Askold Zapashny is the junior representative of the Zapashny circus dynasty. He is the artistic director of the large Moscow circus on Vernadsky Prospekt, producer, director, People's and Honored Artist of the Russian Federation.
Many spectators come to watch the grandiose performances of the legendary animal trainers "Camelot", "Sadko", "System", "Legend" and "KUKLA". The audience leaves the circus in utter admiration.
Childhood and youth
Askold Walterovich Zapashny was born in Kharkov in 1977, on September 27. His brother Edgard is one year older. In the circus, the artist acts as a juggler, acrobat, tightrope walker, vaulter and trainer.
The great-grandfather of the famous artist Carl Thompson began working in the circus. The eccentric clown performed under the pseudonym Milton. Then Zapashnye began specializing in the training of predators.
Askold's parents, Tatiana and Walter, were constantly on tour. The brothers attended the same class. Father dreamed that both would continue the dynasty. The boys changed many schools, as the family constantly traveled around the cities.
The father strictly monitored the progress of his sons and did not give any concessions to both. Askold began performing at an early age. At the age of ten, he made his debut in the number, and the official premiere of the artist took place at eleven.
Riga spectators warmly welcomed the family number "Time Machine". In 1991, after completing high school, the family was awarded a contract to perform in China. The host party built a circus in the Safari Park near the city of Shenzhen.
During these tours, the younger Zapashny acquired many professions. He learned to walk on a tightrope, juggle while riding a horse, became an excellent acrobat, vaulter, began training large predators and monkeys.
Confession
In 1997, at the First All-Russian Competition of Circus Art in Yaroslavl, the Zapashny brothers received the Golden Troika, the first prize for their creativity. After the completion of the contract, the family returned to the capital. The father passed the ride "Among the Predators" to his sons at the anniversary celebration in 1998.
On tour with him, they visited many countries. Both took over the subtleties of training from their father and developed skills. For the author's trick, the longest jump on a lion's back, Askold got into the Guinness Book of Records.
The artist's father was the first to come up with a spectacular number. He and his brother brought his idea to perfection. The jump, which no one in the world can repeat, has become the hallmark of the Zapashnykh.
The second entry into the Book of Records took place after the tallest column of three people on a pair of running horses. In 1999 Zapashny became an Honored Artist of Russia, in 2012 he was awarded the title of People's.
He began at the same time to lead the Great Capital Circus. He does not interrupt his artistic career. The artist graduated from GITIS and became a co-organizer of the Zapashny Brothers Circus together with Edgard.
Askold wrote scripts and staged such performances as "Camelot", "Colosseum", "Legend". The audience is delighted with them.
Family matters
Younger Zapashny remained a bachelor for a long time. However, he found a chosen one. Now the artist has two adorable daughters, Eva and Elsa.
Helen Askold met their mother on a tour in Minsk. As a child, she left for Israel with her parents. The artist immediately liked the girl who came to the circus.
The charming and erudite Helen Raikhlin attracted Zapashny by the fact that she knew nothing about him. This was a novelty for a popular artist. He saw no interest in his person.
The meetings continued for three years. The girl received a higher education, she could not quit her studies. The trainer was unable to cancel the tour. The unusual occupation of the daughter's admirer frightened Helen's parents. However, the marriage took place, and the children strengthened it. In 2016, both girls performed for the first time in the circus with their father and uncle.
In 2010, the artists returning to Bryansk to rehearse a new program were in a car accident. Fortunately, both brothers were not hurt. In 2013 Askold Zapashny became the director of IDOL, the World Festival of Circus Art. The event is held in Moscow. The artist carried the torch at the Olympic relay. In 2016 Askold appeared among the creators of the television series about Margarita Nazarova. He even starred in a small episode of it.
Time present
The brothers participated in the film as trainers. The picture tells about the life drama of one of the most famous tiger tamers in the Union. Despite the presence of fiction, film critics, after being highly appreciated, awarded the project the Golden Eagle 2017 award for the best television series.
Askold talks about his circus experience in books. Also Zapashny Jr. became the author of a work for children "My friends are tigers". Public activities are part of an artist's career. He regularly appears on television, attends social events. Media activity promotes circus programs and advertises new shows.
Askold took part in "Ice Age-2", the program "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"
The trainer is also active in social networks.
With subscribers, he shares all the events of his life from the most ordinary to the remarkable, maintaining interest.
The artist has been a member of the Public Council under the Ministry of Culture of the country since 2016.
Since the beginning of autumn 2018, Askold Zapashny is a professor at the Department of RATI "Circus Directing".
