Mstislav Zapashny. Russian circus artist-tamer. Biography

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:46

The Zapashny dynasty originates from the clown Karl Thomson, known by his stage name Milton. His daughter Lydia was a circus gymnast and equestrian. She married Mikhail, who before joining the arena worked as a simple loader. Ivan Poddubny drew attention to his strength and invited him to work in the circus. In it, Lydia and Mikhail met. And soon they got married. They had children who continued the circus activities of their parents. This is how the Zapashny dynasty arose.

Zapashny Mstislav Mikhailovich

Zapashny Mstislav Mikhailovich was born on May 16, 1938 in a family of circus performers in Leningrad. He is an Honored and People's Artist of the RSFSR, received titles in 1971 and 1980. respectively. He performed with his sister Anna in the most difficult numbers. Worked as a trainer. In 1990 he received the title of People's Artist of the USSR. Mstislav Zapashny is the creator of unique circus programs. Many numbers entered the Guinness Book of Records.

Zapashny Mstislav's family

Mstislav's fatherZapashny, Mikhail Sergeevich, was recognized as the best trainer in the world, People's Artist of Russia and the former USSR, received many awards and prizes. Mstislav's mother, Lydia Karlovna, is a circus rider and gymnast. Slava Zapashny has three brothers: Sergey, W alter and Igor. And also sister Anna.

Childhood of Mstislav

It is said about hereditary circus artists that they were "born in sawdust". The same can be said about Mstislav. His father did not want to see his children as circus performers and decided to give them an excellent education and a good profession. To do this, in order not to carry his family on tour with him, he bought a small house in Leningrad, where he settled his wife and children. Lidia Karlovna could not part with her craft, and when the children grew up a little, she began to continue her circus activities.

The war found the Zapashny family in Leningrad. Mstislav's father, along with his older brother Sergei, went to the front. Mother was touring at that time and could not get to the besieged Leningrad. Four children of the Zapashny family experienced the blockade together with their grandmother Anna Makarovna. Over time, they were evacuated, and they ended up in the Volga region. There, finally, the Zapashnys were able to meet their mother.

Road to the circus

Lidiya Karlovna performed in the circus number "Sharp Shooters" together with her husband's partner. But there was still not enough money to feed the family, although after the performances she unloaded wagons and barges at night. The Zapashnys knew the concept of "need". Father's ban on the circus was forgotten. His first performance Mstislav Zapashny and hisbrother W alter was being prepared in the Saratov bomb shelter. They created their own circus act.

Mstislav's first performances

After the first circus number was prepared, seven-year-old Mstislav and seventeen-year-old W alter took the stage in the same program in which their mother performed. The performance brought Zapashny success, and the tour began. In 1946, the brothers were officially declared artists. The following year, during a tour in the Far East, their number was disbanded. W alter convinced his mother to leave for Moscow.

The first triumph of the Zapashny brothers

Arriving in the capital, W alter and Mstislav began performing at the Moscow Circus. The audience liked the performance so much that the Zapashny brothers were called to the stage 10 more times. As a result of their success, they were paid big money to perform.

The Zapashny brothers improve their art in the army

In 1949, W alter was drafted into the army. But Mstislav, not wanting to part with his brother, followed him and became the "son of the regiment." They performed in the ensemble of the military Odessa district. Here the brothers learned the magic of dance and ballet. Since then and to this day, Mstislav Zapashny pays great attention to plasticity and choreography in circus acts.

First Gold

Mstislav grew up, and instead of him in the number, which was created jointly with W alter, his younger brother Igor began to perform. Slava decided to try himself in other guises. He was a clown, an aerialist,acrobat, trainer of horses and large animals.

In 1954, the Zapashny brothers created the Voltigeur Acrobats act. All the tricks were so unique that no one could repeat them until now. This number brought them fame, fame and 4 gold medals at allied competitions.

Unique numbers of Mstislav

Mstislav constantly came up with new numbers, and all of them were enthusiastically accepted by the audience and entered the golden fund of Soviet circus art. His grandchildren - Zapashny Mstislav and Yaroslav - followed in the footsteps of their grandfather. They participate in many programs. On foreign tours, the number "Acrobats-Voltigeurs on horseback" was awarded the highest world-class prizes.

In 1977, Zapashny Mstislav Mikhailovich created the only performance in the world where tigers and elephants were in the same cage. Training these animals is difficult even individually, and when they are together, it is almost impossible. The circus of Mstislav Zapashny showed this performance to the whole world. It became the largest achievement of the Russian Federation and was awarded the State Prize. In 1991, Mstislav created another performance called "Spartacus", which has no analogues in the whole world.

On the circus Olympus

Zapashny Mstislav Mikhailovich - director, director and performer of the main roles:

• in attractions: "To the Stars", "Soyuz-Apollo", "Ball of Courage" and many others;
• performances: "Ivanushka's Adventure", "New Year's ball in the circus", "Doctor Aibolit" and others.

Mstislav was director and artistichead of the state Sochi circus. A unique attraction shown in 2001 - "Tigers on Mirror Balls" - was awarded the "Circus-2002" award.

For a long time, Mstislav Zapashny worked as the general director of the Russian State Circus. But in 2009 he was removed from this position. Mstislav has been awarded many medals and orders, is a laureate of circus competitions around the world, the owner of the Golden Goddess prize and the Best Animal Trainer silver cup. Holder of the Certificate of Honor of the Government of the Russian Federation. In 2003 he received gratitude from the President of Russia.

Zapashny Mstislav chaired and was a member of the jury at many international and all-Russian circus competitions and festivals. Since 1991 - Vice-President of the World Association of Professional Circus Schools around the world.

Smolensk

Zapashny Circus visits many cities on tour. In August 2015 he performed in Smolensk. The performance took place on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the Russian circus. These words were uttered by Mstislav Zapashny in Smolensk: “In the Sports Palace, we even had to specially cut through the doors so that we could bring in the equipment.” Only professionals work in his troupe. The program shown in Smolensk was specially prepared for the anniversary of the circus.

Personal life of Zapashny Mstislav Mikhailovich

Children of Mstislav Zapashny, like their parents, work in the circus, participating in many numbers and programs. The first wife of Mstislav Mikhailovich Zapashny was Dolores Pavlovna. The attraction "Elephants and Tigers" was created by themtogether in 1977. Mstislav and Dolores had a daughter, Helen, in 1965. Subsequently, their marriage broke up, and Zapashny married another woman. The second wife was Irina Nikolaevna. In 1967, they had a son, who was named after his father - Mstislav.

Mstislav Zapashny Circus: audience reviews

It is hardly possible to meet a person who would not like the programs and numbers created by Mstislav Zapashny. According to the public's feedback, one can judge that he really tries not in vain. Many call his performances amazing, great show programs, spectacular and beautifully designed. The audience is delighted with the performances in which Zapashny Mstislav and Yaroslav, the grandsons of Mstislav Mikhailovich, take part. According to the audience, after the end of the show, there is no desire to leave, one wants to return to the circus again and again.