Yuri Dmitrievich Kuklachev is the first trainer who began to prepare numbers with cats. Among circus artists, he stands out for his sincerity and kindness. Thanks to these qualities, Kuklachev won the sympathy of both the audience and the animals. His theater "Cat's House" is the artist's calling card.
Childhood, adolescence
Yuri Kuklachev was born in Moscow on April 12, 1949. His parents were ordinary workers. The desire to become a clown appeared in Yura at the age of seven, when he saw a film with Charlie Chaplin. Kuklachev entered the studio created at the circus school 7 times, but to no avail.
After school, Yura began working in a printing house. In the evening, he attended a circle in the recreation center, where he studied circus art. At the age of 17, Kuklachev took part in an amateur festival and became a laureate. The young man was invited to study at the school of circus art. After graduating from it, Yuri studied at GITIS and received a specialty "theater critic"
Career
In 1971, Kuklachev began performing at the Soyuz State Circus. He always tried to diversify the numbers. Once Yuri went to the arena with a cat named Strelka. The basis of the "Cat and the Cook" issue was the animal's desire to constantly climb into the shelter. The performance was successful, later it was broadcasted on TV more than once.
Then the clown began performing with other four-legged animals. These were the cat Camomile, the kitten Kutka, the lapdog Pashtet. The programs "Cats and Clowns", "City and World" were created, with which Kuklachev traveled all over the country, performed abroad. Previously, it was believed that cats cannot be taught tricks, so the numbers caused amazement and delight.
Yuri Dmitrievich said that he only notices the peculiarities of the four-legged artists, and then uses observations when preparing the numbers. Kuklachev knows how to understand animals so subtly that it is enough for him to hold the cat a little in his arms to understand its character.
In 1986, Yuri Dmitrievich was awarded the title of People's Artist. The talent of the trainer was highly appreciated abroad as well. At the festival in Monte Carlo, Kuklachev took 2nd place, in Canada he was awarded the “Golden Crown of Clowns” and a diploma “For a humane attitude towards animals”.
Later, Yuri Dmitrievich organized a unique animal theater called "Cat's House". More than 10 performances were offered to the audience. Artists also go to the children's colony with performances.
Kuklachev is engaged in educational activities. He became the author of the School of Kindness, a project created for younger students. The artist also hosts a program of the same name on Children's Radio. Yuri Kuklachev has written dozens of books on cats, starred in documentaries about circus artists. He also played roles in several art films.
Personal life
The dancer Elena became Kuklachev's wife, they worked together at the Soyuz State Circus.
Soon the couple got married, they had children: Vladimir, Dmitry, Ekaterina. All of them work in the animal theater, which was created by their famous father. Vladimir comes up with circus tricks, Dmitry performs with numbers, Ekaterina is engaged in scenery, costumes.
In his free time, Yuri Dmitrievich is fond of painting, woodcarving.
