Soviet Chinese
“Young Kyrgyzstan” remained the hallmark of the republic for many years. As soon as the artists came on tour to any city of the Soviet Union, a full house was provided.
- Elements of circus art, of course, existed for a long time in the games and sports competitions of the Kyrgyz people, – says the guest of the Central Asian office of “Rossiyskaya Gazeta”, the current leader of the troupe “Young Kyrgyzstan” Muratbek Akmatov. – Not a single festival was complete without equestrian and other competitions, such as alamai baige and ulak tartysh, or the national game selkinchek with elements of acrobatics. But it was more entertainment than a professional occupation.
Nevertheless, the circus, according to Muratbek Akmatov, was loved in the Tien Shan. “It was the most popular art form among people,” he points out. “Before a new circus building was built in Frunze (now Bishkek) in 1976, there was a circus tent on the square behind the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater of Kyrgyzstan. Named after after Abdylas Maldybaev, where the guest artists performed.People came to the performances with their families.
The decision to create a national professional circus group of the republic was made in Moscow at a meeting in the “Soyuzgostsirka”. The first members of “Young Kyrgyzstan” were Esengul Mamytbekov, Aiyp Zhusupov, Stankul Beishenbaev, Bekturgan Kulubaev, Sadyrbek Soronbaev, Melis Zhumaliev and the only girl in the group, an ethnic Chinese Clara Lin-Chan.
The group was led by a talented artist, of Chinese nationality, Jan Funlin, who later took the name of Evgeny Dzhanybekov. He had no special education, but he was a nugget and had a fine artistic flair. In search of artists, he travels all over Central Asia and only in Kyrgyzstan does he find exactly what he needs to create a team.
The debut of the troupe took place in Moscow. The program was opened by acrobats performing the most difficult tricks on tightly stretched vertical ropes. During the jumps, they masterfully played the Kyrgyz national instrument – the komuz, and at the end the artists created a figure resembling a Kyrgyz pattern.
The very first performance directly in Frunze took place in this same circus under a tent, but with an empty hall, when the public was ready to storm the ticket offices. The fact is that at that time the local television was shooting a documentary film “Arena of the Brave” about “Young Kyrgyzstan”, and the director decided that it was better to do without spectators.
Yevgeny Dzhanybekov led “Young Kyrgyzstan” for almost 17 years. Later, he was replaced in this position by Esengul Mamytbekov, who later became the People’s Artist of the Kyrgyz Republic. By the way, he was one of the first circus performers to receive an honorary title for creative activity. Under his leadership, “Young Kyrgyzstan” was replenished with new performers and acrobatic stunts.
In 1967, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Great October Revolution, the troupe performed again at the Moscow Circus. “Young Kyrgyzstan” has been recognized as one of the best and most original bands. She was awarded the title of Laureate of All-Union Review of New Circus Works.
Dreaming of arena
When “Young Kyrgyzstan” began to conquer the hearts of audiences in the cities of the Soviet Union, Murat Akmatov, the group’s third leader since its founding, was two years old.
– I don’t know when my love for the circus kindled, – admitted Muratbek Akmatov. – But it seems to me that I was already born with a dream of an arena. Once on one of the shows, I realized that I had found my calling. After graduating from eight school classes, I went to Moscow and entered the Rumyantsev State Circus and Varied Art School. In the late 1970s, a shortage of arena masters suddenly appeared in the country. And so we, the fifth graders, were allowed to switch to correspondence courses and we were dispersed among the theater companies. Besides, my teachers were really great masters. The game was taught by the incomparable Cecilia Voskresenskaya, juggling was taught by Violetta Kiss. The famous outfielder Alexander Petunov became interested in me. He invited me to his group, to his show “Petunov’s Air Flight”. But I still decided to go to “Young Kyrgyzstan”.
It was Muratbek Akmatov who came up with the idea that the acrobatic stunts and the komuz game were performed by guys of Slavic appearance. Yury Yakovenko, Sergey Bogomazov, Dmitry Naboychikov and Sergey Lazarenko became Komuz stuntmen. The chief himself gave them music lessons on the national instrument. The acrobats turned out to be good students and learned the melody in a few lessons. All that remained was to learn how to execute it by doing somersaults. It took about three weeks of many hours of rehearsals. But the success was so overwhelming that many viewers refused to believe that the komuz was ringing live.
- It happened in Kyiv during the tour of “Young Kyrgyzstan” in Ukraine, – says Muratbek Akmatov. – We haven’t finished playing yet, because a kind of commotion started in the visual rows and shouts were heard: “Phonogram”, “Hackwork” and the like. Then we played that number again, and in such a way that it was clear that the music was being played live. The room erupted in applause
Ticket to Nikulin
Roman Simonenko, who worked as part of “Young Kyrgyzstan”, did not dream of a circus in childhood, but he liked to go there, like all children. But one day, a gymnastics coach came to a physical education class. This sport has become the meaning of Roman’s life.
“I entered the circus by accident,” Roman Simonenko assured the RG correspondent. – Once I saw the artists rehearsing on the ropes. I asked permission to try, and I succeeded thanks to good sports training. I was immediately invited to this illustrious team. You can say that I came here with my number – acrobatic stunts on a trampoline. But, nevertheless, it was the boss (Muratbek Akmatov) and his “Young Kyrgyzstan” who gave me a start in life.
But once, while touring Russia, a representative of the circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard approached Roman Simonenko and asked if he would like to perform in their arena. The offer was very tempting. In the arena of the famous circus, the most eminent artists once performed.
– I think that no one would refuse such a thing, – continued Roman Simonenko. – I was sorry to leave “Young Kyrgyzstan”. I told Muratbek about the offer to perform in the Nikulin circus. He is an artist himself and understands how important it is for creatives to grow professionally. Of course, he let me go, though, I guess, reluctantly. But in my soul “Young Kyrgyzstan” will remain forever. I remember her fondly. This team was the first for me, and it will not be forgotten.
Besides
In the Kyrgyz State Museum of Fine Arts named after Gapar Aitiev there is a unique work of a talented artist, Honored Worker of Culture of the Kyrgyz Republic Murat Bekjanov in the permanent exhibition. The picture is called “Young Kyrgyzstan”. Circus performers”. It depicts seven young people and a girl. The master dedicated the work to the first composition of the legendary circus group that conquered the entire Soviet Union.
Read the Latest Science and Technology News Today on The Eastern Herald.
