Clown 190

He is a juggler, clown, producer, director. 4th generation artist and 1st generation American, he is three times world champion in juggling, living on the planet Earth and not really serious about that.

«He was born in circus, and everything in it was so real, so natural, that everyday life felt like something strange. He was like acting a “normal person” behind the curtains, but on the stage I felt like home».

He was born in 1975 in the family, being a part of famous Russian dynasty of circus artists. Their history begins in 1900.

He, the representative of the 4th generation of this circus family, was ten years old when he for the first time entered the arena as an artist with a solo juggling act.

1 September 1988, he started working officially as a professional artist for the World’s biggest circus company “Soviet State Circus Company”: he was juggling with clubs, rings and unique props – “propellers”, which look like stars.

In 1989 won the Golden medal of the most prestigious International circus festival for young artists – “Circus of the Future” (Paris, France). Later on, being a part of different circus shows he toured around the world. He performed in Greece, Italy, France, Germany, Egypt, Israel, Cyprus, Turkey, Malta, Finland, Taiwan, Chile, Japan. During this time period, he also succeeded in finishing college, learning tap dance and contemporary dance.

In 1998 he went to the tap dance festival in USA, and he immediately got a job offer from National Circus Project – a school of circus art. He continued his career as a juggler and between worldwide tours he was teaching in New York. In 2000 he got an offer from Disney company to make a solo show for wide audience in their Epcot Theme Park (Orlando, FL). That’s how “Sergio the Italian chef” had been created.

“While he was working on my first clowning show, he had to think of a name of my character. He remembered, that in Astley’s circus the first clown in history (before famous Grimaldi) was named as Burt. And I found French word “blague” – which means a joke, a jester”.

By that time, Burt Blague already could masterly juggle and tap dance, but 5 shows a day – was a great challenge. So he started work more on clowning, which was not a physical issue. During these three years of working for the Disney company Burt Blague performed over 3000 shows.

In 2004 took part in World Juggling Federation championship in Las Vegas and won two gold medals: in Rings division and in «5 rings up 360» competition.

In 2004 he left Epcot Theme Park and started working on his own big show. He made “Ploskosti” – a story of a little man, searching for love in a big city.

For few next years, he was participating in an annual international Expo in Dallas (TX).

The bigger part of 2005 he again was working for Disney.

From 2007 to 2011 he was touring with best American symphonic orchestras in the “Symphony of the Americas” project.

In 2008 under the name of Sergey Ignatov he won World championship in Juggling for the third time (Ring division).

In 2010 in Riga circus (Latvia) he made 10 new clowning acts for circus. Later on they were integrated into “Poekhali!” show.

In 2015 Burt presented his second solo project – “Poekhali!” show.

In 2016 and 2017 Burt was a member of a jury of two annual Open Magic Championships in Moscow.

In 2016 in Lima (Peru) was a big tour of “Let’s Go Show” big top, multi-genre circus show under the direction of Burt .

In 2017 in Moscow was the opening of “Cosmos” – the new show, in which the story of Next Door Alien Burt is told on the language of clowning, juggling and tap dancing.

Burt: “Once in the morning I accidentally found myself in the crowd of people going to work. I was so afraid – they were like zombies. Since then, I try to bring to the regular world a bit more of foolishness, like a person trying to warm up the cosmos”.

2017 – «Cosmos», Russia

2016 – Show in «Izmir International Fair», «Burt Blague Clown Show» Turkey.

2016 – Peru,Lima Great tour with the show «Fantasy circus»

2015-2016 – «Let’s go» Moscow,Russia

2015 – A member of the Russian Association of Magicians – The jury of the ХVI congress of Magicians.

2014-2015 – «Moscow circus on tour», Russia

2013-2014 – Chen Long international circus, China

2012-2013 – «Moscow circus on tour», Russia

2011-2012 – «National Circus Project» New York, USA

2012 – The jury of international circus festival in Riga «Golden Karl», Latvia.

2010-2011 – Riga State Circus, Latvia

2009 – TX Fair Dallas , USA

2009 – The European Juggling Convention in Spain (Guest Star)

2008 – TX Fair Dallas , USA

2008 – World juggling competition  (WJF) – Las Vegas, USA (first place winner)

2007 – Show “FOUR” casino Estoril , Portugal

2007 – TX Fair Dallas , USA

2007 – Film-school of directing (Alexander Mitta’s class)

2006 – TX Fair Dallas , USA

2006-2008 – USA and Canada Tour «Cirque de la Symphonie»

2006-2007 – «National Circus Project» – New York, USA

2005-2006 – Vladivostok circus, Managing director, Russia

2005 – Walt Disney Epcot Theme Park – Orlando, Florida, USA

2004 – World juggling competition (WJF) – Las Vegas, USA ( first place winner)

2004-2005 – «National Circus Project» – New York, USA

2003 – Director and Producer the show «Ploskosti» – Moscow, Russia

2003 – Musical «Shock» – Tokyo, Japan

2000-2003 – Walt Disney Epcot Theme Park – Orlando, Florida, USA

1999 – «New Wave Circus» – Atlantic City, USA

1999 – «Cirque du Jour» TV Show – New York, USA

1999 – «Cirque Productions» Miami, FL, USA

1998-2000 – «National Circus Project» – New York, USA

1998-2000 – «Circus Production» – USA Tour

1998-2000 – Studying in dance schools: «Dance Space», «Broadway Dance Center», «Steps on Broadway» Masters: Savion Glover, Ayodele Casel, Jimmy Tate, Henry Letang, Jason Samuels Smith, Dr.Jimmy Slyde, Jared Grimes

1998 – «Tiger Palast» – Germany

1998 – Circus «Krone» – Germany

1997 – Japan Tour

1996-1998 – «Moscow Circus»Tours – Russia, Japan

1996 – Circus «Tihani», Chili

1995 – Taiwan Tour

1995 – «Music Hall» Lima, Peru

1995 – «Music Hall» – St. Petersburg, Russia

1994 – Graduated from the school of modern choreography of Nikolay Ogryzkov (1st professional school of contemporary dance in Russia)

1992 – Finlandia Talo Huset Hall – Finland

1991-1996 – «Moscow Circus» Tours – Russia, Japan, Greece, Italy, France, Egypt, Malta, Israel, Cyprus, Turkey, Finland

1991 – «Theater der Landeshauptstadt» – Germany

1991 – Moscow Circus «Mission: Roots» – Greece, Italy, France, Egypt, Israel, Cyprus, Turkey

1990-1991 – Old Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard (Nikulin Circus)

1989 – Golden Medal Winner at the «World Festival of the Circus of Tomorrow» (Paris, France)

1988-1992 – Moscow Circus Tourney – USSR, Japan

1985-1988 – Moscow State Circus Studio. Masters: Leonid Ignatov, J. Gusakov, V. Kirsanov, V. Korjov

1983-1985 Russian Folk Dance Group, Russia