known by a variety of names during the Soviet period, the troupe was awarded the Order of Lenin...
in Moscow.
Valentin Gneushev worked with prominent Russian film directors, such as Andrey Konchalovsky, and theatre directors such as Roman Viktyuk and Konstantin Raikin
Konstantin Raikin
Konstantin Arkadyevich Raikin is a Russian film and theater actor, director of the Moscow Satyricon theater...
.
He also played in the 1977 Soviet children's fairy tale
Fairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
The Scarlet Flower
The Scarlet Flower
The Scarlet Flower , also known as The Little Scarlet Flower or The Little Red Flower, is a Russian folk tale written by Sergey Aksakov...
(Alenkiy Tsvetochek).