Irina Bugrimova is known to every circus fan in our country. However, not only in ours - this trainer conquered the world audience with her numbers with lions. This spectacular woman with dark hair appeared in the arena, accompanied by the kings of beasts, showing incredible numbers with their participation. Over the years of working with animals, Irina Bugrimova managed and was able to raise about 80 lions.
Childhood
The future circus star was born on March 13, 1910 in the city of Kharkov. Her parents were not directly related to the circus. His father was a veterinarian, his mother, of noble origin, played the piano well, was fond of photography and drawing.
From the age of seven, the girl studied at a music school and a ballet studio. Some time later, she seriously took up sports disciplines: she ran, jumped from the tower, in height and length. She began playing Russian hockey, was a discus and javelin thrower, participated in shot put competitions, ran onskating and even became interested in motorsports. In 1927, Irina Bugrimova became the champion in the shot put, 12 months later - in the discus throw. Thanks to motorsport, she met Buslaev, whom she later married. From 1926 to 1928 she was a student of the Kharkov Commercial and Industrial School.
First exit
For the first time in the circus arena, the future trainer Irina Bugrimova appeared in 1931. Together with Buslaev, she developed and implemented "Sled Flight from Under the Circus Dome". The number, beloved by the audience, but not by the actress, lasted until 1937. At the same time, in parallel with the number, Irina is preparing something else - "Higher Riding School". After a short time, a number appeared in her repertoire, in which she used lions for the first time.
After the end of the war, the couple broke up, and each began to build an individual career.
Lions
The biography of Irina Bugrimova as a trainer did not start by chance. In 1937, the manager of the circus Dankman said that he would like to see a trainer in the arena of his circus. Bugrimova agreed to put on a number with leopards, which were purchased specifically for this purpose. However, after working with these animals, the trainer realized that she prefers to share the arena with the real kings of animals. The management went to meet her, giving three lion cubs. Their names were Caesar, Julius and Kai. Given that at that time there was no approved method for training these animals, one had to move in small steps, making discoveries almost blindly, completely relying on intuition.
Almost the whole world is familiar with the achievements of Irina Bugrimova. Together with the circus, she traveled all over the world, showing her animals in Bulgaria, Iran, Japan, Poland, Mexico, Czechoslovakia, the GDR and other countries. The performance of the artist is not just a standard set of tricks, it is always a small performance. The lions performed extremely difficult numbers: they flew up under the dome of the circus on a swing, walked along a tightly stretched thin rope. The numbers "Chair of death", "Lion in the air", "Lion on a wire", "Lion on a motorcycle" and others like them have always enjoyed great success with the audience.
Irina Bugrimova has worked with 80 lions, 8 horses and 12 dogs in her career.
At the age of 66, the artist was forced to leave her career: in 1976, the lions staged a riot and attacked Bugrimova. The assistants managed to get her out of the arena, but what happened showed her that the lions no longer see her as a strong leader.
The method of training that the artist came to differs from that generally accepted at that time. The fact is that she completely excluded blows and some unpleasant experiments from circulation, which many trainers of those times sinned. Even the Society for the Protection of Animals had to come to the conclusion that her method was humane. For all that, strict discipline reigned on the stage in her performances, the animals clearly obeyed her every order and gesture. Many colleagues with whom the woman met in various circuses recall with surprise this strong woman who is able to do whatwhich not every man can achieve.
Private
Irina Bugrimova, whose personal life could not but interest her fans, was not too happy in family life. After breaking up with Buslaev, she married an acrobat in the same circus, Konstantin Parmakyan. Unfortunately, this marriage was not long or successful either. The popularity of the artist was to blame for everything - she received much more than her husband, which could not but offend her. She was always looking for a man who would be stronger than her. But a woman who manages to bend the lions to her will is not so easy to do.
Besides this, Bugrimova never wanted children. For her, the main thing in life is performances, work with animals. And the child would distract her from this and only interfere.
Life after the arena
After leaving the circus, Irina Bugrimova did not disappear completely, like many other artists. She took up social work. In addition, she wrote a book about her work in the circus, participated in the selection committee at the State School of Circus and Variety Art. M. N. Rumyantseva, was a consultant for all kinds of circus undertakings.
Already at a very advanced age - at the age of 86 - Irina Bugrimova fell in her own apartment, the result - a hip fracture. She spent a long time in a wheelchair, but found the strength to start walking again and even do it in heels.
The artist died in 2001 from a heart attack. Her grave is located at the Troekurovsky cemetery. Almost all of its diamondshe bequeathed to use the collection for the benefit of the development of training.
Facts about Bugrimova
Photos of Irina Bugrimova today are the decoration and pride of the circuses of the world, where she visited during the tour. During her long life, Irina received many gifts and awards. In 1969 she became a People's Artist of the USSR. The love of the spectator and management was reinforced financially - she had the highest fee for each entry into the arena. She loved to dress well and expensively. In addition, she regularly changed cars: she moved from Moskvich to ZIM, then to Volga. She had an excellent dacha, which cost more than 30 thousand rubles, which was a lot of money for the USSR. At one time, there was a lot of thought and talk about her good collection of diamonds.
Irina loved to cook, so no matter how busy she herself was, there was never a housekeeper in her house. The only thing she regretted in this case was that cooking takes a lot of time, which is already not enough.
In 2000, she received the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, III degree.
The square next to the new Kharkiv circus bears her name.
