The 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's independence is a landmark date, which has become doubly eventful for six circus performers: in connection with the national state holiday, their contribution to the circus art of Turkmenistan was evaluated by government awards. We met with the awardees at the arena, where during the rehearsal they shared their joyful emotions.

The head of the equestrian group of horsemen "Galkynysh", Honored Worker of Arts of Turkmenistan, People's Horse Breeder of Turkmenistan Pygy Bayramdurdyev was awarded the jubilee medal "Turkmenistanyn Garassyzlygynyn 30 yyllygyna". In addition, he became a laureate of the Altyn Asyry State Prize in 2021.

Pygy Bayramdurdyev stood at the origins of the revival of circus art in our country. It is largely thanks to him that the Turkmen circus gained its former glory in a short time, not only in our country, but also abroad. Pygy himself believes that without the attentive attitude of the President of the country, it is unlikely that everything would have turned out so well.

It seems that Pygy Bayramdurdyev is a circus performer to the marrow of his bones, and in this regard, it seems incredible that until the moment when a lucky chance brought him to the circus, Pygy studied ... as a pharmacist. People's Artist of Turkmenistan Batyr Annayev, son of Hero of Turkmenistan Mai Kuliyeva, helped him abruptly change his fate and become a horseman.

Pygy Bayramdurdyev is very demanding both to himself and to others. His professional credo: "The circus is, first of all, an iron discipline, and only then talent and perseverance." He explains his view by the fact that circus art is associated with a risk to life. Only the brave and desperate go to the arena, but they must be ruled by cold calculation, and emotions must be kept under lock and key.

As befits true circus performers, Pygy founded his own circus dynasty. Son Serdar and daughter Medina followed in his footsteps and now they are famous circus artists.

By the way, for his contribution to circus art, Serdar Bayramdurdyev was also awarded the jubilee medal "To the 30th anniversary of the independence of Turkmenistan". Regulars of the circus knew him for a long time as the leading horseman of the "Galkynysh" group, and then Serdar prepared a surprise for them in the form of several numbers of training. It turned out great! I would like to note that the favorite number of our esteemed President from the training course of Serdar is "Jumping the rope of a horse with a rider." The training repertoire includes an incomparable number "Shouldn't we have a cup of coffee?" Let me tell you a little secret: Serdar is preparing a new stunning issue of "Mail". So he has something else to surprise!

At present, Serdar has expanded his field of activity - he became the head of a new equestrian group of horsemen "Galkynysh-2", which trains tricks of horse riding at the International Equestrian Complex.

Circus artist in the third generation Lauretta Annayeva was awarded the honorary title "Honored Art Worker of Turkmenistan". People like Lauretta are said to be "born in sawdust": she was born into a family of famous circus performers. Her grandfather is the Honored Artist of Uzbekistan Pavel Alekseevich Borovikov, the father is the famous horseman, People's Artist of Turkmenistan Amandurdy Annayev, and her mother is the Honored Artist of Turkmenistan Laura Annayeva. The name Laura in Italian means "crowned with laurels", and Lauretta is arbitrary from Laura. So the parents named their daughter a name according to which she must be the winner.

Lauretta learned from childhood that circus is not a job, but a way of life. From the age of 13, she shone in all circus genres, except for clownery. However, her father insisted that she go to university. “The circus loves the young and the healthy,” he explained, “therefore, just in case, you should have an“ alternate airfield ”. And Lauretta received a philological education.

Her father was right: when the circus stopped working in Ashgabat, pedagogical education came in handy to lead a circus circle in the Palace of Children and Youth.

But when the circus reopened, three of its pupils performed in the very first performance with the acrobatic performance "Rubber". So we can rightfully say that she did not interrupt her connection with the circus all her life. And if the medal "For Loyalty to the Circus" was established, Lauretta Annaeva would be one of the main contenders.

Vyacheslav Chakanov, instructor of the arena, received the medal "For Love for the Fatherland". Vyacheslav Muradovich is a legendary person. His parents, People's Artist of Turkmenistan Murad Chakanov, and his mother, the first female rider, Sona Berdyeva, worked in the Nikitins' wooden Circus, which was located before the 1948 earthquake not far from the former Mir cinema.

People like him are said to be "born on a horse." According to the stories that have come down to us, once Sona Berdyeva did not come to a rehearsal. When the director began to find out why she missed the rehearsal, it turned out that she had a boy.

Since 1962, the teenager Vyacheslav on horseback went to the arena. With the number "Dzhigits of Sunny Turkmenistan" under the leadership of Dovlet Khodjibayev, he visited 37 countries. In 1965, the ensemble of dzhigits was awarded the title "Honored Collective of Turkmenistan". Turkmen horse riding is loved in all countries. This is a groovy genre with a set of the most difficult tricks, many of which are impossible for other horsemen. Among the "Dzhigits of sunny Turkmenistan" was Vyacheslav Chakanov, who linked his fate with the circus by the fact of his birth and his vocation, inherited genetically from his parents.

To some extent, the famous horseman Arslan Annamuradov was made by his wife Jennet. A touching story about a girl whose parents were forbidden to engage in equestrian sports, and she could not disobey her parents, but at the same time melted every day from longing for her beloved horse, got on the pages of one of the books of our President, and from there on the stage of the Main Drama Theater and then to the film studio, almost everyone in our country knows. So Arslan and Jennette got married after she returned to the circus.

Arslan performs especially risky tricks in riding on the arena - this is the second of three horsemen in the "Pyramid" room and jumping on the back of a galloping horse in the "Column" room and others.

Arslan Annamuradov was awarded the medal "For Love for the Fatherland", but congratulating him on this high award, we could not resist asking about Jennet.

- In addition to the circus, my wife and I decided to continue our education. I study at the Agricultural University at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, specialty horse breeder. Jennette also graduated from the Institute of Culture, Faculty of Tourism. Now she is in practice at the Turkmenatlary Association. We have two children - a boy and a girl.

Horse breeder Narly Kerimov was awarded the jubilee medal "Turkmenistanyn Garassyzlygynyn 30 yyllygyna". Every spectator who comes to the circus admires the beauty and well-groomed Akhal-Teke horses. There is a share of the work of Narla in this, who knows by name and character of each of the 17 horses. In the mornings, Narly takes his charges out into the courtyard - this is tantamount to morning exercises.

Then breakfast - meals should include all the necessary vitamins and minerals and be balanced in kilocalories. Horses eat twice a day. Of course, your favorite treats are included in the diet - hay and oats.

The circus horses in the arena simply shine with cleanliness. And this is also the merit of Narla, who bathes his four-legged beauties with warm water and shampoos.

There are 6 horse breeders in the circus, the best for today is Narly Kerimov.

Tamara GLAZUNOVA

Photo: Alexey GIMALITDINOV