HOVER WHILE "SITTING ON SUITCASES"

Several years ago, the enchanting performance of Oqtay Novruzov from Azerbaijan on the Russian TV show "Minute of Fame" (First Channel) suddenly turned this charming actor into a favourite of the audience and the strict jury. Oqtay Novruzov continues his circus career performing at the world's most famous arenas.

- By profession you are a production designer. How did you decide to engage in circus art? How long have you been engaged in tightrope walking?

- I've been attached to circus, like to sports, since childhood. I was fond of the history of the circus and dabbled in various genres. I'm interested in everything that's connected with art and the stage. That's why I chose to become a circus artist. Because of this, I'm always in my element and develop creatively. I've been doing tightrope walking for 13 years and continue to do it to this day. I always keep in good shape, otherwise you can easily lose the sense of balance.

- What did you want to become as a child? Tell us about your family.

- I was born in Armenia, in the Azerbaijani village of Azizli. In 1987, our family moved to the Krasnodar region, and after the death of my father, my mother decided to move to Ganca, where all our relatives settled after the well-known events (as a result of ethnic cleansing in Armenia - editor).

Dad wanted me to be a professional sportsman, but I dreamed of becoming an artist from childhood. So I went in for sports and the circus in parallel. I have two brothers and a sister. My sister went to a children's circus studio, and I had to take her to school, where I became attached to the circus. By the way, my sister chose a different profession later and graduated from the Law Institute. My younger brother Uzeyir works in the famous Cirque du Soleil. Our father died very early and, unfortunately, didn't see our achievements and successes in the profession. My mom and sister live in Ganca. I'm eternally grateful to my mother for always supporting us in all endeavours. Thanks to her, our family has always been very friendly and well-organized, and even in different parts of the earth, we're always together.

- What's the complexity of your profession?

- I think that not only in my profession, but in any other profession the most difficult thing is to maintain professional skills. But, by and large, if a man does what he likes, then he overcomes any difficulties with ease. I love my job and always approach it with great responsibility and soul. Well, maybe, the only downside of my profession that you have to travel a lot around the world, always "sitting on suitcases". But even in these shortcomings I find pluses.

- Your personal victories and successes in this profession?

- The performance, in which I worked in 2005, took first place at the International Edinburgh Theatre Festival. I had a chance to take part in the Festival International Du Cirque De Massy inFrance. My brother and I won special prizes from the jury and the city. But the real reward for the artist is the love of the audience. This is a victory! My family believes in me, and it gives me more strength and desire to achieve the goal.

- You worked on the tightrope and free wire. Which is easier? This question is to help the readers to realize the danger of your job...

- The rope is an equilibristics tool, a taut rope in a horizontal or inclined position. The wire is a circus tool. There are several types of it: a taut one, which is 9-11 metres long, a wire stretched between two pedestals; a loose one - a strengthened eight-metre cable between two masts; a double or triple wire - cables strung in parallel. There is nothing easy in any of them. Just a different balancing technique. If on the taut wire you have to keep your feet, on the loose wire it is necessary to keep the wire under yourself. And both require long and hard training.

- You live and work in Spain. What are the advantages and complexity of life in this country?

- At the moment, I officially live in Germany and Russia. Man is able to settle down anywhere in the world. Everything depends on the priorities in life. Personally, my priority is work and family. I want to wish everyone to overcome all difficulties easily and find benefits for themselves in them! I'm currently working on a completely new number, which has no analogues. I believe that everything will go well and I'll be able to show it to the audience soon.

- Your brother Uzeyir is participating in the American television show America's Got Talent. Have you also thought of taking part in it next year?

- If I'm offered to take part in a TV show, then, of course, I won't reject it or any other job offer. I like everything new and unknown. I love to experiment on stage and work on new and unusual numbers.

- Who came up with the unusual image of the amusing conductor during the performance on the Russian TV show "Minute of Fame"?

- Knowing my emotionality, my friends, wonderful circus artists Dmitriy and Yelena Artemyevs, advised the image of the mad conductor. I will always be grateful to them for this idea, through which I continue to please myself and others.

- Oqtay, what do you think should be done for circus art in Azerbaijan to begin to develop?

- I think that first of all the attitude of my people to circus art must change. And to this end, Azerbaijani viewers should see more high-quality circus performances that deserve admiration. I support the idea that the brightest stars of the world circus perform in Baku so that the audience can see the circus art of different countries. In general, Azerbaijan needs global projects aimed at the development of circus art. It's necessary to extend educational activities - training of artists, development of the creative potential of employees, training of administrative staff for circus entities, as well as specialized training in administering and managing the circus business, advertising, marketing in the circus and more.